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Match Reports

Brighton vs Crystal Palace Match Report & Player Ratings

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Crystal Palace’s second encounter with Brighton was set to be a fiery affair on the south coast. With just four points between the two rivals, Palace could have gone within one point had they won the match.

Both sides had key players missing, Palace with Zaha, Ayew, and Kouyate at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and McArthur and Tomkins out due to injury. Brighton had star midfielder, Yves Bissouma, away in Cameroon representing Mali in the AFCON tournament and their own injury troubles with Dunk and Mwepu both missing.

Palace had an all but one unchanged side that faced Millwall as Edouard replaced Mateta upfront. This meant that Eze had his first Premier League start to the season and Butland remained in goal even after his howler against the Lions.

First half

Palace got the match underway attacking the end of the Brighton fans, but within the first couple of minutes, Brighton had already upped the pressure on Palace’s defence. Trossard had a shot blocked which would be the first sign for things to come for Palace.

Lallana was finding a lot of space breaking through the lines of Palace’s midfield. The constant onslaught in the first 10 minutes meant that the Eagles couldn’t get out of their half, especially as the passing wasn’t up to scratch.

A headed pass from Ward fell straight to Trossard who was 1v1 with Butland. He made himself big to deny the Belgian striker a goal.

Palace had an attack but Edouard couldn’t deliver a good ball in and the ball was deflected straight at Brighton’s keeper. The first half an hour was dominated by Brighton as Palace struggled to attack. Brighton had many corners in this time with Webster always the target man, he had a header saved, but it was a foul on Guehi anyway.

Yet another corner for Brighton and this time a penalty appeal as Hughes seemed to have his arm around one of Brighton’s player’s necks. The ref went to the monitor to see the replay and awarded Brighton with the penalty. Gross picked up the ball, but before he can take it a flare was thrown on the pitch from the Palace fans.

Once that was cleared, Gross stepped up and had a feeble attempt giving Butland an easy save, great for his confidence after last weekend. The ball eventually went out for another Brighton corner though.

(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

From this, Maupay had the ball in the back of the net, but once again, the ref was over to the monitor to check the goal. Butland had both hands on the ball before Maupay knocked the ball into the goal and so the goal was rightfully disallowed.

That was in the 39th minute which set up the last five minutes to be a nervy time for Palace who wanted it to remain level at the break. Eze picked up the first yellow card of the match after losing possession which forced him to bring down Maupay in Palace’s half.

Second half

Brighton started the second half attacking their home fans and they went close when Moder saw his effort hit the crossbar. But immediately down the other end, Sanchez had to make his first real save of the game from his own defender.

Polish attacking midfield Jakub Moder had another effort on goal with Butland making a save. He could have had a goal by now with his chances in the opening minutes of the second half, plus efforts in the first.

In the 55th minute, Adam Lallana went down as if he was injured and was quickly replaced by the promising youngster Tariq Lamptey. This meant that Brighton changed from a back four to a back three with two wing-backs, Lamptey and Cucurella.

Will Hughes was the second Palace player in the book after a strong, but late tackle, what you like to see in a rivalry such as this one. Play continued, but the ref hadn’t forgotten the challenge so booked him.

Lamptey’s pace down the right side looked troublesome in his first five minutes on the pitch. Mitchell wasn’t having his best game up until then and this made it an even harder challenge for him now.

65th minute in and Vieira decides to make the first substitutions. Eze comes off for Milivojevic and Edouard for Mateta. A change was definitely needed and it was surprising to see Mateta on first in front of Benteke.

The changes helped Palace and four minutes later, who else but Conor Gallagher slotted the ball home. A great run from Ward opened play down the left for Palace with Schlupp running into the byline and eventually pulling it back to Gallagher who finds the bottom right corner. All this in front of the Palace away fans!

Conor Gallagher celebrating his goal in front of Palace away fans
(Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)

Gallagher had another half-chance, but there was no one following up. 72 minutes in and Brighton used their remaining two subs with Welbeck and March on for Veltman and Gross.

Even with the one-goal lead, Brighton still looked the better side with Webster having another chance on goal from a corner kick.

80th minute and it was time for Benteke to replace Olise who hadn’t shone as brightly as he did against Millwall. All game he had been forced to defend more due to Brighton’s heavy attacks.

It felt like it was only a matter of time before Brighton got an equaliser and unfortunately, they did when Maupay went to pull the ball across the box, only for it to go in Palace’s goal off of Andersen’s leg.

