‘Always in the air’ – Roy Hodgson assesses Crystal Palace’s draw at home to arch-rivals Brighton

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson believed a Brighton equaliser was always on the cards in their 1-1 draw on Thursday evening.

The Eagles took the lead just before half-time when Michael Olise collected the ball from a Brighton mistake and whipped a cross to the back post for Jordan Ayew to head past Bart Verbruggen.

Hodgson’s side had the perfect opportunity to double their advantage when Jean-Philippe Mateta glided past Lewis Dunk and played through Eberechi Eze, but the Greenwich-born attacker was unable to apply the finish.

Brighton equalised in the 82nd minute when a cross from Pascal Gross landed at substitute Danny Welbeck, who looped a perfect header over Dean Henderson and into the back of the net.

The Eagles have only won once at home in the Premier League this season and are winless in their last five outings against the Seagulls.

Hodgson said: “We didn’t let it slip, but we were unable to reproduce in the second half the quality of performance in the first half, where we really did peg them back and stop them from playing the way they wanted to play.

“As the game wore on, they got better at that and forced us to work even harder to keep them at bay. 

“An equalising goal was always in the air during that second half, at least in the last half an hour of that second half.

“It was a wonder header from Welbeck. You’re unlucky if you get those goals against you.

“It was a good point against a good team. We did well enough from our side to get a point, but we’re still desperately looking for those three points at home. 

“With 10 minutes to go and being one-nil up, you hope that you’re able to hold out, but we weren’t able to.

“I don’t believe the players can be doing much more than they’re doing at the moment [to get three points].

“We had two extremely good chances – both fell to Eze. Unfortunately, we didn’t convert them, but the chances were there in the second half.”