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Joachim Andersen own goal rescues point for dominant Brighton in draw over rivals Crystal Palace

Joachim Andersen own goal rescues point for dominant Brighton in draw over rivals Crystal Palace - PA
Joachim Andersen own goal rescues point for dominant Brighton in draw over rivals Crystal Palace - PA
  • Brighton have penalty saved and goal ruled out by Var in first half

  • Gallagher gives Palace barely deserved second-half lead

  • Late Andersen own goal saves Brighton

No lead is safe in this curious derby, no matter how late in the game, and one of the Premier League’s most dramatic fixtures once again lived up to its billing on a ferocious, breathless night at the Amex.

Late goals are almost a guarantee when it comes to Crystal Palace and Brighton, and once again it was Brighton who found an equaliser as the clock ticked down. Just as it had been in south London in September, Brighton had to wait and wait for their moment to come. At the precise moment the stomachs started to tighten, and the belief started to ebb away, they had the reward they deserved: a Joachim Andersen own goal, forced by fine build-up play down the left.

Palace snatched a last-gasp victory here last season, so they would have known what was possible after Conor Gallagher had given them a lead they barely deserved. Patrick Vieira tried to hold on, to set up his team in a victory-securing formation, but Brighton finally wore them down at the moment they needed it most.

Graham Potter’s side still have a problem with taking their chances, and they could add a missed penalty here to their long list of wasted opportunities. Pascal Gross was the guilty culprit, and there were other chances too for a team that loves to dominate without ever making the most of it. A draw felt harsh on them, but they could only blame themselves.

The rivalry between these teams may be strange but that does not mean it is not fierce, and the night crackled with tension and intensity from the first minute. Palace are the team that Brighton love to beat, perhaps more than any other, but in the Premier League they have struggled to do so recently. Here, Potter’s players started as if their five-game winless run against Palace was a personal insult to each and every one of them.

At their energetic best, Brighton are a fast and fluid side capable of fashioning chances at will. They were not quite so creative in the opening half an hour on the south coast, but they were still dominant before the break. Aside from a few moments of counter-attacking promise, Palace were reliant on goalkeeper Jack Butland to keep them level.

Butland’s first save of significance came after 10 minutes, when Leandro Trossard ran through on goal following a defensive mix-up. His second was to deny Gross from the penalty spot, diving low to his left as the Brighton midfielder clipped a strange effort neither down the middle nor towards the corner.

The penalty was the result of a Var check, with referee Robert Jones needing a second look before deciding that Will Hughes had thrown Joel Veltman to the turf. Vieira raged at the decision, looking every inch the domineering presence he was during his playing days, but only seconds passed before he was suddenly thanking the Var gods instead.

This time it was a foul on Butland that Jones had missed, with Neal Maupay using his knee to knock the ball from the Palace goalkeeper’s hands. Maupay, a master of the wind-up, celebrated with customary glee in front of the away supporters, so one can imagine he felt more than a little sheepish when his effort was subsequently scrubbed off.

The same flow continued after the break, when Jakub Moder looked the most likely to break the deadlock. The Poland midfielder, rangy and dangerous, first struck the bar with a neat volley. For all the attacking potential in the Palace team, where Michael Olise, Gallagher and Eberechi Eze buzzed around Odsonne Edouard, they barely produced an attack of note. Only Olise showed a willingness to take the game to Brighton, and he had little support in that regard.

That was all to change, though, with one sweeping move. From back to front they worked the ball, playing through the lines and pulling Brighton out of shape. Eventually it came to Jeffrey Schlupp, and from there to Gallagher. His powerful finish was typically emphatic. Brighton had to attack, to push with all they had, and Andersen was the man who buckled as Maupay’s cross struck him on the toe and trickled, agonisingly slowly, over the line.


Brighton vs Palace: as it happened


10:03 PM

That's all folks

Thanks for joining us for this entertaining match,

Sam Dean's match report from the Amex is above.

Goodnight.


10:02 PM

Premier League table as it stands


09:55 PM

Full-time: BRI 1 PAL 1

It was their last chance. Brighton, the better team, only take a point.

You suspect Palace will scurry off back to London quietly chuffed with that.


09:54 PM

90+3 mins: BRI 1 PAL 1

Brighton think they have a penalty shout as Lamptey hits the deck in the Palace area, but there's very little in it.

