Crystal Palace finally broke their winless streak, and it was a stunner! After a grueling 12-match run without a victory in the league, a moment of brilliance from Ismaïla Sarr has sent shockwaves through the league, leaving rivals Brighton reeling.
This victory is particularly sweet for Crystal Palace, as it marks another setback for Brighton's head coach, Fabian Hürzeler, who considers Palace's manager, Oliver Glasner, a mentor. Hürzeler's record against Glasner now stands at a concerning three defeats and one draw. While Glasner can celebrate the impactful debuts of his new signings, Evann Guessand and Jørgen Strand Larsen, Hürzeler faced the wrath of his own fans, with chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” echoing around the stadium.
But here's where it gets controversial... Brighton's form has taken a nosedive, with only one win in their last 12 league games. This slide has propelled them below Crystal Palace in the table, and Hürzeler, who became the youngest Premier League manager in history in 2024, is now staring down the barrel of a potential relegation battle. The cameras at the final whistle captured Brighton's owner, Tony Bloom, looking decidedly unimpressed, hinting that Hürzeler's tenure might be on thin ice if this trend continues.
Hürzeler himself acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, stating, “It’s not an easy situation to take but I will absorb the criticism. I think it’s the hardest moment [of my career], but it’s also the moment where I try to get the most out of it, where I learn the most and I grow the most. I will face this adversity and I will get through it.”
Brighton's Achilles' heel has been their inability to convert chances, a problem that has seen them tumble down the standings since their last win against Nottingham Forest in November. They once again lacked the killer instinct against a Crystal Palace side that hadn't tasted victory in any competition since mid-December. Palace, on the other hand, were visibly relieved to end their own dismal run.
Glasner expressed a mix of emotions, saying, “It’s a mix between relief and happiness.” He also highlighted the strong bond between the team and their supporters: “Our fans had plenty of opportunities to boo us in the last month, but they never did. So I think this is the bond we created in the last two years between the fans and the team. They were disappointed, and we were disappointed. But they never booed us.”
And this is the part most people miss... While veteran James Milner will have to wait a bit longer to equal Gareth Barry's Premier League appearance record, the 17-year-old Harry Howell made a significant impression, becoming Brighton's youngest Premier League starter. However, his fellow teenager, Charalampos Kostoulas, couldn't capitalize on Brighton's best chance to equalize after Sarr's decisive goal, which came just after the hour mark following an uncharacteristic error from Brighton's captain, Lewis Dunk.
Jørgen Strand Larsen, a new recruit from Wolves for a potential club-record fee of up to £48 million, could have sealed the victory for Palace on his first start. The Norwegian international proved to be a willing, if slightly rusty, replacement for Jean‑Philippe Mateta.
Throughout the first half, Brighton dominated possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances. An early misplaced pass from Strand Larsen was met with derision from the home crowd, and Will Hughes also drew ire for a tactical foul. Despite a free-kick that saw Dunk head wide, Brighton's attacking threat was minimal. Their best opportunity came from a cross by Kaoru Mitoma, but Maxence Lacroix managed to block Maxim De Cuyper's shot.
Crystal Palace, lacking cohesion in attack, only managed to test Brighton's goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen close to halftime. A moment of panic in the Brighton defense, stemming from a flick-on by Lacroix, saw Olivier Boscagli just beat Sarr to a dangerous cross. Sarr himself squandered another chance before the break after Adam Wharton had won the ball in midfield.
Both managers seemed dissatisfied with their teams' sluggish start to the second half. Glasner quickly introduced Evann Guessand, on loan from Aston Villa, for his Palace debut. It didn't take long for the Ivorian forward to make an impact. A loose header from Dunk was pounced upon, leading to Sarr's stunning strike that found the top corner with a deflection off Verbruggen's face. Palace captain Dean Henderson celebrated with a jubilant knee slide.
Henderson later denied Kostoulas with his legs when he was put through by Georginio Rutter. Strand Larsen had two further opportunities to extend Palace's lead but was twice thwarted by Verbruggen. Brighton appeared to be out of ideas, with one frustrated fan audibly lamenting the team's performance. Even the announcement of six minutes of added time did little to stir the dejected home supporters, who seemed resigned to their fate.
What are your thoughts on Hürzeler's future at Brighton? Do you agree that Brighton's struggles are solely down to their finishing, or are there deeper issues at play? Let us know in the comments below!
