The lowdown on Brighton 1 Crystal Palace 3 – Ismail Sarr’s upturn in form a huge factor in recent improved form

BY ADAM SELLS

Crystal Palace ran out emphatic 3-1 winners against Brighton at the Amex Stadium.

Here is the lowdown on the game.

THE LINE-UPS

Crystal Palace: Henderson, Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi, Munoz, Mitchell (Clyne 85), Lerma, Hughes (Doucoure 85), Sarr (Devenny 90), Eze (Kamada 60), Mateta (Nketiah 60). Subs not used: Turner, Clyne, Kporha, Doucoure, Devenny, Schlupp, Agbinone.

Brighton: Verbruggen, Lamptey (Enciso 46), van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan, Yasin Ayari, Baleba (Wieffer), Minteh (Adingra 72), Pedro, Mitoma, Rutter. Subs not used: Steele, Igor, McConville, Adingra, Moder, Wieffer, Gruda, Ferguson.

SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME

This was perhaps the classic away victory in many ways. Brighton were very good in spells, but displayed a fragility with Oliver Glasner’s men capitalising on the type of form that has seen Albion drop points in recent weeks.

Fabian Hurzeler’s team started positively, moving the ball quickly and looking slick, but after Trevoh Chalobah cashed in on some terrible defending from a corner midway through the first half, they lost their way completely.

Ismaila Sarr headed home a hanging Tyrick Mitchell cross after the ball fell fortuitously for the left wing-back.

After the break Palace were forced to defend resolutely, with Dean Henderson making some big saves, after the home side switched to a 3-5-2 formation. But as in the first half, Sarr cashed in on further defensive uncertainty to relieve the pressure, though the Palace goalkeeper may have been culpable in the melee that lead to Marc Guehi’s late own goal, it was never going to lead to a spectacular comeback.

TACTICAL APPROACH
The high line adopted by the hosts certainly suited Palace, particularly Sarr. The Senegalese forward’s pace has seen the team be very dangerous on the counter-attack. Recent opponents such as Tottenham, Aston Villa and Manchester City have had difficulty in coping with the new threat, with that type of thrust sorely missing in the earlier part of the season.

STAR MAN
Ismaila Sarr. His upturn in form has been huge in Palace’s recent run of results.

BEST MOMENT
Sarr leaving Lewis Dunk trailing in his wake before slotting past Bart Verbruggen to seal the points. A goal that was very similar to his effort at Villa Park last month.

MOAN OF THE MATCH
There wasn’t too much for any Palace fan to moan about, though many may have thought that the decision to chalk off Daniel Munoz’s ‘goal’ for a foul by Sarr may have been a little soft.

A TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB
Are Palace starting to look up the table rather than over their shoulders? One defeat in the last nine, is positive progress, though it is still only three wins in 16. If there is a desire to improve the attacking part of the squad next month, then the second half of the season may be an enjoyable one.

WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY
“It was important for us as a team. With this performance, we struggled in the first ten minutes and fifteen minutes after half-time when they changed the system to 3-5-2. Henderson made two great saves, but in the rest of the game, I think we controlled it, defended well and didn’t give them a lot of space. We were always threatening them and played very direct into the half.”

PICTURE: ALAMY