That might have been there last chance.


09:53 PM

90+2 mins: BRI 1 PAL 1

The ball falls to March on the edge of the area and he has a very ambitious shot on goal which flies miles wide.

There's another chance for Brighton! March strides forward down the right, whips a ball into the box and Welbeck catches it in the area but it just hoops over Butland's crossbar.


09:51 PM

90 mins: BRI 1 PAL 1

Brighton tails are up here, with March fizzing a fine ball into Welbeck, who just cannot find the target.

Four minutes to be added. Considering the lack of quality in front of goal tonight, I can see this ending as a draw but, if there is to be a winner, it will be Brighton.

Speaking of which, the hosts have just won a corner...


09:48 PM

88 mins: BRI 1 PAL 1

Is there a winner in this?

Obviously Andersen will be ruining his decision to play at that cross, but it was one of those that he had to play.


09:47 PM

Goooooaaaaaaall!!!

Brighton have their equaliser!

It's brilliant from Maupay whose skill is sublime to take him to the byline, but Andersen - who has been brilliant all night - turns Maupay's cross into his own net at the near post.


09:44 PM

82 mins: BRI 0 PAL 1

There are a few handbags as Burn leads a shoulder into Hughes.

Gallagher follows up by clipping Cucurella, too, as the Brighton defender was setting off into space in the midfield.


09:41 PM

79 mins: BRI 0 PAL 1

All Brighton now, as they desperately hunt for an equaliser.

There's a nice touch from Welbeck in there, so too Trossard, before the hosts nab a corner...

Benteke on for Olise now for Palace.


09:35 PM

76 mins: BRI 0 PAL 1

Free header for Webster - again - in the Palace box but he doesn't connect cleanly - again - and the chance goes begging.

Is it just going to be one of those nights for Brighton?


09:34 PM

Gallagher's goal


09:33 PM

74 mins: BRI 0 PAL 1

Welbeck is on for Brighton, the man who nicked that late goal at Stamford Bridge a few weeks back.

Can he save them again here?


09:31 PM

72 mins: BRI 0 PAL 1

Palace are alive!

Schlupp breaks free down the left and shoots a ball across Sanchez which beats everyone, but there is no one there to attack it.


09:30 PM

Goooooaaaaaaaal!

I don't believe it, but Palace have taken the lead through Gallagher.

It's totally undeserved in the game as a whole, but it's a lovely team goal.

Ward plays a one-two with almost every team mate before he pops up on the left flank, firing a ball into the feet of Schlupp. He feigns a shot before pulling back to Gallagher who fires a superb finish past Sanchez.

Game on now!


09:29 PM

68 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Milivojevic and Mateta come on for Eze and Edouard respectively for Palace.


09:26 PM

65 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Free header for Webster in the Palace box but he just cannot quite get on top of it.

More attractive football from Brighton, as Trossard has a pop from a volley at the far post, but it's well blocked by Andersen.

Changes ringing for Palace now, the details of which I'll bring you shortly.


09:22 PM

61 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Lamptey is on for Brighton, winning a free-kick after bamboozling Mitchell down the right. A gorgeous Webster pass locates him, incidentally.

Hughes absolutely crunches Mac Allister and he finds himself in the referee's book.

There is still plenty of energy in this, but those early second-half chances have dried up a touch.


09:18 PM

57 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Shocking past from Webster, giving the ball straight to Olise, gifts an opportunity to Palace but there is a distinct lack of cutting edge of front from the visitors, and the chance peters out.


09:14 PM

54 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Brighton sniff an opportunity, with Maupay eating up the yards in midfield, but Palace get back in numbers to close down Trossard and win back possession.


09:10 PM

51 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Brilliant from football - and there's another chance!

Mac Allister, after a nifty one-two, lofts a pin-perfect ball over the defence into the path of Moder's run, but he blasts his shot at Butland at the near post and the 'keeper saves.


09:09 PM

49 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

A chance for Palace down the other end, now, after some intricate build-up from Olise.

He fires a ball in and Webster, the Brighton defender, turns it goalward with Édouard also challenging, and Sanchez has to get down well to save.


09:08 PM

47 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

No changes from either side at half-time.

And Schlupp puts the ball straight out of play, 15 seconds into the second half.

And there's a big chance for Moder! Groß fires a cross to the near post and Moder's flick clips the far post with Butland beaten.


