Jordan Ayew's breakaway second half goal secured Crystal Palace back-to-back Premier League wins and bragging rights over their fierce rivals Brighton.
The result was also the perfect way for manager Roy Hogdson to celebrate his 100th game in charge of Palace.
Brighton dominated possession and were the more positive team, especially in the second period. However they switched between lacking the final killer ball or the clinical finishing to get the opener they deserved.
They were made to pay, as hardworking, organised Palace broke on 70 minutes, with Christian Benteke driving forward before slipping Ayew in, who managed to just squeeze the ball under keeper Ryan.
Brighton continued to dominate in the search for the equaliser, but failed to create any clearcut chances, leaving them eight without a league victory.
For all of the bluster on the field and inevitable taunting in the stands, there was very little to separate the sides during a tight opening period.
Brighton controlled possession and wasted the clearest first-half opportunity through March.
The Seagulls winger was left unmarked inside the Eagles' penalty area 10 minutes before the break after being picked out by Leandro Trossard's centre but inexplicably fired into the side-netting.
Palace, unchanged from last weekend's win over Newcastle, had enjoyed the better of the early chances.
Benteke, buoyed by his first club goal of the season earlier this month, volleyed well wide after a fine through ball from James McArthur, while Cheikhou Kouyate was later smothered by Albion goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.
Brighton substitute Ezequiel Schelotto did his best to stoke up the atmosphere by sparking a minor flashpoint with Wilfried Zaha in the 27th minute.
While warming up close to a corner flag, Schelotto appeared to kick the ball at his opponent after it went out of play, prompting a petty confrontation, a yellow card for the Argentinian and boos for the remainder of the afternoon for Palace forward Zaha.
Roy Hodgson's visitors were twice fortunate not to fall behind in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.
A goal-bound header from Albion captain Dunk following a corner struck team-mate Maupay, before the latter rifled a powerful drive straight at Palace keeper Vicente Guaita.
Albion threw on veteran striker Glenn Murray against his former club in the hope of deservedly breaking the deadlock.
But they were made to pay for their profligacy 20 minutes from time.
Ghana international Ayew was sent racing into the box by a perfectly weighted pass from Benteke and he calmly found the bottom right corner via a touch from Ryan to spark wild celebrations among the sold-out away end, including the detonation of a smoke bomb.
Potter slumped in his seat in the dugout after a goal which sucked belief from the home crowd.
Albion mustered little in the time remaining and would have lost by more had Zaha not struck the left post at the end of a stoppage-time counter-attack.
The late miss counted for little in the end as the Eagles hung on to gleefully celebrate a first away win since November 30.
OPTA STATS
- Brighton remain the only side without a Premier League win in 2020 (D5 L3), with the Seagulls last enjoying a top-flight victory against Bournemouth on December 28th.
- Crystal Palace have won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since December.
- Brighton mustered 24 shots against Crystal Palace, their best-ever tally in a Premier League game.
- Roy Hodgson oversaw 100th Premier League game in charge of Crystal Palace (W34 D27 L39), the first club he’s reached the milestone within the competition.
- 16 of Crystal Palace's 28 Premier League games this season have been goalless at half-time, at least five more than any other side's.
- Crystal Palace striker Jordan Ayew has equalled his best-ever goal return in a Premier League season – also netting seven goals in 2015/16 with Aston Villa and in 2017/18 with Swansea.
- Crystal Palace attacker Christian Benteke has registered two goal involvements in his last three Premier League appearances (1 goal, 1 assist), as many as he managed in his previous 34 in the competition.
- Jordan Ayew’s goals this season have won Crystal Palace 12 points. Only Andy Johnson in 2004-05 (15) won more in a single Premier League season for the Eagles.
Live blog
Relive the game with our live blog...
Brighton 0-1 Crystal Palace
Ayew (70)
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Full-time: Brighton 0-1 Crystal Palace
Palace now 13 points clear of the drop zone having taken a smash and grab three points here.