(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

He’d been solid at the back all match so it was a shame to see this unlucky goal go in.

This spurred Brighton to go for the win and the two subs, March and Welbeck, linked up a couple of times and went close but couldn’t convert any of their chances. 

There was still time though for Lamptey to go down in the area and appeal for a penalty, only for it to be given as handball against him. The ref was right to award the foul to Palace as it clearly wasn’t a penalty.

Brighton vs Crystal Palace Match Summary

In all honesty, Brighton deserved the win overall, but Palace defended well during the match to keep them from scoring. Palace didn’t press high in the match, which was Vieira’s game plan as he knows that Brighton likes to keep possession and is good at this at the back. Palace would have become open to counterattacks if they pressed higher. Overall, the result for Palace was good as it quite easily could have been another away loss.

Crystal Palace player ratings:

  • Butland – 8.5
  • Andersen – 8
  • Guehi – 8
  • Gallagher – 8
  • Hughes – 6.5
  • Edouard – 6
  • Mitchell – 6
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Match Reports

Crystal Palace vs Southampton Match Report & Highlights

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Odsonne Edouard scoring against Southampton

Crystal Palace hosted Southampton for the Saturday afternoon match and came away with their third consecutive home win. In-form striker Odsonne Edouard scored the only goal of the match in the first half and then Palace defended well in the second half.

It was The Eagles’ final home match before the league stops for the World Cup so it was a vital win going into the final two Premier League matches.

Keep reading to see the match summary and the highlights at the end.

First Half

  • Palace got an early free-kick after Zaha was brought down just outside the area. Milivojevic took it, but it was too close to the goal for the ball to get enough dip and be on target.
  • A dangerous corner from James Ward-Prowse left the Palace defence scrambling to get the ball clear.
  • Olise was brought down cynically and then delivered the ball into the area, but the keeper comfortably punched it out for a corner.
  • Another foul for Palace when Joel Ward was barged off the ball down the right-hand side. Olise’s delivery was well-defended though.
  • Schlupp managed to turn the defender and sprint into Southampton’s penalty area before cutting it back for Milivojevic who had his shot deflected out.
  • A beautiful touch from Eze allowed him to play Zaha in on the left, who squared it for Edouard, but the Frenchman couldn’t get a touch on it to slot it home. He may well have been offside anyway had it gone in.
  • Palace had a penalty shout as Olise appeared to be brought down in the area. On second look, there wasn’t enough in it for it to be a foul.
  • Che Adams was through on goal with Andersen tracking back. The Southampton striker managed to get a shot off and hit the post, but the linesman finally put up his flag for offside.
  • Palace played it around nicely, with Milivojevic finding Eze who had a long-distance effort saved and out for a corner.
  • Moments later Eze had another effort on goal, although Edouard and Zaha were both screaming for the ball.
  • Palace managed to score, but Olise was offside in the build-up to the goal so Edouard’s nutmeg through the keeper’s legs was chalked off.
  • Palace should’ve been in front with all these chances and another fell to Andersen from a corner, but the header was comfortable for Buzunu.
  • Finally, Palace took the lead through a well-worked goal. Zaha won the ball back and played in Mitchell down the left before cutting it back for Edouard to poke it home. 1-0 to The Eagles.

Second Half

  • Elyounoussi had an early effort on goal in the second half and the Southampton players were shouting for handball. VAR decided no penalty as the ball hit Guehi’s foot before touching his hand.
  • Down the other end, Olise was running at The Saints’ defence and ended up unleashing an effort with his weaker right foot. The shot was blocked and Edouard was offside when picking up the rebound.
  • Palace were under pressure in the second half. Adams won a header against Andersen to find Ward-Prowse who then played a great through ball back to him only for Guaita to make a crucial to keep Palace in the lead.
  • Another chance for The Saints as Armstrong travelled down the left flank and unleashed an effort on goal only for Guaita to make another top save.
  • Moments later Armstrong had another effort on goal, this time hitting the outside of the post and then coming back and hitting Ward for a corner.
  • Zaha had a lot of time running at the Southampton left-back that he took too long and saw his poor left-footed effort easily blocked.
  • Mitchell gave the ball away in a dangerous area and Southampton were able to get an effort on goal, but Guaita made another vital save.
  • Jordan Ayew attacked down the right wing and managed to find a cross into Schlupp, but a Southampton defender blocked it.
  • Olise broke away from his man in the Palace half and made ground before finding Ayew. The Ghana international had so much time, but couldn’t pick out Zaha in the middle! Really should’ve been 2-0 with the match over.

