Crystal Palace withstand pressure to keep Seagulls grounded in draw
Whether you call this match El Gatwicko, the M23 Derby or refuse to acknowledge it as a derby, there was certainly something in the air as Brighton came to Selhurst Park.
Alexis Mac Allister was at the centre of the early battle, receiving and handing out a robust challenge.
The Argentine also had the two biggest opportunities of the opening 20 minutes as the Seagulls imposed themselves, although Vicente Guaita comfortably saved both efforts.
The Spaniard was given a bigger test by Kaoru Mitoma after some lovely build-up play but was up to the task again.
Pervis Estupiñán thought he’d opened the scoring shortly after the half-hour mark, as he latched onto Pascal Groß pass and sent the ball spinning past Guaita, but he was denied by a marginal offside call.
At the other end, Adam Webster made a superb block to deny Jean-Philippe Mateta on two separate occasions. Estupiñán hit another right-footed shot early in the second half, although he was denied by a block from Nathaniel Clyne on that occasion.
There was a blow for Palace, as Will Hughes was forced off through injury in the 57th minute having put in a determined display.
Things got worse for the hosts just six minutes later, as Solly March reached Estupiñán’s cross ahead of Tyrick Mitchell and provided a clinical finish for his fifth goal in the winger’s last seven PL appearances, continuing his best-ever goal scoring season.
The Seagulls’ lead was shortlived, though, as Robert Sánchez dropped what should have been a routine ball into the box and was punished by James Tomkins’ header.
While Mac Allister passing up a brilliant headed opportunity late meant the spoils were shared, Palace’s winless run stretched to six PL matches, the joint-longest run of Patrick Vieira’s tenure at Selhurst Park.
Meanwhile, Brighton remain unbeaten in six across all competitions but will feel they could have had more.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Pervis Estupiñán (Brighton & Hove Albion)
