AWAY AT CRYSTAL PALACE
11 FEBRUARY 2023 -
CRYSTAL PALACE 1 ( James Tomkins 1 - 69 minutes )
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1 ( Solly March 1 -63 minutes ) -
PREMIER LEAGUE - at SELHURST PARK, SOUTH LONDON.
Unbeaten in all their competitive games in 2023, a confident Albion squad travelled to South London for the M23 derby against arch-rivals Crystal Palace in the Premier at Selhurst Park, in a match broadcast by BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
In their previous Premier League outing on the 4 February, the Seagulls beat AFC Bournemouth 1-0 at the Amex and Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made three changes to his starting line-up from that game, with Adam Webster, Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister replacing Tariq Lamptey, Billy Gilmour and Danny Welbeck.
Last time out Palace had lost 1-2 at Manchester United in the Premier on the 4 February and Manager Patrick Vierira made two changes to his starting line-up from that game, with James Tomkins and Jean-Philippe Mateta coming in for Chris Richards and Odsonne Edouard.
In last season's meetings in the Premier, the teams drew 1-1 at Selhurst Park on the 27 September 2021 with Wilfried Zaha (45m, penalty) netting for Palace and Neal Maupay (90+5m) getting a last-minute equaliser for the Seagulls. In the reverse fixture at the Amex on the 14 January 2022 the teams again drew 1-1 with Conor Gallagher (69m) putting Palace ahead with the Albion drawing level through a Joachim Andersen (87m, own goal).
Prior to kick-off Albion occupied sixth spot in the Premier with 34 points from 20 games whilst Palace were in twelth position with 24 points from 21 games.
It was all Albion from the start as on 12 minutes Solly March's precise pass found Alexis Mac Allister whose goal-bound shot saw Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita make a fine one-handed save to deny the Argentinian. Minutes later Deniz Undav and March combined to set-up Mac Allister whose shot was again saved by Guaita. Next it was Kaoru Mitoma to suffer as he saw his shot saved by Guaita at full stretch. Albion thought they had made the breakthrough on the half-hour when Pascal Gross's through pass found the on-running Pervis Estupinan who guided the ball into the Palace net from close-range. However, a VAR check ruled the goal offside. Subsequently an analysis of the VAR decision found it to be called wrong stating "human error".
Just prior to the break Palace defender Nathaniel Clyne made a fine intervention to deflect a Mac Allister shot over his own crossbar.
Half-time 0-0.
Second-half saw Albion continue on the front foot as March went close on a couple of occasions but on 63 minutes the Seagulls took the lead they richly deserved when Estupinan sent in a cross from the left to the far post where March won his duel with Palace defender Tyrick Mitchell to smash the ball home. It was March's fifth goal of the season. 0-1.
Albion's lead didnt last long when on 69 minutes the usually reliable Robert Sanchez dropped a free-kick from Michael Olise into the path of James Tomkins who had the easy task of heading the ball into an empty net. It was the home side's first attempt on goal. 1-1.
Before the end MacAllister had two chances to restore Albion's lead, firstly sending a header wide from a Gross corner and later having his shot saved by keeper Guaita. A case of two points dropped by the Seagulls.
Final-score 1-1.
Albion had 17 shots at goal, with 7 on target and won 6 corners, free-kicks conceded - 11.
Palace had 6 shots at goal, with 1 on target and won 1 corner, free-kicks conceded - 10.
TO SUM UP - Albion should have won this one with ease. VAR incorrectly ruled out Pervis Estupinan's first Albion goal and rightly VAR Official John Brooks was taken off his next two VAR assignments on the 13 and 15 February. The Palace goal was a gift from Albion keeper Robert Sanchez and their only attempt on target. Definitely two points dropped by the Seagulls but they still retained sixth spot in the Premier.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Robert Sanchez; Joel Veltman, Adam Webster (Tariq Lamptey 76), Lewis Dunk (Capt), Pervis Estupinan; Pascal Gross, Moises Caicedo; Solly March, Alexis Mac Allister, Kaoru Mitoma; Deniz Undav (Evan Ferguson 57).
Subs not used; Jason Steele (G/K), Jan Paul Van Hecke, Yasin Ayari, Facundo Buonanotte, Julio Enciso, Jeremy Sarmiento, Andrew Moran.
Crystal Palace line-up (4-4-2):- Vicente Guaita; Nathaniel Clyne, James Tomkins, Marc Guehi (Capt), Tyrick Mitchell; Michael Olise (Naouirou Ahamada 84), Cheick Oumar Doucoure, Will Hughes (Albert Sambi Lokonga 56), Jeffrey Schlupp (Eberechi Eze 71); Jordan Ayew, Jean-Philippe Mateta (Odsonne Edouard 71).
Subs not used: Sam Johnstone (G/K), Luka Milivojevic, James McArthur, Joe Whitworth (G/K), Jairo Riedewald.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland). VAR Official: John Brooks.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 1 - Alexis Mac Allister.
Crystal Palace: 4 - Tyrick Mitchell, Cheick Oumar Doucoure, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Will Hughes.
Possession: Albion - 74%. Crystal Palace - 26%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Solly March (Albion).
Attendance: 24827.
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES:
18 FEBRUARY 2023 - FULHAM - home - Premier League - kick-off 15.00.
28 FEBRUARY 2023 - STOKE CITY - away - FA Cup Fifth Round -
kick-off 19.15. "Live" on ITV4.
Jack Kaye.
16 February 2023.