Four takeaways from Crystal Palace’s 4-1 defeat at Brighton – Eagles may live to regret not adding to their attacking ranks in January

Crystal Palace suffered a 4-1 defeat at arch-rivals Brighton on Saturday afternoon.

The Seagulls were 3-0 up at half-time, with Jean-Philippe Mateta pulling one back in the 71st minute.

But Joao Pedro scored Brighton’s fourth in the 85th minute to kill off the game.

Here are Adam Sells’ four takeaways from The Amex:

NO OLISE, NO EZE, NO THREAT…

Both Palace’s matchwinners in midweek were absent from the starting line-up, with Michael Olise named as a substitute after being declared by the medical team as available to play for a limited time.

Disaster struck within nine minutes of coming on, as the pairs’ wretched luck with injuries continued. 

Olise pulled up with yet another hamstring issue, which led to widespread criticism of Roy Hodgson for bringing on the mercurial French wide man, with his team already 0-3 behind.

With the benefit of hindsight, the Eagles boss would of course have left Olise on the bench, but had he done so, he would have been criticised for giving up, so you’re dammed if you do and damned if you don’t.

Any which way, without Olise or Eberechi Eze, there is very little chance of winning Premier League football matches.

TIME TO TURN TO FRANCA?

With the potential layoffs facing Olise and Eze, Hodgson may have to turn to summer signing Matheus Franca.

The young Brazilian has yet really to make his mark but showed up well after coming on around the hour mark.

What has been apparent, is the work being done in the gym, with the strength starting to match the technical ability.

When used in wide areas, Franca has struggled to beat the full-back on the outside and that has made him easier to defend against.

Using him centrally when he can face up an opponent and go either way may suit him best and see Palace unlock his undoubted potential.

TOO EASY…

Perhaps the most concerning element of the defeat was the nature of the goals conceded.

Hodgson’s Palace teams have been hard to beat in general and that has been a real hallmark of his reigns at the club.

Whilst lacking a real attacking threat, the nature of the goals conceded in recent weeks have been a little soft.

Again here, Palace were behind early as Lewis Dunk lost Joachim Andersen to nod home from five yards, which set the tone.

Palace are going to have to be meaner if they are to going to pick up points going forward, particularly with the attacking options so limited.

You must feel for Dean Henderson right now. The former Manchester United has conceded another four, but again it was impossible to point the finger at the big-money signing.

FOUR GOALS – FOUR OUT!

Four was not the magic number.

Not only did Palace concede four, it looks like they must do without Olise, Eze, Cheick Doucoure and now Marc Guehi, arguably their four most important players.

There seems little going the way of Hodgson’s men right now. Though, on the plus side, there were debuts for Daniel Munoz and Adam Wharton.

The latter turned in the most impressive performance of the two and wanted to get on the ball as much as possible.

There is little doubt both have much to offer, but it was difficult to grade them, given the limp nature of the first-half display.

Palace may live to regret not adding to their attacking ranks in January in addition to the aforementioned Munoz and Wharton.

Goals have been hard to come by and without further investment in wide players, the trend may continue right through to May.