ROB-BED OF WIN
Sanchez drops major clanger as Seagulls flap
VIEIRA’S MEN ON POINT
CRYSTAL PALACE boss Patrick Vieira was proud of his players after a battling point against Brighton.
He said: “I am really satisfied because it was a challenging game for us against a strong team.
“Our discipline enabled us to get a point because
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“Athfetyererally made it difficult COLON: andwords Words streintchedreust.hwaenks in here thanks stayed in the game until we got the goal.
“We needed to be aggressive, the level of Brighton was excellent.
“I am really proud of the team and players. We knew the challenges at the start of the game because Brighton are doing well.”
Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi was delighted by his side’s display, if not the result.
He said: “We lost two points but we know football.
“We were a little unlucky but I am really proud of the performance, the players, the quality of play and how many chances we had.
“We didn’t win but in terms of quality of play and personality there was only one team on the pitch.”
ROBERT SANCHEZ was the villain as Crystal Palace somehow escaped from this grudge match with a point.
Brighton’s Spanish keeper inexplicably dropped a Michael Olise free-kick straight at James Tomkins’ feet soon after Solly March had eventually broken the deadlock for the in-form Seagulls.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side should have won this match by a mile – but the hosts got very lucky indeed to delight the home fans.
Over 40 miles separate these two sides – and hatred back to the 1970s – giving this clash the bizarre status of a derby.
It looked anything but early on with a slow feel to proceedings.
But Brighton went on to have much the better moments of the first half.
Alexis Mac Allister was denied by Vicente Guaita from March’s pass before the Argentine was foiled again by the Palace keeper.
Guaita was a busy man as he saved again to keep out Kaoru Mitoma who had played a delightful one-two with March. Adam Webster was then unlucky with a header from the midfielder’s cross.
On 32 minutes, Brighton thought they had scored. Pervis Estupinan finished beautifully from Pascal Gross’ pass.
But it was given as offside by VAR over two minutes later – with replays inconclusive until lines were drawn.
Palace went down the other end with Jean-philippe Mateta denied twice by superb last-ditch blocks from Webster.
Brighton looked the more likely early in the second half and March went close with an effort moments after the break.
They appeared to have got their reward for the hard graft when they finally broke the deadlock on 64 minutes.
It just had to be March, who played for Palace as a kid from the ages of 11-13, who got it. The Seagulls’ utility player has been at the Amex for 12 years and knows what this fixture means.
And it was he who slammed home at the far post from a delightful ball by Estupinan.
Then came Sanchez’s howler five minutes later to give Palace a point they just did not deserve.
Brighton should still have netted late on and their failure to do so damages their European charge.
Mac Allister tamely shot straight at Guaita from another superb Estupinan cross. Palace never looked like finding a winner of their own but this could be a big point as they look to turn around a dreadful start to the year.
CRYSTAL PALACE: Guaita 7; Clyne 6, Tomkins 7, Guehi 7, Mitchell 6; Doucoure 7, Hughes 7 (Lokonga (56) 6); Ayew 6, Olise 7 (Ahamada (84) 6), Schlupp 6 (Eze (71) 6); Mateta 6 (Edouard (71) 6)
BRIGHTON: Sanchez 5; Veltman 6, Webster 8 (Lamptey (76) 6), Dunk 7, Estupinan 8; Gross 6, Caicedo 6; March 8, Mac Allister 7, Mitoma 6; Undav 6 (Ferguson (57) 6)
STAR MAN: Pervis Estupinan – Denied a goal but absolutely superb cross led to March’s effort.
Michael Oliver 6