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Superb goals by Glenn Murray and Anthony Knockaert gave the Seagulls a deserved victory at Selhurst.

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Sat 9 Mar 2019 10.05 ESTFirst published on Sat 9 Mar 2019 06.30 EST
Knockaert’s teammates surround him after scoring Brighton’s second goal.
Knockaert’s teammates surround him after scoring Brighton’s second goal. Photograph: Harriet Lander/Copa/Getty Images
Knockaert’s teammates surround him after scoring Brighton’s second goal. Photograph: Harriet Lander/Copa/Getty Images

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Roy Hodgson’s turn. “We did dominate possession, we had a lot of the ball, and came across a packed defence. It wasn’t easy to create clear-cut chances, though we can’t be accused of not trying to. But the first goal comes from a ball in the swirling wind which makes life difficult for James Tomkins, and sets up beautifully for Glenn Murray. We had high hopes at 1-1, that we would go on to use our possession and territorial advantage to get a second goal. But of course we found ourselves on the end of a magnificent strike, right on the joint, that turns out to be the winning goal. It’s not as though we were outplayed, it’s because we couldn’t turn our possession into chances. Our priority is to stay in the Premier League, but if we can get to a cup semi-final that would be a nice thing to do too.”

Chris Hughton speaks! “It’s a manly performance, particularly conceding when we did in the second half. The place was rocking then. But we weathered the storm. We had real good opportunities to break and increase our scoreline. I’ve been told their penalty was a penalty, so I have no complaints. We scored two excellent goals to win the game. We want to see that more often from Anthony Knockaert, with his ability. The goal caps a good all-round performance by him.” As for his potential sending off in the first 15 seconds? “From where I was, and I was very close, no.” Are you close to safety? “I’ve always maintained you need 40 points. It might be less than that, but it’s our goal.”

Today’s expected goals result: Crystal Palace 1.52, Brighton & Hove Albion 0.16. Commiserations to the Seagulls on an extremely disappointing afternoon. Can Chris Hughton survive this calamity?

Glenn Murray speaks to Sky! “A huge result for us. We’ve come off the back of some poor form, we got a crucial win last weekend and to back it up with these three points is crucial for us. Obviously I wasn’t meant to be starting, and got drafted in late. It’s great to get the goal. I’m delighted to get the three points.”

Brighton’s other goalscoring hero Anthony Knockaert adds: “It’s amazing, a great feeling. Obviously we were desperate to get back-to-back wins, and we did it. It’s nice to help the team, and to get the winning goal in a derby is special. I saw the space for me to go inside, but could not hit the first time. I took an extra touch and had more space, it was a superb finish. I am buzzing!”

Brighton cavort in the corner, celebrating a huge win over their enemy! It’s a result that gives their survival hopes a huge boost, back-to-back Premier League wins recorded just when folk were beginning to question their capacity to stay up. A worrying slump reversed in memorable fashion. And Knockaert’s goal will live long in the memory. He’s very much earned the right to take off his shirt, dance around, and salute his fans. Brighton are up to 14th, on 33 points, behind 13th-placed Palace on goal difference but with a game in hand. It was a deserved victory for the Seagulls: they scored two fantastic goals and were resolute in defence. Palace, a brief spell after the break aside, were poor.

FULL TIME: Crystal Palace 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion

Anthony Knockaert’s sensational curler wins the M23 derby! Brighton join Palace on 33 points, nudging clear of danger, after completing their first league double over their arch rivals since 1983-84!

Knockaert celebrates with teammates after scoring Brighton’s second goal. Photograph: Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images
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90 min +5: Locadia comes on for Jahanbakhsh. Palace win a corner from the throw, and yet another set piece becomes a total non-event.

90 min +4: Zaha and Bernardo go nose to nose as Palace win a thrown deep on the right. All nonsense.