Brighton dominated and were the more positive, but they lacked a killer instinct in the final third and it cost them dearly.
Palace worked hard and had more killer instinct when needed most
93: Zaha hits the post
Brighton hit the post on the counter attack. Two Palace players race in on goal with no defenders anywhere near.
Tosun has it and goes round the keeper, but his touch his heavy and takes it away from himself as he knocks it passed keeper Ryan. But Zaha is onto it and just has to tap into the empty net, but hits it right at the post - terrible miss, not sure how he managed it
91: Pen appeal
Brighton's Alzate dances into the area and goes down under a challenge from Van Aanholt. VAR looks but nothing given and rightly so
90: Injury time
Brighton only have three added minute to find something here. So far they've not created a clear chance since going behind and now a corner is easily cleared
86: Palace sub
Benteke hasn't had a good day in front of goal, but he's had a good game away from that area, including setting up the goal. Maybe lucky to stay on the pitch in the first half too when elbowing a defender when already on a caution. Anyway, he's subbed off now with Tosun on.
81: Brighton sub
Their final sub sees Alzate replace Bissouma for the home side
80: Panic in Palace box
A decent spell of Brighton pressure as cross after cross is delivered into the Palace area and they cannot get it clear, with plenty of head tennis and blocked shots. Finally Mooy's curler is headed behind for a corner by Van Aanholt. Palace then do clear
80: Brighton to level?
I tipped before the game for Palace to score first at 11/8, due to the fact that Brighton have conceded first in each of their last four Premier League games. Did you take it on?
Well added to that fact Brighton have come back to draw each of their last three matches when falling behind. Could they do it again?
77: Brighton sub
Brighton have to throw everything at it now and Jahanbakhsh is on for Montoya.
75: Brighton trying to respond
Brighton are fighting to get back in this game and remain on top, but cannot fashion a clear chance yet.
They are still trying to pass it around too much around the box, rather than firing in the cross to the dangerous and hungry Murray.
70: GOAL: Brighton 0-1 Crystal Palace
Ayew
Totally against the run of play the visitors have the lead. Benteke picks the ball up in space 30 yards out and drives towards goal, all the defenders are drawn to him, meaning Ayew is in space on the left of the area and Benteke find him with an excellent pass.
Ayew goes in on goal and plays it under the advancing Ryan. The keeper gets a touch with his foot and it is almost enough to deflect it wide, but it slowly bounces in and Palace lead.
It is poor defending from a Brighton point of view
68: Maupay tries again
He's been a bright spark all day and as Brighton continue to dominate Maupay drives into the box on the left of the box. He dummies to shoot on his left, sending a defender to the floor, moves onto his right and fires into the near post and straight at Guaita.
In-play tip
As I mentioned before the game Murray has scored six goals in his last eight appearances in Brighton v Crystal Palace matches in all competitions (2 for Palace, 4 for Brighton).
He's also netted in each of his last four v Palace for the Seagulls.
65: Brighton sub
March, who missed a sitting in the first half, is off and Glenn Murray is on against his former club
61: Mooy wide
Brighton are the more positive now and creating more half chances. Mooy now turns and shoots on the edge of the box. But it was always going wide and was too slow to trouble the keeper even if it was on target
58: Benteke headers wide
Now it is Palace fans' turn to put their heads in their hands and wonder how they've not scored. Corner from the right and Benteke at the near post, four yards out heads wide
57: Yellow
Montoya flies into a challenge on Zaha, swiping his standing leg from underneath him. It means both of Brighton's right-backs have been booked following clashes with Zaha, and one is yet to kick a ball.
55: Maupay misses
Oh, it is another huge chance for Brighton. The ball spins in the air and over the Palace defence, it puts Maupay straight in on goal and he half volleys at the goalkeeper. He hits it too hard and too true and straight at the keeper. Either side and it is a goal.
He should have gone for positioning rather than power there.
