Brighton Fightback Ensure Spoils Are Shared With Palace

In what was a very odd game, the Eagles got themselves ahead after a decent first half showing but succumbed after what looked like a decision to hold on to what they had, but it was the substitutes from each side making the difference.

MATCH INFORMATION

• 8pm – 22^nd December 2023
• Crystal Palace 1-1 Brighton
• Selhurst Park, Holmesdale Road, London SE25 6PU

PLAYER RATINGS

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES – 5 James TOMKINS, 11 Matheus FRANCA, 15 Jeffrey SCHLUPP, 23 Malcolm EBIOWEI, 29 Naouirou AHAMDA, 31 Remi MATTHEWS, 44 Jairo RIEDEWALD

OPPOSITION LINE-UP

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES – 6 James MILNER, 8 Mahmoud DAHOUD, 23 Luke STEELE, 28 Evan FERGUSON, 52 Leigh KAVANAGH

TEB VERDICT

It was perhaps on the cards that this one would end in yet another 1-1 draw but it could have been so much different had Eze converted the chance to put the Eagles two goals up.

After a good first half which saw Ayew put Palace into the lead, the second half was very flat and it looked clear that the hosts were either flagging or were sent out there to preserve that lead rather than add to it. Ultimately, it was the substitutes that changed the game and the decision to replace a very good Jordan Ayew proved pivotal.

You could suggest that most Palace would have taken the point if offered before kick off, and the way that the second half panned out it could have been a loss. So take the point and reconvene ready for Chelsea next week.

BOB’S POINT OF VIEW

Bob White was a coach at Palace under the tenure of Steve Coppell and Alan Smith and will be sharing his point of view each week in our review article.

“From the outset, it was a game that neither set of supporters wanted to lose but delighted if your own team win and so gain full bragging rights.

The initial half hour was a cagey tactical game of chess, both managers not wanted to concede space in the midfield areas or the first goal.

Palace then begun to press much higher with midfield players which in turn created a couple of chances. Finally, the approach paid off as we won the ball back high up the pitch and Olise produced a quality cross for Ayew to finish at the far post, right on the stroke of half time. Overall, we had probably shaded the half on dangerous moments created.

However, like Curate’s egg, the second half was a completely different story. We sat deeper, refusing opportunities to press and combined with Brighton making progressive substitutions, it was only a matter of time before they deservedly equalised. It was then a case of hanging on for the point.

Whether it was down to fitness levels or tactical instructions from the touch line, but our intensity levels markedly dropped in the final stages of the game.

Unless he was injured, I found the Ayew change a strange decision. He has the ability to get our play further up the pitch to both relieve pressure and ask questions of the opposition defence.

Anyway, maybe a case of taking the point and moving on. However, our home form is becoming a concern.

My man of the match award goes to Jean-Philippe Mateta. Not only was his hold up play decent but he put in a 100% shift both in and out of possession. He certainly did not give Lewis Dunk an easy time.

Onwards to Chelsea. Wishing you all a Happy Christmas!”

POST GAME QUOTES

ROY HODGSON

“Our players stuck at the task well. I cannot deny Brighton were worthy of a point, but at the end of the day, in a derby game, we have to be satisfied with a point.

Throughout the game we tried to continue that pressure, but they got better at getting out. We had a young lad [David Ozoh] in his second game, Ebe Eze after injury, which didn’t make us stronger. Brighton asked us a lot more questions, which led to the equaliser.

“We have played three of the best teams in the league in our last three games, and have done alright. We’ve taken two points, against Liverpool we should have got something as well. And we are getting stronger as the weeks go by.”

JOACHIM ANDERSEN

“It’s frustrating, we played a really good first half, I don’t remember them having clear cut chances. But Danny Welbeck scores a fantastic goal, that’s just quality with them. We played a decent match, but just got tired in the second half. It was something we worked on, and it panned out good. When it’s 1-0 anything can happen, we should score a second goal, we need to be more clinical.”

ROBERTO DE ZERBI

“I think we played in a different way in the second half. Played with more energy and invention to score. If we are losing it is because we are making too many mistakes. We had two or three chances to score and didn’t score. We concede another bad goal and we can play better and we can’t lose the ball in that way. We have to accept the policy of the club is to play with many young players. With the young players you have to give them time to make mistakes. Baleba is perhaps not ready to play in the Premier League yet but he will be a great Premier League player.”

MATCH STATISTICS

POSITION IN THE TABLE (at the final whistle)

UPCOMING FIXTURES

27/12/23 Chelsea – Premier League 7.30pm

30/12/23 Brentford – Premier League 3pm

04/01/23 Everton – FA Cup 8pm