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90 min +3: Bernardo takes a heavy touch as he clears his lines and moves upfield. He’s booked for lunging in on Meyer. That’s a free kick, 30 yards out on the right. And it’s wasted, Brighton clearing easily.

90 min +1: Zaha crosses from the right. Batshuayi rises but can’t beat Dunk. The ball drops to Schlupp, standing alone on the penalty spot. The ball takes a while to come down, though, which means Schlupp is rushing to take his shot ... and his effort flies harmlessly over the crossbar!

Schlupp’s strike goes over. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images
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89 min: Dann is booked for charging March to the ground as the Brighton player raced along the right touchline. No complaints.

87 min: Van Aanholt collides with March. A totally innocent accident, but the Palace man has hurt himself there. He’s down receiving treatment, in some pain.

85 min: Brighton knock the ball around in reasonably calm style, given the way this match is poised. They earn a couple of free kicks, chances to run the clock down in a professional manner. Tick, tock.

83 min: It’s tense end-to-end fun. For the neutral, that is, almost certainly not for fans of Palace and Brighton. A corner for Palace out on the right. The delivery doesn’t allow Benteke a header towards goal. Brighton mop up.

82 min: Jahanbakhsh makes a little space for himself, 25 yards out, and nearly out-Knockaerts Knockaert. He sends a dipping shot inches over the crossbar, Guaita not necessarily getting to it, had it been on target.

80 min: Bissouma robs Meyer and suddenly Brighton are countering four on three, Palace having over-committed in attack. The ball’s shuttled wide right towards March, but the sub hesitates and dribbles himself into a state of confusion, before lamely giving possession back to the hosts.

79 min: Bernardo stops Zaha out on the right. Unfairly so. Free kick, and a chance for Palace to load the box. Benteke will fancy this. But Milivojevic fails to beat the first man, and Brighton clear. That was a very poor delivery.

GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion (Knockaert 74)

This is a sensational goal, one of the season’s best! Knockaert is found out on the right touchline with a long pass. He cuts inside, past van Aanholt, along the front of the Palace box. When he reaches the right-hand side of the D, he curls a shot towards the top left. It’s right in the corner, off the angle and in, giving Guaita no chance! That was a precision whip into the top left! What a strike!

Knockaert scores a sublime goal. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Reuters
Knockaert celebrates. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Action Images via Reuters
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72 min: Brighton are giving up a few half-chances now. Milivojevic drifts in from the left and looks for the bottom right. It’s not a million miles away, but wide, and Ryan had it covered.

71 min: Zaha forces Knockaert into a poor clearance out on the Palace left. That allows Townsend to take up possession and cut inside, but he welts a dreadful effort miles over the bar while looking, presumably, for the top right.

70 min: Murray cynically clips Milivojevic’s heel, and quite correctly goes in the book. Schlupp comes across to take issue with the brazen foul; he’s told to pipe down by both Murray and the referee. But it all calms down quickly enough. Poor Milivojevic, though, he’s been tossed around like an old sock this afternoon.

69 min: Zaha tries to inject some quality into an increasingly scrappy game. He dribbles elegantly down the inside-left channel, drifts inside as he reaches the area, and for a second looks to have adroitly engineered a little space to shoot. But there’s simply too many green shirts swarming him, and eventually he’s crowded out. Brighton clear.

65 min: A bit of a lull, which will make Brighton happy. They’ve been second best in this second half, and need a little time to clear their heads. Passes aren’t sticking.

63 min: Murray and Milivojevic contest a high ball in the centre circle. The Palace captain comes off worst, falling onto his head from a great height, Murray having stood his ground with great determination. He’s been in the thick of the battle today, pretty much from the get-go. But he’s hardy, and is good to continue.

61 min: A corner for Palace down the right. Brighton deal with it easily. But that doesn’t stop Chris Hughton looking concerned with the direction of travel in this match. He’s in full Ponder Mode on the touchline.

