Not the M23 Derby: Photos from Brighton 1-1 Crystal Palace
Photos of pyros, pitch invaders and plenty of police show another feisty Not the M23 Derby encounter between Brighton and Crystal Palace which ended 1-1 at the Amex.
The Albion were the dominant side and really should have won. In an all too familiar story, they missed a glut of chances and found themselves relying on a comical own goal three minutes from time to earn a point.
Brighton’s biggest opportunity squandered came when Pascal Gross took arguably the worst penalty in Albion history – yes, even worse than Ryan Harley at Millwall in 2011 – which was more like a back pass to Jack Butland in the Palace goal. Cue the first Palace flare on the pitch.
From the resulting corner, Neal Maupay bundled home but the goal was disallowed for a foul of Butland. A rogue Brighton fan invaded the pitch to celebrate, goading the Palace support in the South Stand before realising that VAR was having a look. A ban from the Amex for a goal not allowed to stand is certainly something to tell the grandkids about.
Palace took the lead midway through the second half, Conor Gallagher finishing off a nice move to put the Eagle’s first shot on target past Robert Sanchez. Now it was the turn of a visiting supporter to run onto the pitch, taunt the Albion family stand and then dive back off again.
It looked like that Gallagher strike would send Palace back up the M23 with all three points. That was until Neal Maupay sent a low cross into the Palace box that ended up turned past Butland by Joachim Andersen.
Just as he had been when scoring late in the 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park in September, Maupay had again helped crush Palace’s dreams of victory over the Albion.
If you have any photos you would like included our Brighton 1-1 Crystal Palace gallery, please e-mail them to wearebrighton@hotmail.co.uk or tweet them to us @wearebrighton
