Crystal Palace 1 Brighton 1: Danny Welbeck rescues Seagulls point as Eagles make it seven without home win
DANNY WELBECK’S late header saved Bart Verbruggen’s blushes at Crystal Palace.
The Brighton keeper looked to have handed their bitter rivals an early Christmas present as his first half mistake ended with Jordan Ayew heading the Eagles ahead.
But sub Welbeck, only just back from a hamstring injury, saved the day with his 82nd minute equaliser.
It was a second straight home game that Palace, who were hard done by against Liverpool here last time out, looked like they had won before letting it slip.
And while Roy Hodgson is under no immediate pressure, the sacking of Steve Cooper – well liked in the boardroom here – has made his position just that little bit more uncomfortable.
It looked so close to being a masterclass performance from his side, getting ahead just before the break and holding out almost until the last under continuous pressure across the second half.
Brighton dominated the ball from the off but it took them almost 20 minutes to carve out an opening, when Simon Adringra sent an effort straight at the gloves of Dean Henderson.
Palace were being brave in possession and looking to play out from the back, but had struggled to break out of their own half early on.
They were defending well, with Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi looking back to their best.
Having restricted their rivals, Palace grew in confidence on the front foot as Brighton fell back.
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Jean-Philippe Mateta snatched at an effort teed up by Olise before Jan Paul van Hecke, Billy Gilmour and Carlos Baleba had to throw themselves in-front of a string of scrappy shots.
It was Palace’s French winger who was proving the main threat, constantly looking to drive at the Seagulls back line.
For all his brilliance on the ball it was Olise’s anticipation of a Brighton balls-up which made the difference on the stroke of half time.
Roberto De Zerbi has brought brilliant football to Brighton but it doesn’t come without its risks.
After a long spell walking the tightrope of trying to play around Palace yards from their own goal, things went wrong.
Verbruggen turned under pressure from Chris Richards and tried to play out wide, only for Olise to jump up and get his head in the way. The ball fell to Hughes, who quickly played it back to the No7 and watched him lift a perfect cross to the far post for Ayew to nod in.
It is no wonder they are on the longest run in the club’s history without a clean sheet, now reaching 22 games.
De Zerbi showed his frustration at the break with a double change, hooking the chaotic Carlos Baleba and Adingra, sending on Welbeck and Facundo Buonanotte – changes which did the job.
Brighton were back on the front foot, Lewis Dunk sending a header wide of the far post when Dean Henderson was stranded.
Jack Hinshelwood, played in with a Welbeck backheel, should have done better with a chance that left him tumbling in the box after kicking the ground instead of the ball.
Buonanotte then did well to set up Mitoma for a crack but his tame effort was straight at Henderson.
Palace were holding out but Brighton kept knocking – Henderson having to save well from a low Gilmour shot before Hinshelwood blasted a back-post effort miles over from Pascal Gross’ cross.
Twice Eberechi Eze had the chance to double the lead before Mateta fired an effort high and wide – wasted chances which were soon punished.
Gross had been pushing throughout and launched another cross into the box which a Brighton player finally met, Welbeck rising high to loop his header over Henderson and just under the bar.
Palace hardly looked in a rush to bite back with a winner from there, sparking understandable frustration from the home support.