The Media Review: Another clean sheet in draw at Crystal Palace

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The media reflects on the draw with Palace.

Nick Szczepanik

2025-11-10T10:00+00:00

Lewis Dunk made his 500th career appearance on Sunday. 📷 by James Boardman.

It would be fair to say that not many of the writers squeezed into the Selhurst Park press box found much entertainment in Albion’s goalless draw against Crystal Palace.

But in The Daily Telegraph, Thom Gibbs almost revelled in the shortage of excitement.

“Palace had a chance to go fourth, but no goals were forthcoming, only five shots on target between both sides and no significant acts of violence,” he wrote. “An extended highlights video would struggle to reach two minutes. There was a penalty awarded for Brighton which was correctly overturned via our friends in Stockley Park, wary of upsetting the cosmic forces unmistakably guiding this match towards a 0-0.

“Yet this was a relatively engaging dud, played at frantic speed. Palace and Brighton take their rivalry seriously, so there was plenty of blood and thunder, tempers on the verge of being lost and no suggestion that this did not matter a great deal to everyone involved.

“[Palace] had frightening potential on the counter-attack, which was largely well handled by Brighton’s alertness at the back. The visitors did their bit for A23 acrimony, with Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul Van Hecke rarely wasting an opportunity to challenge with maximum force. Brighton’s aggression kept the game precarious.

“Maybe Diego Gómez could have done better with his header beneath a gorgeous arcing cross from Yankuba Minteh. Perhaps Daichi Kamada’s shot that hit the side netting was the moment the match should have turned? But a goal would have been unfair on both sides. This was keenly contested, high standard, entirely forgettable football. A model 0-0 for the modern Premier League.”

Many writers found so little action to report that they had to reference yet again the geographical distance between the two clubs (less, incidentally, than that between Ipswich Town and Norwich City).

“Some may still scoff at the idea that this fixture represents a fierce derby, especially given the 46-mile road difference between the two clubs,” wrote Rob Maul in The Sun.

Brighton take on Crystal Palace in the latest contest between the fierce rivals. Highlights in partnership with @mpbcom. Buy, sell and trade used camera gear. https://bit.ly/MPB457

“Judging solely, however, by the heavy police presence outside the nearby train station, there was an expectation of potential trouble and flashpoints.

“There was tranquillity and respectfulness for a perfect rendition of the Last Post on Remembrance Sunday – and then came the noise and fury.

“As the intensity quietened down, with referee Tim Robinson showing some leniency, there was the odd robust challenge and scuffle, with Adam Wharton twice coming off worse.

“Brighton giant defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who was sent off here in April, pulled Maxence Lacroix’s shirt so hard in the penalty area that it came down the Frenchman’s right shoulder but VAR overlooked that incident.

Albion's goalless draw at Palace means they have now kept consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League. 📷 by James Boardman.

“The second half lacked the same fieriness witnessed in the first and a point each was, on balance, the right result.”

In The Guardian, Ed Aarons wrote that “Fabian Hürzeler’s team will see this as a chance spurned as they failed to take advantage of opponents who are running on fumes given the extra demands of a Conference League campaign. Hürzeler – who, his 59th match in charge, named an unchanged side for the first time – said his players could have snatched the victory.

“This has been a stop-start campaign for Brighton so far but after a run of three wins in their last five Premier League games, their manager admitted in the build up they were “desperate” to notch up another in an atmosphere that is always frenzied.

“Hürzeler was shown a yellow card after taking exception to one decision and neither manager looked particularly happy as the game descended into a midfield battle with precious little space in which to work. A set piece seemed the most likely source of a breakthrough and Lewis Dunk – making the 500th appearance of his career – did well to clear after Jefferson Lerma directed his header from Wharton’s free-kick dangerously across the face of goal.

Bart Verbruggen pulled off a terrific save in the first half to keep the game at 0-0. 📷 by James Boardman.

“Brighton should have at least tested Henderson when they swept downfield in a quick break just before half‑time but Yankuba Minteh dragged his shot horribly wide. Gómez pressed the England goalkeeper into action at the start of the second half when he connected with Minteh’s cross as Brighton sensed an opportunity.”

Sam Drury had similar thoughts on the BBC website. “While Crystal Palace had a quick turnaround after their European exertions, there was no such busy schedule to hamper Brighton, yet the Seagulls seemed to suffer from the same sluggishness as their opponents,” he wrote.

“Head coach Fabian Hurzeler, who was booked for dissent and now faces a touchline ban, will be pleased with a second clean sheet in two games – as many as his side had managed in their previous 22 league matches - but they lacked spark when going forward.

“Diego Gomez was an exception as he created four chances - double that of any other player in the match - but Yankuba Minteh was some way off his best with his poor finish late in the first half symptomatic of his overall display.”

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— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) November 9, 2025

Meanwhile, Matt Barlow of The Daily Mail focused on a match within the match in that congested Midfield.

“The tussle between two of the Premier League's most exciting midfield prospects did not ignite as anticipated,” he wrote. “Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba are in the sights of Europe's elite but here there were only flashes of their quality.

“Wharton perhaps edged the duel, sparkling early on and catching the eye with his effortless passing range but he was also caught in possession at the end of the first half, launching Brighton on a counter wasted by Minteh. Just back from illness, he faded, as did Palace.

“Baleba, who has not recaptured last season's form since summer interest from Manchester United, mixed up the good and bad. There were glimpses of what he can do, his powerful presence but also errors on the ball.

“Brighton's understated Yasin Ayari was the pick of those in central midfield.”