51: Brighton too slow to counter
Van Aanholt gives possession away in midfield and Brighton swarm forward in attack. The Seagulls though take an age to shift the ball out to Trossard in space on the left, and by the time it reaches him Van Aanholt has tracked back to atone for his initial mistake.
47: Maupay stops Brighton goal
It really is not Brighton's day in front of goal.
Corner from the left and Dunk muscles in and a thumping header is heading in - but it hits his own man Maupay virtually on the line and he stops it going in. To make it worse Maupay is offside, so the flag goes up and he cannot even tap it in after his own block
45: Second half
We get this game back underway. Will we see more quality in the second half?
Palace sub
At half-time Riedewald is on and McCarthy is off
Half-time tips
Looking at the markets I like the look of Zaha to be carded at 7/2 with Sky Bet. He's been clashing with the Brighton players and crowd all game. He's also put himself about, as well as going down easily a few times. So a good few ways he could be booked in the second half.
Benteke is already on a yellow and has been clumsy and stupid with some challenges since then. He is 8/1 to be sent off
Goal wide, Gary Cahill to score with a header is 28/1 and he's had two headed shots at goal in the first half, both he should have scored from
SKY BET PRICE BOOSTS
At half-time Sky Bet have Price Boosted:
- Neal Maupay to score the 1st goal is 5/1
- Wilfried Zaha to score the 1st goal is 11/1
Half-time stats
Possession: Brighton 63% v 37% Palace
Shots on goal: Brighton 9 v 6 Palace
Shots on target: Brighton 5 v 1 Palace
Corners: Brighton 3 v 4 Palace
Half-time: Brighton 0-0 Crystal Palace
Hail starts to batter the players and the half-time whistle rescues them and they quickly run off. Competitive game, but lacking real quality, especially in front of goal. Both sides guilty of missing clearcut chances. If I have to pick a winner on points in that first half it was Palace, who showed more quality
45: Injury time
Two minutes added on as Zaha drives into the box and wins a corner. VAR takes a look as he goes down too. No pen
37: Zaha and Schelotto still going at it
With a break in play Zaha and Schelotto go at it again after their earlier clash. Never seen so much action for a sub, can't wait to see what happens if Schelotto actually gets on later
37: Cahill header
Corner to Palace and it is a good one across the six yard box. Ryan doesn't come out to take and Cahill meets it at the back post, but he is off balance and heads down into the ground and over rather than straight into the back of the net.
Another bad miss in this match
36: Benteke walking a fine line
The Palace striker has only just been yellow carded for a poor challenge and now he leads with his elbow and gives a bloody nose to his Brighton marker.
Fancy him to be red carded in this game? He is 7/1 to walk before the end of the game
35: What a miss
Brighton should be 1-0 up there.
Great play gets Trossard down the left, beating the offside trap. Wonderful ball played with the outside of the boot across goal and March arrives at the back post unmarked to surely fire home. He gets it all wrong and fires it into the side netting rather than the back of the night. Terrible miss
33: March goes for goal
March brings a long diagonal down on the right, cuts inside on to his left foot and draws Guaita into a save at full stretch at the near post.
33: Yellow card
Benteke is reckless in a challenge and late and gets a yellow card - the first for a player actually playing.
27: Derby spice
Now the 'derby' spice kicks in. Off the ball Zaha seems to spit towards the crowd or Brighton sub Schelotto, while then putting his hands to his ears to anger the home fans. Schelotto says something and kicks the ball at Zaha and the pair square up.
Schelotto gets yellow carded for it - remember he isn't even on the pitch yet!
25: Gaming slowing down
Both sides have just lost their way in the last few moments and swapping possession in central midfield. A lot of missed place passes happening now as the wind picks up
17: Maupay tries again
Maupay has started brightly and looks most likely to get a goal for the hosts.
