Bloom is quids in after a win double
SEAGULLS OWNER IN A DAY TO REMEMBER
OWNER Tony Bloom celebrated a famous win double as his Brighton side beat arch rivals Crystal Palace after his horse had romped to victory at Cheltenham.
The professional gambler saw Energumene retain his Queen Mother Champion Chase crown by 10 lengths in his blue and white colours.
Bloom was thought to be the punter behind two huge bets that won a further £830,000 after admitting he had “a few quid on”.
He then took a helicopter to see Brighton triumph at the Amex and draw level on points with Liverpool in pursuit of the even bigger prize of European football.
Solly March scored the winner after 15 minutes of a feisty clash – on March 15.
But on the Ides of March, this was another stark warning that Palace’s top-flight future is in danger after a 12th game in a row without a win.
They gave a debut to 19-year-old academy graduate Joe Whitworth because of injuries to keepers Vicente Guaita and Sam Johnstone.
But Palace’s problems have been more at the other end of the pitch lately, with no shots on target in 291 minutes before this game.
Wilfried Zaha, accompanied by his usual pantomime villain boos, ended that run with a first-minute shot that was parried by Jason Steele.
Steele also denied Michael Olise and Odsonne Edouard, who also missed a free header in the box in a frenetic start.
Whitworth then thwarted Kaoru Mitoma before the Japan star slid a gorgeous ball through for March to net his seventh goal since
Christmas. Edouard missed another golden chance after good work by Albert Sambi Lokonga.
Cheick Doucoure, back after a ban, was booked for a foul on Joel Veltman.
Doucoure then avoided a red card for chopping down Moises Caicedo and was replaced.
The second half was stopped for four minutes by a power failure. It also got highly charged on the touchline when Albion coach Roberto De Zerbi was booked for protesting.
Whitworth saved from Pervis Estupinan and Alexis Mac Allister but Seagulls ended a seven-game winless streak against the Eagles.
BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1): Steele 7; Veltman 7, Colwill 6, Dunk 6, Estupinan 6; Gross 7, Caicedo 7; March 8 (Webster 90), Mac Allister 8 (Sarmiento 88), Mitoma 5 (Enciso 79); Welbeck 5 (Ferguson 79).
Goal: March 15.
CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-3): Whitworth 6; Clyne 6, Andersen 7, Guehi 6, Mitchell 6; Lokonga 6, Doucoure 4 (Eze 46, 6), Schlupp 5 (Ahamada 80); Olise 6 (Ayew 70, 5), Edouard 4 (Mateta 80), Zaha 5.