Beware the Ides of March: Solly scores for Brighton to pile pressure on arch-rivals Palace
Despite a run of four wins from their last five at home, Brighton started on the backfoot against a Crystal Palace side that failed to register a shot on target in their previous three.
The Eagles wasted little time trying to rectify their attacking woes and Wilfried Zaha, aiming to strike in a third consecutive match against Brighton, dribbled into the box, struck low and forced Jason Steele into a low save.
With their newfound lease of attacking life, Palace kept the pressure on and Odsonne Edouard headered inches wide from Nathaniel Clyne’s drilled cross.
Brighton soon regained composure and showed their potential European credentials when a blistering attack ended with Kaoru Mitoma playing through March, who controlled and fired into the bottom corner for a second successive strike against the Eagles.
Sensing a first Premier League win against Palace since March 2019, Brighton piled on the pressure after the break and Pervis Estupinan ensured Eagles debutant Joe Whitworth was alert with a drilled strike that the goalkeeper cleared with his feet.
As the Seagulls gathered momentum, a short power cut around the Amex brought a temporary halt to the action, but the hosts remained on top when Alexis Mac Allister’s header was palmed away by Whitworth.
Brighton managed the game expertly in the closing stages, and kept their first clean sheet against Palace in 10 Premier League matches and moved within six points of the top four.
As the Seagulls continue to climb, the Eagles’ top-flight plummet continues as Patrick Vieira’s side are winless in 11 - their longest stint without victory since the 2015/16 campaign.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Solly March (Brighton)