09:03 PM

The teams are back out

And the second half is moments away.


09:02 PM

Strange decision


08:55 PM

According to Opta...

... that was Butland's first ever Premier League penalty save - at the 11th attempt.

It wasn't a tough one, in fairness.


08:51 PM

Those chaotic five minutes...


08:50 PM

Half-time: BRI 0 PAL 0

Brighton were the better side, undoubtedly, and should really be going into the break in the lead, after having a penalty saved and a goal (correctly) ruled out by Var.

Palace should very much feed on the positive that they have been second best in that first 45 minutes and yet go in all square at the break.


08:49 PM

45+2 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Trossard does well to engineer himself a splash of space on the edge of the Palace area but his shot sails into row Z.


08:47 PM

45 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Three minutes added time to come, after the Var stoppages.


08:46 PM

44 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Yellow card to Eze as he pulls Maupay back after the Brighton striker had cheaply dispossessed Palace.

Groß swings one in as Brighton hunt for a deserved lead, but there's a mix-up between Lallana and his team-mates and Palace set off on the counter.

Olise whips a ball in but Groß heads clear.


08:41 PM

41 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

No goal.

Butland has two hands on the ball and Jones reverses his decision.

We're back at 0-0 after a hectic five minutes!


08:41 PM

40 mins: BRI 1 PAL 0

Jones is back over at the screen again. This is going to be overturned...


08:40 PM

Gooooooaaaaaaaaaaal!!!!

Wow! Brighton take the lead!

Butland saves a Palace header with two hands but the ball collides with Maupay and he knocks it out the 'keepers hands and into the net.

It's given, but we're going back to Var...


08:39 PM

39 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Saved by Butland!

It's a shocking penalty by Groß, not too powerful and almost down the middle - but not enough to fox Butland.


08:37 PM

37 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Penalty Brighton!

It's an arm round the neck and Jones points to the spot!


08:37 PM

35 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Referee Rob Jones is going to the screen...

To look at two incidents from that corner in the penalty area. One is an arm around the neck from Hughes on Veltman...


08:36 PM

34 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Corner to Brighton as Trossard finds himself in a pocket of space down the left.

Veltman has a pop from distance which block, before Moder tries to get on the end of the ricochet but it wouldn't quite sit up for him, and it flies over the bar.

Meanwhile, Var are looking at a couple of incidents...


08:34 PM

32 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

A controlled Palace attack comes to nothing as Brighton close down Gallagher assiduously.

Palace certainly have the assets to be troubling Brighton, but it's not really coming together for them at the minute. Brighton, in truth, seem a little hungrier.


08:31 PM

29 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Olise goes down on the edge of the Brighton area as he had worked himself into a dangerous spot, without getting the shot away.

Brighton then go on the counter, with Olise down, and Gallagher eventually wins the ball back and puts it out to allow his team-mate to rejoin the action.


08:27 PM

26 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Webster has a free header at the back post but he is penalised for a push in the back.

Close, again, from Brighton.


08:26 PM

25 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Mac Allister with a really physical challenge to dispossess Gallagher in midfield and he gets motoring. He feeds Cucurella down the left but his cross is headed away.

Brighton come back, and Ward heads a cross behind for a corner for the hosts.


08:22 PM

21 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

More pressure from Brighton as Moder gets in behind. He looks to pull the ball back from the byline, with three team-mates waiting in the box, but his cross evades them all and the chance goes begging.


08:20 PM

19 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Olise with a lethal delivery into the box and Edouard is a whisker offside as he attacks it.

Sanchez just about had it covered anyway for Brighton, but there were greater signs of life, there, from Palace.


08:19 PM

17 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Better from Palace, again, as they work Mitchell into space down the left, but his ball into the box finds precisely no one and Cucurella is able to launch a counter.

A counter which ends with Groß flashing a cross across Butland's goal down the other end.


08:15 PM

14 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Palace with some possession in a dangerous area but they make a total hash of a throw-in, with the linesman shooting his flag up for offside.


08:12 PM

11 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

What a chance for Brighton!

Palace get in a real tangle at the back, with a really sloppy header from Ward.

Trossard intercepts and he's away and in on goal, one-on-one with the 'keeper. He darts to the right of Butland's goal, but the 'keeper gets out well to block Trossard's shot.


