This meeting is always heartstopping and victory not assured till the final whistle blew.
15 MARCH 2023 -
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1 ( Solly March ) CRYSTAL PALACE 0
PREMIER LEAGUE -
at the AMERICAN EXPRESS COMMUNITY STADIUM, FALMER.
Albion entertained arch-rivals Crystal Palace in the M23 derby at the Amex in the Premier, the match being broadcast over the airwaves on Talksport 2 and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Following their 2-2 draw at Leeds United on the 11 March, Albion Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made two changes to his starting line-up from that game, with Levi Colwill and Danny Welbeck coming in for Adam Webster (injured) and Evan Ferguson.
Palace were on a bad run, failing so far to win a game in 2023 and not having had a shot on goal in their previous three games. Last time out Palace had lost 0-1 at home to Manchester City on the 11 March and for the visit to the Amex, Manager Patrick Vieira made three changes to his starting line-up from that game, with Joe Whitworth, Cheick Oumar Doucoure and Odsonne Edouard replacing Vicente Guaita, Luka Milivajevic and Jordan Ayew. 19 year old goalkeeper Joe Whitworth was making his Palace debut, in place of the injured Vicente Guaita.
In the reverse fixture a few weeks back on the ll February 2023 at Selhurst Park the teams drew 1-1, with Solly March (63m) netting for the Albion and James Tomkins (69m) equalising for Palace. Last season the teams drew 1-1 twice, at Selhurst Park on the 27 September 2021 with Wilfried Zaha, penalty (45m) scoring for Palace and Neal Maupay (90+5m) equalising for the Albion. In the return fixture at the Amex on the 14 January 2022, Conor Gallagher (69m) netted for Palace, whilst an Joachin Andersen, own goal (87m) provided Albion with a late equaliser
In the 100th league meeting between the Seagulls and the Eagles at a rainswept Amex, it was the Palace who started the brightest and Albion keeper Jason Steele was called upon to make early saves to keep out efforts from Wilfried Zaha, Michael Olise and Odsonne Edouard. On 15 minutes and in their first serious attack the Albion went ahead as Kaoru Mitoma's exquisite pass found Solly March who sent a low left shot across keeper Joe Whitworth into the Palace net. It was March's seventh goal of the season. 1-0.
A last-ditch defensive block by Cheick Oumar Doucoure denied Danny Welbeck as the striker was about to score and then Moises Caicedo saw his goal-bound shot kept out by Albert Sambi Lokonga. At the other end Olise's free-kick found Joachim Andersen at the far post but the defender's shot missed the target. A closely fought first-half.
Half-time 1-0.
Early in the second-half keeper Whitworth made a fine save to keep out a shot from Pervis Estupinan. Play resumed after a short stoppage caused by a power-cut and Whitworth excelled in keeping out a header from Alexis Mac Allister and subsequently the Argentinian's fine run ended with a shot into the side-netting. There was a let-off for Albion near the end when Steele's pass-out was intercepted by substitute Naouirou Ahamada and luckily Ahamada's shot flashed wide of the goal and three more valuable points were added to the Seagull's account.
Final-score 1-0.
Albion had 11 shots at goal, with 5 on target and won 1 corner, free-kicks conceded - 13.
Palace had 11 shots at goal, with 3 on target and won 4 corners, free-kicks conceded - 20.
TO SUM UP - Any win over arch-rivals Crystal Palace is great and this one was no exception. The winning goal by Solly March was excellent. Early on Friday morning (17/3) Palace announced that they had sacked Manager Patrick Vieira.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason Steele; Joel Veltman, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Levi Colwill, Pervis Estupinan; Pascal Gross, Moises Caicedo; Solly March (Adam Webster 90+1), Alexis Mac Allister (Jeremy Sarmiento 88), Kaoru Mitoma (Julio Enciso 79); Danny Welbeck (Evan Ferguson 79).
Subs not used: Robert Sanchez (G/K), Jan Paul Van Hecke, Billy Gilmour, Facundo Buonanotte, Deniz Undav.
Crystal Palace line-up (4-3-3):- Joe Whitworth; Nathaniel Clyne, Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi (Capt), Tyrick Mitchell; Albert Sambi Lokonga, Cheick Oumar Doucoure (Eberichi Eze 46), Jeffrey Schlupp (Naouirou Ahamada 80); Michael Olise (Jordan Ayew 70), Odsonne Edouard (Jean-Philippe Mateta 79), Wilfried Zaha.
Subs not used: Owen Goodman (G/K), Joel Ward, Luka Milivojevic, James Tomkins, Chris Richards.
Referee: Peter Bankes (Merseyside).
Yellow Cards: Albion: 1 - Moises Caicedo. Crystal Palace: 2 - Cheick Oumar Doucoure, Jordan Ayew.
Possession: Albion - 57%. Crystal Palace - 43%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Lewis Dunk (Albion).
Attendance: 30933.