The Media Review: Crystal Palace

A frustrating 1-1 draw after Albion performance against the old enemy that deserved more than it got, partly thanks to a VAR howler? As The Smiths’ song says, ‘Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.’

An apology from PGMOL, the match officials’ group, for wrongly disallowing Pervis Estupinan’s first-half ‘goal’ came too late to make the Sunday papers, but all the reporters recognised Albion’s territorial dominance at Selhurst Park and a final score that hardly reflected the balance of play.

Ed Aarons of The Observer, a guest last week on a well-known Albion podcast, understands the history of this fixture better than most and he summed up the outcome succinctly. “Brighton looked like they could be heading towards their first victory over Palace in nearly four years and within striking distance of fifth-placed Spurs when Solly March finally found a way past Guaita with a well-taken finish just after the hour mark. But Sanchez’s mistake denied Roberto De Zerbi’s side and ensured this fixture at Selhurst Park finished as a 1-1 draw for a fourth successive time.

“While Palace have still yet to win here since October and struggled to contain the visitors at times, at least Patrick Vieira’s side had the satisfaction of frustrating high-flying Brighton on an occasion that is never for the faint-hearted. The visitors dominated possession throughout but the returning Alexis Mac Allister was guilty of missing a trio of gilt-edged chances that could have made this a comfortable victory for De Zerbi’s side.”

Albion’s World Cup winner attracted that attention of Matt Maltby on the Sunday Mirror website, who wrote that “it's fair to say Alexis Mac Allister had a lively afternoon. The World Cup winner returned to the Brighton line-up in south London and was involved in everything positive from a Brighton perspective.

“After getting a hefty whack from Cheick Doucoure in the opening exchanges, the Argentine was immediately involved in another 50-50 incident with the Eagles midfielder - and was perhaps fortunate to escape with a yellow card.

“Brighton almost benefited from that decision a matter of minutes later, with Mac Allister put through on goal but his tame effort was saved by Vicente Guaita. The playmaker played in his familiar No.10 role and his movement caused a constant headache for the Eagles defence.”

Keelan Hughes took up the tale in The Sun on Sunday: “The Argentine was quick to test Guaita again, with his bending effort tipped away by the Palace keeper after another spell of pressure from the visitors.

“Inside half an hour Guaita was already keeping Palace in it, diving to stop the bundle of energy that is Kaoru Mitoma, who sent a low shot across goal after exchanging a one-two with March.

“Brighton should have headed into the break comfortably ahead of their desperately poor hosts and were back at it again within a minute of the restart. Palace, having not made a change at the break, were still largely chasing shadows and struggling to get a grip of the Seagulls, far more energetic and organised.

“March had been tormenting the Eagles throughout, setting the tone with unrelenting pressure off the ball and direct running on it. And the former Palace academy man, who was with the club for two years before being released at 13, was the one to finally get the goal Brighton deserved.

“After another extended spell of pressure, Estupinan delivered a devilish cross to the far post where March snuck in behind Tyrick Mitchell and finished high into Guaita’s net – wheeling away to celebrate with the travelling fans, who were soon singing about a European tour.”

Palace’s equaliser, according to Lewis Steele of the Mail on Sunday, “was Palace’s only shot on target in a match in which they had just 25 per cent of possession. Brighton dominated and, although they end without a win, fans will travel home having watched their team completely outclass their bitter rivals.

“They scored after 33 minutes but, after a lengthy VAR review it was chalked off for offside, by the barest of margins. It came after a zapping move culminated with left-back Estupinan scoring with a right-footed finish.

“It was a decision that can be labelled a ‘modern offside’. Brighton fans and players celebrated, Palace's regrouped and debriefed on their shoddy defending, and we were all ready to restart the game. Then the VAR ghouls took out the rulers and started drawing their lines.

“Faces of joy turned to gloom in the away end as the majority of Selhurst Park celebrated an offside decision like it was a goal. They’ve had little else to cheer about in these parts recently - Palace have not won at home since October and are winless in the league so far this year.

“‘To be honest I am satisfied with the point,’ said Patrick Vieira. ‘The game was really challenging and difficult. Brighton were excellent.’

London-based Gary Jacob led his report in the Sunday Times on the absence from proceedings of a certain Wilfried Zaha, and pointed out that without him “Palace never looked like scoring. Brighton outplayed and out-thought them, but were not clinical with their chances, hitting the target seven times. Vincente Guaita made three saves before the half hour and Pervis Estupinan was denied by a VAR call.”

In the Sunday Telegraph, Ian Winrow looked ahead and struck a positive note about Albion’s prospects despite the dropped points. “While Roberto de Zerbi acknowledged his side had squandered the opportunity to strengthen their standing in the top six, the manager insisted Brighton's performance had only reinforced his belief they can sustain their challenge for a place in Europe,” he wrote.

“Dominant throughout, De Zerbi’s side appeared on course for victory when Solly March deservedly put them ahead in the 63rd minute. At that point, Crystal Palace looked like a team in desperate need of a lift after winning just one of their previous eight league games. It came five minutes later when Robert Sanchez, the Brighton keeper, failed to hold a routine cross allowing James Tomkins to head home an unexpected equaliser.

“A relieved Patrick Vieira, the Palace manager, expressed his satisfaction at the way his side had remained in the game before claiming a point but the differing reaction of the two managers to this result only served to underline the current gap between these unlikely rivals.

“Brighton approached the game with the confidence expected from a team that has enjoyed such a good run of recent form and, the limitations in front of goal aside, De Zerbi claimed the display was as good as any since he succeeded Graham Potter in September.

“’We are frustrated but at the same time we have to be proud because we go back home with more confidence,’ said the Italian. ‘We are playing fantastic football. I think it was one of the best games in my time.

“’We made a lot of mistakes when we had the chance to score. But we have to be clear to analyse this game because we can be frustrated, but we have to be proud. We have to be happy. Because like this we can fight for a place in Europe’.”