MATCH FACTS
■ Brighton remain the only top-flight side without a Premier League victory during 2020 (D5 L3), with the Seagulls last enjoying a win against Bournemouth
WILFRIED ZAHA had the last laugh in a grudge match after Brighton fans sang, ‘You’re going to cry in a minute’ – only to end up weeping themselves.
The plummeting Seagulls are still waiting for their first win of 2020 as Jordan Ayew’s goal saw them crash to deadly rivals Crystal Palace.
Ayew’s 70th-minute strike on the break (celebrated below) completed a smash-and-grab raid by the Eagles, who defended for their lives to win at the Amex for the first time in the Premier League.
It leaves Albion dangerously close to the relegation zone and without a win since beating Bournemouth on December 28, while Palace are now eyeing a top-half finish.
It also meant winger Zaha was smiling after a feisty “derby” in which he wound up the home fans and survived accusations that he had spat towards them.
Palace boss Roy Hodgson was quick to play down the incident. “I made nothing of it,” he insisted. “I’m just glad Wilf didn’t lose his head. If that’s the worst thing that’s going to happen in a derby, then we’ve done quite well.
“Both sides gave their all in a very on December 28.
■ Roy Hodgson oversaw his 100th Premier League game in charge of Crystal Palace (W34 D27 L39), the first fair way. The game never looked like spilling over as a result of a foul or a challenge – and it was refereed very well by Martin Atkinson. And we are absolutely delighted to win it.”
Ironically, in a pre-match interview Zaha claimed he was fed up of being portrayed as a pantomime villain.
But he did himself no favours as he allowed the home crowd to wind him up in spectacular fashion.
The flashpoint came after Zaha was ruled offside and cupped his hands to his ears as abuse rained down from the stands.
Albion sub Ezequiel Schelotto, warming up on the touchline, booted the ball towards him – and the pair had to be separated as Zaha reacted angrily. From then on, of course, every Zaha touch was booed club he’s reached the milestone with. ■ Brighton mustered 24 shots against Palace, their best-ever tally in a Premier League match.
–and Schelotto, booked for his part in the incident, wiped his eyes mockingly as the crowd chanted at the Palace star, “You’re going to cry in a minute”.
There were suggestions on social media that Zaha also spat towards fans – but replays indicated he was aiming at the turf rather than in anybody’s direction.
“I didn’t see anything,” said Brighton boss Graham Potter, who refused to criticise either player.
“I’d rather be talking about football than an altercation off the pitch. But these things happen, it’s life.”
Potter also insisted he has faith his players will avoid relegation.
“Everyone is emotional after a game because you want to win, of course,” he said. “Butididn’t think it was a bad performance, we didn’t deserve to lose. I am confident we can stay up. I believe in the players and what we are trying to do.”
Brighton had the better of the first half, but, as so often, they couldn’t finish their chances.
Potter’s men should have taken the lead after 35 minutes, but Solly March swept his shot into the side netting from Leandro Trossard’s pass.
That summed up Brighton, who saw Neal Maupay twice fire straight at keeper Vicente Guaita when clean through after the break – and then Lewis Dunk was denied what looked a certain goal when his effort was blocked by his own team-mate.
The Seagulls were made to pay when, in a rare break, Christian Benteke’s perfect disguised pass set Ayew through on goal to finish calmly past Mat Ryan.
It was the Ghanaian’s seventh goal of the season and owed everything to a sublime ball from the muchcriticised Benteke,
The result could have been worse for Brighton, had Zaha not hit the post and blazed over the bar.
But, as Palace’s celebrations echoed around a near-empty Amex, that won’t have been any consolation.
All the tears were in the home end.