Brighton 1-3 Crystal Palace: Ismaila Sarr hits brace and Trevoh Chalobah scores as Oliver Glasner’s side overcome rivals

Tis may be the season for giving, but today of all days, Brighton's generosity proved to be their downfall.

The afternoon started with a pre-match montage of Brighton's recent derby day successes against the Eagles, including the most recent meeting between these sides last February.

A 3-1 win for the hosts that will live long in the memories around these parts, but one day those of the Palace persuasion will have done their best to erase the memory.

Those results were symptomatic of the recent history between English football's least heralded rivals. Palace had failed to win their last six league games against Brighton. Of all the sides you can have as a 'bogey team', their choice couldn't be worse.

But the visitors started to turn the record books in their favor this afternoon with an impressive victory, extending their run without defeat to four games on the way.

Brighton may have ambitions of regaining a place in Europe, but their chaotic defense of each of Palace's goals suggests this is wishful thinking.

Firstly, Trevoh Chalobah took advantage of Brighton's failure to clear the lines from a corner by poking into the net before Tariq Lamptey got lost under a high ball, allowing Tyrick Mitchell to set up Ismaila Sarr.

And to complete the hat-trick, Lewis Dunk could not deal with the electric Sarr, who brushed aside the Brighton defender before scoring past Bart Verburggen. Only a late own goal from Marc Guehi could take away some of the shine from the victory.

It all came after Brighton left-back Pervis Estupinan set the tone for the game within the opening 20 seconds, with a full-blooded but fair challenge on Daniel Munoz, before setting the hosts on their way with a flicking throw to Joao Pedro.

The Brazilian kept the ball glued to his body with two touches before a brilliant flick over his head put Kaoru Mitoma through on goal, where his volley was blocked by Dean Henderson.

The palace guard was involved moments later when he burst out of his goal to clear a ball forward from Jan Paul van Hecke. Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh, who came in from the start after his goal against Leicester, narrowly beat Henderson, who had one leg dangling dangerously high. Fortunately for the former England stopper, he made sufficient contact with the ball, rather than Minteh's head.

Palace struggled to find their feet but were given a lead by Brighton's defenders and a helping hand from referee Michael Oliver, who accidentally blocked Carlos Baleba as the visitors launched a counter-attack.

Palace's first corner came to nothing, but Brighton failed to deal with Will Hughes' resulting throw.

They criminally allowed the ball to bounce into the six-yard box, where Chalobah was alert to scoop the ball into the roof of the net.

Provide pandemonium in the away leg for those who hadn't seen their side beat their old foes in the previous six attempts. And it wasn't long before they were celebrating again, thanks to another defensive calamity from the hosts.

Lamptey had all the time in the world to process Maxence Lacroix's free kick. But the right-back's radar was off balance, so much so that he was caught yards under the ball, allowing Mitchell to control and cross for Sarr.

Being in full control, the hosts were fortunate to be only two goals down at half-time.

First Verbruggen saved well from Daniel Munoz before the Palace right back set up a cross for Eberechi Eze, who nodded the attacker just wide. Where were Brighton's defenders in this mess? A good question that their manager would have asked during the break.

He responded by throwing caution to the wind by hooking Lamptey for striker Julio Enciso and starting on the front foot. Lacroix threw a foot out to direct Mitoma's goal wide, before Henderson acrobatically denied Dunk.

An even better save came moments later when Henderson flung himself to his left to tip Enciso's round the post.

Palace spent the majority of their half on the edge of the penalty area, with their chances limited to what they could conjure up on half-time.

At one point they appeared to have put the game out of sight when Sarr pushed Estupinan out of the way before putting the ball on a plate for Munoz.

Palace boss Glasner was already walking festively along the sidelines when he saw that the linesman's flag had been raised. Sarr ruled that he had made a mistake on Estupinan.

The Austrian responded with a look of disbelief that wouldn't be out of place on a pantomime lady. But with eight minutes to play that expression turned into a beaming smile as Sarr showed more determination than Dunk to elude the Brighton defender before coolly finishing past Verbruggen.

There was a minor blemish on Palace's copy late on when Lacroix's corner kick hit Marc Guehi and ended up in the own net. Substitute Eddie Nketiah had a chance late on to make it four, but his chip ended up wide of Verbruggen's goal.

But even those late beeps couldn't wipe the look of joy from Glasner's face.

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