Brighton rocks Palace put to sword by 10-man Albion
At the end, when the dust was finally settling on one of the most eventful 20 minutes of this or any other Premier League season, Lewis Dunk stood in front of the Brighton fans pumping his fists in time with their delirious cheers. A few yards behind him were his team-mates Anthony Knockaert, conducting the crowd’s songs with his hands, and Yves Bissouma, spinning on his heels in dance.
These were celebrations that will live long in the memory of Brighton fans, many of whom will have left the Amex last night wondering if what they had seen had really just happened. This was a night when one of the strangest rivalries in English football produced one of its strangest matches, and the “M23 derby” gained a whole new tale that will be passed down generations.
For Brighton fans, their memories of this will be of a three-goal surge of footballing delight. For Crystal Palace, it was an evening that will be forever discussed with anger at a refereeing decision that triggered a defensive meltdown for the ages.
In less than half an hour, this game produced everything. There was a controversial penalty, a straight red card, a centre-half scoring within 25 seconds of coming on and another substitute racing half the length of the pitch to score one of the goals of the season. Terrible decisions, great goals, ill-discipline, inspired substitutions.
It was almost too much to digest for the home supporters, who were locked in a state of delirium until Luka Milivojevic struck a late penalty for Palace to set the nerves jangling for Chris Hughton and his exhausted Brighton players. The truth for 10-man Brighton, though, and the worry for Roy Hodgson, is that Hughton’s side never looked likely to surrender their lead, despite playing for more than an hour with 10 men.
Hughton said it was one of the “most special” matches since Brighton achieved promotion to the Premier League, and one of his “proudest” moments. “We knew we had to work incredibly hard because they are a gifted side, and if they had got a goal earlier, it could have been difficult,” Hughton said.
The Brighton manager’s focus on his side’s defending was a typically level-headed response after the least level-headed of first halves. The drama began when James Mcarthur challenged Brighton’s Jose Izquierdo in the box, clearly winning the ball. Referee Kevin Friend, who had a different idea, pointed to the spot. “It was a soft one,” Hughton admitted.
Glenn Murray converted from 12 yards for his seventh league goal in seven home games this season. The Brighton striker then had a second, better claim for a penalty a few minutes later, when James Tomkins sent him tumbling. Friend saw no infringement this time, but he did catch Shane Duffy pushing his forehead on to Patrick van Aanholt’s hairline, in that bizarre rutting motion that seems only to take place during professional football matches. Out came the red card.
Hughton needed defensive cover, so on came centre-back Leon Balogun. Within 25 seconds of his arrival, the substitute had volleyed home a searing finish to double the lead. “That was probably the most important goal,” Hughton said.
Murray lasted just a few more minutes before Hughton hurled Florin Andone into the Brighton attack. The summer signing took a few minutes to adjust to the match, and then set off on a quite remarkable run down the left wing, scorching past Tomkins and firing home a terrific third. Palace were stunned, still reeling from the injustice of the