He gets more space on the left side of the box but doesn't look like thetr is a gap for him to actually shoot. But a quick shift of the feet and he finds an angle to shoot down low at the near post. Guaita is alert and drives low quickly to tip wide for a corner, which Palace survive and clear
10: Palace go close
Palace blow another chance. Benteke rises high to head a free-kick into the path of Kouyate. He opts to take a touch before shooting and it proves costly, with Ryan racing off his line to smother the shot.
09: Zaha has a run
Zaha drives towards goal but the Brighton defence pass their first challenge with flying colours, with Burn keeping pace with the Ivorian before Dunk comes across to cut out the danger.
04: Benteke big chance
Big chance for Palace. Benteke gets between the sleeping centre-backs and a direct ball down field finds him in on goal, he is on-side and keeper Ryan comes out and is no man's land.
But the striker cannot decide between shooting first time or controlling the ball as it comes down to him on the edge of the box. In the end he does neither and a terrible first touch sees the ball bounce off from him and out for a goal kick
03: Maupay shoots
Early chance for Brighton's Maupay. Back to goal on the left of the area, he shoots on the turn, but get's too much foot around the ball and drags it well wide. He was given too much room to turn there
Murray to score?
Murray is only on the bench today, so worth holding off for now, but if he comes later then it is worth considering that he has scored six goals in his last eight appearances in Brighton v Crystal Palace matches in all competition (2 for Palace, 4 for Brighton), netting in each of his last four for the Seagulls.
03: Maupay shoots
Early chance for Brighton's Maupay. Back to goal on the left of the area, he shoots on the turn, but get's too much foot around the ball and drags it well wide. He was given too much room to turn there
00: Kick-off
And away we go Brighton in the home blue and white stripes, Palace in the all black away kit.
Today's ref is Martin Atkinson.
Pre-match tip
Brighton have conceded first in each of their last four Premier League games, but have come back to draw each of their last three. However, the Seagulls have never won a Premier League home game when conceding first (D10 L14).
Therefore Palace are 11/8 to score the first goal with Sky Bet and worth a look I'd suggest
Brighton team news
Brighton: Ryan, Montoya, Dunk, Webster, Burn, Bissouma, Mooy, Propper, March, Trossard, Maupay
Subs: Button, Stephens, Gros, Jahanbakhsh, Murray, Schelotto, Alzate
Crystal Palace team news
Crystal Palace: Guaita, Ward, Dann, Cahill, Van Aanholt, Kouyate, McArthur, McCarthy, Zaha, Ayew, Benteke
Subs:Hennessey, Milivojevic, Meyer, Townsend, Tosun, Kelly, Riedewald
100 not out for Hodgson
This will be Roy Hodgson’s 100th Premier League game in charge of Crystal Palace (W33 D27 L39), the first club he’s reached the milestone within the competition.
His win rate with the Eagles in the Premier League is 33%, his lowest at any of the five clubs he’s taken charge of.
Pre-match tip
Our Premier League expert George Pitts is advising.....
With how VAR has been this season, Wilfried Zaha's ability to draw in fouls in the final third and the occasional sloppiness in defence from Brighton, the anytime price on Luka Milivojevic could be worth a small play.
The Serbian is a master from the spot and, if he does not find the back of the net, he is likely to go in the book on a derby like this.
He has nine cautions and a red to his name this term in all competitions, with the last couple of yellows coming in recent tight away clashes. He is 2/1 to be shown a card but there is preference to back him to get on the score sheet.
Not only does he take penalties, he also takes the odd set piece and has had nine shots in his last five Premier League appearances - so he is due a goal and actively trying.
Palace have scored three spot-kicks this term and if they are chasing the game then they can look no further than Milivojevic.
Match Stats
- No side is currently on a longer winless run in the Premier League than Brighton, with the Seagulls winless in all seven of their league games in 2020 so far (D5 L2). Indeed, Brighton are the only one of the 91 current Football League sides not to have won a game in any competition so far this calendar year.
- Crystal Palace are looking to win back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since December. However, the Eagles are winless in their last six Premier League away games (D4 L2).
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