Crystal Palace vs Southampton Highlights

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Match Reports

Crystal Palace vs Wolves Match Report & Highlights

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Eze celebrating his goal with Olise in the background

Crystal Palace managed to get their second win in three matches on Tuesday night when they faced Wolves at home. The Eagles went behind in the first half but returned in the second half with Eze and Zaha getting on the scoresheet.

Keep reading to see the key match points and the highlights at the end.

First half

  • Early on Doucoure almost got his first goal for the Eagles when he smacked the post from a long-range effort.
  • Diego Costa should have scored for Wolves, but Ward stuck with him and Guaita made a vital save.
  • Wolves had another effort on goal, but it was deflected wide for a corner.
  • Olise and Eze stood over the ball for a free kick and Eye took it and fired it wide.
  • Andersen had an effort on goal after Eze’s second delivery in from a corner.
  • A quick cross-in from Wolves led to the first goal of the game, Traore headed home from close range.
  • On the edge of halftime, Schlupp found Zaha but he couldn’t keep his shot down blazing it over with his left foot.
  • Doucoure was the first Palace player in the book after bringing down Traore on a run on goal.
  • Palace got lucky when Ruben Neves smacked the post from the free kick of this foul. That was half-time.

Second half

  • Within two minutes of the restart, Palace equalised through a great team goal that started with Eze in the middle of the pitch and ended with Olise crossing it to him to head home. Clearly, Vieira’s half-time team talk pushed the players to fight back fast.
  • Edouard couldn’t get enough on his shot to work the keeper and the ball didn’t fall right for Olise. Ward followed it up but was penalised for a foul on the Wolves keeper.
  • Zaha showed great strength and resilience when he battled three Wolves players in his own half and came away with the ball. This led to some great build-up play and finally an acrobatic bicycle-kick effort from Edouard who wasn’t far off the goal. It would’ve been one of the goals of the season had it gone in.
  • Andersen played a great ball to Mitchell to attack the Wolves’ penalty area. The ball fell to Eze who set up Zaha, but Jose Sa made a comfortable save.
  • Moments later, Eze played a great through ball to Edouard who then found Zaha in the middle. He had another time to take a touch and then smash it past the keeper, 2-1 Palace.
  • Late on down the other end though, Wolves still posed a threat when Collins missed a sitter. The referee did blow for offside though so it wouldn’t have counted if he did score.

Crystal Palace vs Wolves Highlights

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Match Reports

Leicester vs Crystal Palace Match Report & Highlights

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Olise under pressure from Dewsbury-Hall

The match between Crystal Palace and Leicester was one that we didn’t want to rewatch on Match of the Day. It ended in a 0-0 draw with the match being very scrappy and Palace only having one shot on target in the match.

If Leicester had more confidence on the day they would’ve won easily so Palace were lucky to come away with a point. As Milivojevic said after the game, the positive to take away from the game is that it’s a clean sheet away from home.

Palace now host Wolves at home on Tuesday night and Vieira will hope his team can get into better-attacking positions then.

Keep reading for the brief match summary points as well as the highlights.

First half

  • The ball came to Doucoure on the edge of the area who then found Zaha but he got too much under the ball and it went much too high.
  • Down the other end, Daka, tested Guaita with a powerful shot but the Spaniard easily parried it away for a corner.
  • Guehi had a chance to put Palace ahead but he headed it over the bar when he really should’ve found the target. He looked frustrated with himself.
  • Zaha found Eze in the middle of the pitch with enough time and space to line up a shot and forced Danny Ward to make a save.

Second half

  • Milivojevic and Riedewald on for Mitchell and Doucoure
  • Castagne had an effort from long range but it was a comfortable catch for Guaita.
  • Maddison then watched a scuffed effort dribble past the post.
  • Patient build-up from Palace led to Edouard having a good effort on goal, but Leicester’s keeper saved it easily.
  • Zaha came off for Mateta, the Ivory Coast international wasn’t happy about being taken off, but he never got into the match.
  • Maddison’s corner into Castagne caused a scare for palace fans but Guaita handled it well.
  • Iheahanacho’s effort on goal from a short corner
  • A minute later the Nigerian international caused more trouble with Dewsbury-Hall going close and claiming handball.
  • Maddison went down in the area in stoppage time from a challenge from Milivojevic but the referee saw it clearly and immediately booked Maddison for simulation.

Leicester vs Crystal Palace Highlights

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