08:10 PM

8 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Free-kick as Lallana catches Gallagher, giving Palace a chance to alleviate some of Brighton's early pressure.


08:08 PM

5 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Free-kick to Brighton with Eze a little bit off with his timing.

Brighton building some early momentum now, with Schlupp conceding a corner. Brighton try a nifty set-piece move but it does not quite work out for them, with Palace holding firm.


08:05 PM

2 mins: BRI 0 PAL 0

Swift if scrappy start down in Sussex, with neither team stringing more than about two passes together.

It's intense, though, as you would expect from a match with such history, with both teams putting lots of pressure on.

Lallana sniffs an attacking opportunity for Brighton but he cannot quite pick out the right pass.


08:01 PM

Kick-off!

Palace get us under way.


07:55 PM

Five minutes until kick-off

Where's your money?


07:51 PM

An omen?


07:49 PM

Vieira speaks to Sky Sports

We are never satisfied because we always want more on the results side and in the way we want to play.

But we are in a good place because we have good numbers of points and we're playing how I want us to play.

But we need to improve because the league is very difficult.

The game is about the team and helping us as a team perform [despite the loss of Zaha].

Gallagher is a box-to-box player, more offensive to what I used to be - closer to a Frank Lampard. He's doing really well, in a really good place, and he's enjoying his football.

[The win over Millwall] was important to us because we want to do well in that competition - and the Premier League is challenging!

We will make it difficult for Brighton tonight.


07:45 PM

A reminder of those line-ups


07:31 PM

Premier League table as it stands

A reminder that Brighton could move eighth with a win, while victory for Palace would see them move into the top half of the table.


07:13 PM

Some Premier League news

This has broken in the last hour.

Arsenal have requested that Sunday's north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur be postponed.

Arsenal were set to make the short journey to take on neighbours Spurs but have a host of players missing due to Covid, injury, suspension and the Africa Cup of Nations.

You can read more on that latest news by clicking here.


07:10 PM

The Feds are out in force

Mounted police patrol outside the stadium ahead of the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on January 14, 2022. - GETTY IMAGES
The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 14, 2022 General view of police vans and fans outside the stadium before the match - REUTERS

No major trouble reported as of yet, it must be said.


07:03 PM

Team news

Seven changes for Graham Potter from the FA Cup win over West Brom.

Just one change for Palace, with Odsonne Edouard starting and Jean-Philippe Mateta dropping to the bench. And Eberechi Eze makes his first Premier League start of the season.


06:55 PM

Good evening

Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport's live coverage of the Premier League match between Brighton and Crystal Palace at the Amex.

Brighton boss Graham Potter has urged his players to continue harnessing the never-say-die spirit of Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United side going into tonight's grudge match with Crystal Palace.

High-flying Albion have snatched five Premier League points courtesy of added-time strikes this term, including September's dramatic 1-1 draw with bitter rivals Palace at Selhurst Park.

Patrick Vieira's side travel to the south coast on Friday evening for the sold-out return match at the Amex Stadium.

Seagulls head coach Potter, who has also seen his team nab victory at Brentford and draws away to Southampton and Chelsea thanks to goals scored after the 90th minute, wants to keep scrapping for results in so-called 'Fergie time'.

"It's an important thing to have as a team," he said.

Vieira, meanwhile, has praised the continued commitment of Jean-Philippe Mateta after admitting it has been "challenging" for the loanee at Crystal Palace.

The forward scored his third goal for the club last weekend having been given the nod to play at Millwall despite links to St Etienne in the current transfer window.

Since Mateta moved to Selhurst Park last January on an 18-month loan deal from Mainz, he has started only six times but will return to the scene of one of his best moments in a Palace shirt tonight.

It was a backheeled effort at the Amex last season which saw the French striker open his account for the south Londoners, but Christian Benteke's fine form in 2021 and the August arrival of Odsonne Edouard have further restricted opportunities for the 24-year-old.

Vieira, who saw Mateta net against Norwich last month and again at Millwall, said: "I think it's been really challenging for him.

"Since he's been at this football club, he's not had that much chance to play. Since I arrived, with Christian and Edouard arriving, he had less time.

"But every time the team needed him to perform, he gave his best. He was rewarded by a couple of goals he scored, so he's there, he's with us, part of the team and the squad."

PA