After a lengthy drought in victories, Crystal Palace has finally secured a win, with Ismaïla Sarr's impressive strike leaving Brighton stunned. This match undoubtedly raises questions about the future of Brighton's head coach, Fabian Hürzeler, who must be pondering when he will ever get the upper hand against his mentor, Oliver Glasner. Now, Hürzeler's record against Glasner stands at three defeats and a draw, a statistic that may weigh heavily as Sarr's goal ended Palace’s 12-match winless streak in the league against their local rivals.
While Glasner can breathe a sigh of relief, especially after seeing his new signings, Evann Guessand and Jørgen Strand Larsen, make a positive impact on their debuts, Hürzeler faced harsh reactions from his own supporters, who voiced their displeasure with boos and chants predicting his dismissal. Brighton has now managed just one win in their last twelve league matches, putting Hürzeler in a precarious position as his team slips down the standings, now below Palace.
Glasner has already announced his plans to depart from Palace in the summer. Meanwhile, the discontent was palpable as television cameras caught Brighton's owner, Tony Bloom, looking far from pleased with the team's performance. If results do not improve soon, Hürzeler may also find himself searching for a new club.
Hürzeler acknowledged the difficult circumstances he faces, stating, "It’s not an easy situation to take, but I will absorb the criticism. I think it’s the hardest moment of my career, but it’s also the moment where I try to get the most out of it, where I learn the most and grow the most. I will face this adversity and I will get through it." His determination is commendable, yet the question remains: can he turn things around?
Brighton's problems have stemmed from their inability to finish off opponents, which has contributed to their slide down the table since they defeated Nottingham Forest back in November. Once again, they struggled to be ruthless against a Crystal Palace side that had not won any game since mid-December and were thankful to end their own poor run of form. "It’s a mix between relief and happiness," Glasner remarked after the match, highlighting how important this win was for morale.
Despite being unable to break Gareth Barry's Premier League appearance record just yet, veteran player James Milner will have to wait another week. In contrast, 17-year-old Harry Howell made an impression as the youngest player to start a Premier League match for Brighton. However, fellow teenager Charalampos Kostoulas squandered a key opportunity to equalize after Sarr's goal came just minutes into the second half, capitalizing on an error by seasoned captain Lewis Dunk.
Strand Larsen had the chance to clinch the points for Palace on his debut, having joined for a club-record fee that could escalate to £48 million. Though he appeared eager, he showed some signs of rustiness as he tried to fill the shoes of Jean-Philippe Mateta. An early misplayed pass that went out for a throw-in drew mocking jeers from the home crowd, while Will Hughes also received a chorus of criticism after his typical yellow card for a foul on Georginio Rutter. Dunk missed a header from the resulting free-kick, but aside from that, Brighton appeared to lack a cutting edge despite controlling possession during the first 30 minutes. Their best chance came when a cross from Kaoru Mitoma wasn't cleared adequately, but Maxence Lacroix managed to block Maxim De Cuyper's shot.
Palace seemed disjointed in their attacking efforts, waiting until nearly halftime to pose a threat to goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. Strand Larsen was poised to capitalize on a flick-on from Lacroix following a throw-in from Chris Richards, creating panic in the Brighton box before Olivier Boscagli narrowly prevented Sarr from connecting with a dangerous cross from Yeremy Pino. Just before halftime, Sarr wasted another opportunity when Adam Wharton intercepted the ball from Carlos Baleba in midfield.
Both coaches expressed dissatisfaction with their teams' sluggish starts to the second half, prompting Glasner to introduce Guessand for his Palace debut shortly after play resumed. The Ivory Coast forward made an immediate impact; a loose header by Dunk was taken advantage of, allowing Sarr to score with a shot that found the top corner thanks to a deflection off Verbruggen. The Palace captain, Dean Henderson, celebrated jubilantly with a knee slide.
Henderson then showcased his skills by denying Kostoulas with a leg save after Rutter set him up, marking Brighton's closest attempt to score. Strand Larsen had two separate opportunities to secure the game for Palace but was thwarted each time by Verbruggen. Frustration grew within the Brighton fanbase, with one supporter exclaiming, "It just gets shitter and shitter!" as yet another attack fell apart. Even the announcement of six minutes of injury time elicited little response from the home crowd, who seemed resigned to their fate.
With these developments, it's hard not to wonder: Can Brighton find their footing, or are they destined for a long fight against relegation? What do you think—will Hürzeler be able to turn things around, or is it time for a change at Brighton?
