Solly March’s well timed aim boosted Brighton’s bid for Europe as they sank derby rivals Crystal Palace 1-0 within the Premier League.
March scored the winner within the fifteenth minute – on March 15 – to maneuver the Seagulls stage on factors with sixth-placed Liverpool with a sport in hand.
It additionally offered a double celebration for Brighton chairman Tony Bloom after his horse Energumene gained the Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
The issues are mounting up for Palace, although, after their winless run stretched to 11 matches.
They had been compelled at hand teenage goalkeeper Joe Whitworth an expert debut with common No 1 Vicente Guaita and deputy Sam Johnstone each injured.
At 19 years and 15 days, Whitworth was the youngest goalkeeper to look in a Premier League sport since Ben Alnwick performed for Sunderland in December 2005.
The former Palace ball-boy made a nervous begin with an unconvincing headed clearance outdoors the world, however Brighton couldn’t punish him.
Yet Jason Steele was the busier keeper within the opening levels regardless of Palace not managing a shot on the right track of their final three matches.
Wilfried Zaha not less than righted that individual incorrect early on when he examined Steele with an angled drive.
Steele saved along with his knee after Joachim Andersen’s through-ball cut up the Brighton defence and despatched Michael Olise by way of on aim, earlier than he palmed Odsonne Edouard’s drive away.
Whitworth bought his first respectable contact of the ball when he held Kaoru Mitoma’s long-range effort.
But he was overwhelmed moments later when Mitoma despatched March clear by way of to seek out the online with a composed end.
Solly March put the sport to mattress
(PA Wire)
Palace may have equalised earlier than half-time however Andersen volleyed Olise’s free-kick throughout aim and large.
They may even have been right down to 10 males after Cheick Doucoure, again from suspension and already on a reserving, scythed down Moises Caicedo as he was about to burst by way of however in some way escaped one other yellow.
Understandably, the Palace midfielder didn’t emerge for the second half with Patrick Vieira sending on Eberechi Eze in his place.
The second half was delayed after a floodlight failure momentarily plunged the stadium into darkness, and referee Peter Bankes then stopped the match, apparently as a result of his headset was now not working.
Once play resumed Whitworth highlighted his potential with a shocking response save to maintain out Alexis Mac Allister’s header at a nook.
Mac Allister virtually added a second with a mazy run and shot which flew simply large, however in the long run Brighton needed to cling on to March’s aim for 9 minutes of stoppage time.
Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi believes the in-form winger deserves an England call-up, so March’s seventh aim of the season was a helpful reminder to Gareth Southgate, who names his newest squad on Thursday.
The 28-year-old additionally scored in final week’s draw at Leeds, and if he will get the nod from Southgate it actually can be the month of March.
