Scrappy Palace ended a run of six winless derbies with a 3-1 win in a Christmas cracker of a game on the south coast.
Embed from Getty ImagesTrevoh Chalobah stabbed home from close range to open the scoring, before Ismaila Sarr doubled the Eagles’ lead with a header. The Senegalese international got his double eight minutes from time, as a late Marc Guehi own goal proved only a consolation.
Just shy of the half-hour mark, a quickfire double had Palace in dreamland.
A Will Hughes corner caused mayhem in the Albion six-yard box. After a flurry of deflections Chalobah was on hand to claim an early Christmas present.
Embed from Getty ImagesMinutes later a hopeful crossfield ball from Maxence Lacroix was misjudged by Tariq Lamptey, allowing Tyrick Mitchell to dig out a wonderful cross to Sarr at the far post. He could scarcely miss.
The halftime introduction of Julio Enciso injected life into Albion. A curled effort on 58 minutes was tipped behind by a fully extended Dean Henderson.
Palace had the ball in the net for a third time. Pervis Estupinan’s blushes were spared as he was judged to have been fouled by the electric Sarr.
Embed from Getty ImagesBrighton dominated possession for large spells but without carving out any clear cut opportunities. Their lack of cutting edge was punished by Sarr. Stooping to pounce upon a flick ahead of Lewis Dunk, Sarr calmly rolled low past Bart Verbruggen.
With three minutes remaining, a devilishly whipped corner was cleared onto Guehi and into his own net, but 3-1 it remained.
