Crystal Palace 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion: Danny Welbeck scores late equaliser for Seagulls

Danny Welbeck’s late looping header rescued a point for Brighton as they denied rivals Crystal Palace victory at Selhurst Park in the Premier League.

Jordan Ayew had opened the scoring for Crystal Palace on the stroke of half-time, and the home side were eight minutes of normal time away from ending their six-match winless run.

Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen had gifted Michael Olise possession and the forward’s long cross found Ayew who finished at the back post.

After Welbeck’s leveller, his first goal since scoring at Manchester United in September, the visitors looked most likely to net a winner.

They came close in bizarre circumstances when Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson punched a cross against the head of Welbeck and was fortunate to see the ball bounce wide.

It meant that, for a fifth consecutive meeting, this fixture at Selhurst Park ended in a 1-1 draw.

Welbeck goal could kickstart resurgence

Brighton supporters will hope their team’s late show against one of their traditional rivals could inspire an end to their miserable run.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side have won just two of their past 12 league matches and now gone a club-record 22 successive league games without keeping a clean sheet.

After a first half of few chances for both sides, Welbeck had a powerful header blocked by Ayew after the restart and Jan Paul van Hecke also had an effort denied by a wall of Palace defenders after Henderson had spilled a corner.

The visitors also had a penalty shout rightly waved away when Jack Hinshelwood went down under pressure from Ayew, with referee John Brooks spotting the teenager trip up on the ground, not from a challenge.

But Brighton came very close in the 55th minute when Gross’ wide free-kick found Lewis Dunk unmarked in the area, but the defender headed his effort wide of the far post.

They needed Welbeck to rescue them as he netted a second goal of the season to ensure the points were shared.

“I think we played in a different way in the second half, played with more energy and invention to score,” Brighton boss De Zerbi told Sky Sports.

“We concede another bad goal and we can play better and we can’t lose the ball in that way. We have to accept the policy of the club is to play with many young players.

“With the young players, you have to give them time to make mistakes.”

Palace’s home troubles continue

As for Palace, their fans will continue to wonder what might have been.

The Eagles still only have one home victory in this campaign, against Wolves in September, although the point did at least end the club’s four-match losing run at Selhurst Park.

Roy Hodgson’s side had a few early half-chances through Jean-Philippe Mateta but largely soaked up Brighton’s pressure. Once they went ahead, Palace were happy to defend deep and protect their lead.

Just before Welbeck’s equaliser, Mateta played in substitute Eberechi Eze but his effort was superbly blocked by Dutch defender Van Hecke.

As their winless run extended to seven games, Palace remain 15th in the table, nine points above the relegation zone and nine points behind the eighth-placed Seagulls.

“We have played three of the best teams in the league in our last three games, and have done alright,” said Palace boss Hodgson.

“We’ve taken two points, against Liverpool we should have got something as well. We are getting stronger as the weeks go by.”