60 min: Dunk and Batshuayi chase a ball towards touch down the Palace left. It’s going to be a Palace throw; Dunk gives the striker a cheeky little shove in the back. Batshuayi isn’t particularly happy to be pushed face down into pitchside dirt, but the officials see nothing wrong with it. Garden-variety derby nonsense.

58 min: Propper creams a long pass down the left for JahanBakhsh, who does extremely well to keep the ball in play and makes good for the box. Just before he gets there, he’s upended by Tomkins, and should be awarded a free kick near the left-hand corner of the area. But the referee waves play on. Brighton aren’t happy; they need to take the pressure off as much as anything, because it’s been all Palace since the restart.

56 min: McArthur drives at the Brighton defence, the hosts retreating in a panic. He’s got options either side, but slams a pass left, meant for Zaha, straight into touch. That was a real wasted opportunity, because Zaha would have been taking on Montoya, who is on a yellow card.

54 min: Duffy faffs around as the ball bounces 25 yards from goal. He fails to head, then control, and Batshuayi takes over. The striker can’t quite tear clear, and slips a pass right to Townsend, who eventually shoots over. Duffy really got away with one there. Brighton are rocking.

52 min: The penalty incident came after some good work from Batshuayi and McArthur, both causing problems on the edge of the box with some twinkling toes before Townsend took over. A result of Palace having taken it up a notch.

GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion (Milivojevic 50 pen)

The wind blows the ball off the spot. But Milivojevic has ice in the veins, and knows what he’s doing from 12 yards. He calmly whips the penalty into the top right, sending Ryan the wrong way. Selhurst erupts! That’s a perfect start to the half for the hosts!

Palace’s number one penalty taker steps up and scores. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Action Images via Reuters
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Penalty for Crystal Palace!

49 min: Townsend has the ball just inside the Brighton box. He drops a shoulder to the left, in the hope of making some space for a shot. Propper sticks out a leg and Townsend goes over it. A no-brainer of a decision! What a poor challenge by Propper.

Townsend accepts the invitation from Propper. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images
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47 min: Jahanbakhsh still hasn’t scored for Brighton. He has an attempt from 25 yards, out on the left. Guaita is behind it all the way.

46 min: Palace appear to have been given a rocket by Roy. They’re scuttling around in determined fashion. But passes still aren’t sticking. Van Aanholt drives down the left but is quickly robbed of possession. The first groans of the second period.

HALF TIME: Crystal Palace 0-1 Brighton & Hove Albion

Palace only really got going after 44 minutes or so; the half-time whistle comes just as they were finally asking some questions of Brighton. They trudge off with some thinking to do. Brighton will be very happy with their first-half work.

Zaha reacts after a wayward shot. Photograph: Ian Tuttle/BPI/REX/Shutterstock
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45 min +1: Brighton deal with the corner easily. But Palace come again, McArthur shaping a shot from out on the left, towards the top right. It’s deflected out for a corner. Townsend floats a ball in from the right. It’s half cleared. Tomkins, running backwards, clatters into Knockaert and wants a penalty. But he was going down before contact, looking for it, and the referee’s not interested.

45 min: Palace push Brighton back into their final third, and suddenly a little space opens up. Finally. Zaha and Batshuayi combine down the inside-left channel and the latter is able to take a shot from a tight angle. But Ryan’s got it covered, and the ball is deflected out for a corner.

43 min: Milivojevic sprays a pass down the right, Wan-Bissaka the intended target. It flies straight out for a goal kick. The Brighton fans, already in good cheer, enjoyed that. Palace need the half-time whistle, and some beneficial advice from their manager.

41 min: Zaha hasn’t had any space to work in. But here his sheer persistence, and refusal to give up a lost cause, earns a corner out on the left.

39 min: More pinball soccer. And most of it’s in the middle of the park, too. Not much to report, in other words. Brighton will be perfectly happy with this, of course. Selhurst is quiet by its own high standards.

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