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Crystal Palace beat rivals Brighton 1-0 to end a 12-game winless streak in all competitions, with Brighton head coach Fabian Huerzeler coming under fire from the home fans.
Ismaila Sarr’s second-half goal was enough to give the Eagles a vital victory away from home, but Brighton’s attack was very lackluster.
Brighton have won just one of their last 12 Premier League games – only Burnley (five) and Wolves (six) have scored less since December 1. This form put huge pressure on Huzelle, who was met with chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” and “sacked in the morning” from the majority of the home supporters, while his side were booed throughout the game.
The victory moved Palace nine points above the relegation zone and above the Seagulls in 13th place.
Ismaila Sarr was congratulated by teammates after scoring the winning goal against Brighton at Crystal Palace
Palace made their £48m club-record signing Jorgen Strand Larsen make his debut as part of two changes, while Brighton’s three changes included 17-year-old midfielder Harry Howell making his first Premier League start.
Seagulls captain Lewis Dunk deflected a free-kick from Pascal Gross before Eagles defender Maxons Lacroix used his left thigh to block Maxime de Couper’s powerful shot, but that was as good as it could get for the home side.
Crystal Palace, always threatening, finally broke the deadlock in the 61st minute, with substitute Evann Guessand making an immediate impact on his Eagles debut.
The Ivory Coast striker, who signed on loan from Aston Villa on January 30, seized the opportunity of Dunk’s header to clear the ball and passed to Sarr, who took a long time to shoot and eventually surpassed Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
Strand Larsen twice threatened to double Palace’s lead before they held on comfortably six minutes into stoppage time.
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Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson took a knee to celebrate twice after Sarr’s goal and throughout the game against rivals Brighton!
“This is the toughest moment of my career,” Huzler said after the fans turned around
Brighton manager Fabian Hutzler explain:
“It’s the most difficult moment, but it’s also the moment that I try to get the most out of it and it’s the moment that I learn the most and grow the most, so I’m going to face this adversity and I’m going to get through it.
“I have a responsibility and part of being a football coach is that you get blamed for the results so I have to take responsibility.
“I always promise that I give my heart. I give my soul to this club and I will continue to do that and I will continue to work with my team, my players to find solutions because that’s why I’m here.
Lewis Dunk heads wide under pressure from Will Hughes and Maxence Lacroix
“I’m trying to help the players. I’m trying to understand their thoughts now because I think that’s the most important thing, we lost confidence and you can only get it back by getting the right results.”
“Ultimately, I absorb criticism.
“To me, if they criticize me, as long as they support the team, that’s okay because I think our team, they need support. A lot of players are struggling right now, so if they find someone to blame, that’s okay because ultimately I have a responsibility – as long as they support the team, and I thought they supported the team in a good way today.”
“This is not the time to talk about my human emotions. I think everyone can imagine how you would feel if 25,000 people asked for something and sang to you. Giving up or keeping trying and keeping working are the only two options.
“This has been the choice I’ve made in my life so far. That’s why I’m sitting here because I’m never going to give up because I’m going to keep fighting and that’s what I’m going to keep trying to do.”
Glasner praises Crystal Palace fans for sticking with his team
crystal palace manager Oliver Glasner:
“Relief mixed with happiness. It wasn’t the best Premier League game. Circumstances dictated that and that’s explainable. We defended well. That’s our foundation. We gave them a chance and then we waited for our moment. We’re really happy.”
“Thank you to our fans. There were plenty of opportunities to boo us but they never did. There was a bond between the fans and the team and they never booed. Not happy but we always felt the support. The scene at the end. You can’t buy the emotion of the players and the fans. Fans can stop along the M23 and have a few Guinness. On Monday morning the fans can wake up happy when they go to work – it’s easier to start the week with a win.”
