Ismaila Sarr’s brace fired Crystal Palace to a 3-1 win away at Brighton in the M23 derby.
Trevoh Chalobah put Palace ahead with a thunderous close-range tap-in from a 27th minute corner, which was flicked into his path by Ismaila Sarr.
Sarr doubled the Eagles’ lead with a 33rd minute header from Tyrick Mitchell’s cross, then netted his second goal in the 82nd minute from Eddie Nketiah’s knockdown header.
Marc Guehi’s bizarre 87th minute own-goal prevented the Eagles from claiming a clean sheet.
Speaking to PalaceTV post-match, Palace boss – Oliver Glasner praised Sarr for his performance and improved confidence.
“The first one was a great header from him, so when we get him into these running duels he’s always able to score goals. He’s more confident than at the beginning of the season, he feels better.
“He understands better and better how we want to play as a team, what he has to do – also with Dani Muñoz, because there was one disallowed goal where he would assist and Dani the goal – this is getting better and better, so we are really pleased for him.”
Palace consequently climbed up to 15th in the Premier League table, whilst Brighton slipped to ninth.
Much like their eventual 2-2 draw at Leicester last weekend, Brighton began on the front foot and almost earned an one-man advantage in the sixth minute following Dean Henderson’s high-boot collision with Yankuba Minteh.
Referee, Michael Oliver however ruled the collision as accidental with Palace goalkeeper, Henderson lucky to avoid a red card.
Brighton continued to push hard but lacked much quality in their end product as Palace defended resiliently.
Palace’s resistance paid off with a 25th minute attack which saw Jean-Philippe Mateta’s shot deflected, before the first of two corners was deflected wide.
Will Hughes’ delivery of the second corner two minutes later took a touch off Sarr and fell for Chalobah to lash into the roof of the net.
Brighton attempted to restore parity on the half-hour mark but Yasin Ayari fired over the bar from Kaoru Mitoma’s pass.
That wasted chance was punished three minutes later as Tyrick Mitchell beat Tariq Lamptey to a long ball, which he promptly whipped into the box for Sarr to nod in at the right post to double Palace’s lead.
Palace almost added a third goal just before half-time but Eberechi Eze nodded wide from Daniel Munoz’s 43rd minute cross, with Brighton able to keep their deficit at the break to just two goals.
Fabian Hurzeler’s Seagulls almost pulled a goal back in the 55th minute through Lewis Dunk’s header from a free-kick, yet Henderson made a crucial punch to preserve Palace’s lead.
Sarr almost turned assistant for Palace’s third goal as he teed up Daniel Munoz with a 67th minute pass to roll into the net, but the goal was disallowed due to Sarr’s shove on Pervis Estupinan.
Palace eventually wrapped up victory in the 82nd minute as Nketiah headed Hughes’ direct cross down, which Sarr duly pounced upon and rifled low into the right corner to complete his brace.
Brighton netted a bizarre consolatory goal from a 87th minute corner as Evan Ferguson’s scruffy shot bounced in off a helpless Guehi, but the Seagulls couldn’t complete a comeback.
What’s Next?
Brighton head to West Ham on Saturday 21 December at 3pm GMT to kick off their festive fortnight.
Palace face Arsenal twice in three days as they first head to the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday 18 December at 7:30pm in the Carabao Cup, followed by a home clash in the league at Selhurst Park on 21 December at 5:30pm.
Teams
Brighton: Bart Verbruggen, Tariq Lamptey (Enciso 46′), Lewis Dunk, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Pervis Estupinan, Carlos Baleba(Wieffer 88′), Yasin Ayari (Gruda 72′), Yankuba Minteh (Adingra 72′), Georginio Rutter (Ferguson 72′), Kaoru Mitoma, Joao Pedro
Substitutes: Jason Steele, Igor Julio, Brajan Gruda, Julio Enciso, Simon Adingra, Jakub Moder, Mats Wieffer, Evan Ferguson, Ruairi McConville
Crystal Palace: Dean Henderson, Daniel Munoz, Trevoh Chalobah, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi, Tyrick Mitchell (Clyne 85′), Jefferson Lerma, Will Hughes (Doucoure 85′), Ismaila Sarr (Devenny 92′), Eberechi Eze (Kamada 60′), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Nketiah 60′)
Substitutes: Matt Turner, Nathaniel Clyne, Caleb Kporha, Cheick Doucoure, Justin Devenny, Daichi Kamada, Jeffrey Schlupp, Asher Agbinone, Eddie Nketiah
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