Palace 2-1 Brighton: Record breaker Welbeck does best in ratings

Positives from Selhurst Park for the Albion were few and far between. And when I say few and far between, what I actually mean is there was only one. Danny Welbeck became the Seagulls’ record Premier League scorer with his consolation goal and topped the Palace 2-1 Brighton player ratings in the process.

Dat Guy cancelled out a third minute opener from Jean-Philippe Mateta to level things up on the half hour mark. It was his 31st Premier League goal for the Albion, taking him past Pascal Gross.

Welbeck now needs seven more to eclipse the top flight record of 37 set by Michael Robinson in the old Division One, before Sky Sports invented football in 1992.

In a sign of what a terrible afternoon of football this otherwise was, Welbeck was the only Albion player to score in the fives.

Read on if you dare… here are your Palace 2-1 Brighton player ratings.

Bart Verbruggen – 4.56

Not really sure you could blame Verbruggen for either Palace goal. The first was a good strike from Mateta. And the second took a couple of deflections to defy him. He made a fine save low down to prevent Eberechi Eze putting the Eagles 2-0 up inside of 10 minutes.

Jack Hinshelwood – 4.78

Yet to really convince as a right back during his latest stint there because of injuries to Joel Veltman and Tariq Lamptey. Summed up when he went missing for the winning goal.

Jan Paul van Hecke – 3.89

Mateta and Eze gave Van Hecke and Lewis Dunk a testing afternoon. Van Hecke’s was rounded off in miserable style when he picked up a second yellow card for illegally halting Daichi Kamada, meaning he misses next week’s home game against Leicester City through suspension. Dunk and Eiran Cashin as a centre back partnership should be good fun.

Lewis Dunk – 4.44

Gave Mateta way too much space for the opener, making it five goals shipped in two games with Dunk back in the side. The Albion conceded only six in seven-and-a-half matches when Adam Webster was alongside Van Hecke.

Pervis Estupinan – 4.56

One of the deflections for the winning goal came off him. Like Dunk for the first, he probably should have been tighter.

Carlos Baleba – 4.44

I saw somebody post somewhere that Baleba seems to save his best performances for when he is in the shop window against clubs rumoured to be interested in signing him, such as Manchester City or Chelsea. And now I can’t stop thinking about it. Probably would not seem quite as true had Dean Henderson not kept out his distance volley in the first half.

Diego Gomez – 4.56

Okay first half but became lost in the second. Not the only Albion player guilty of that, of course. This is the sort of game he needs to stamp his authority on if he is to become a success in English football.

Yankubu Minteh – 4.78

Offered very little down the right other than one moment of quality – the cross which led to Welbeck scoring. Who knows how different things might have been had he been in the game more?

Matt O’Riley – 4.78

Blimey O’Riley. Fabian Hurzeler surprised everyone by picking the £25 million summer signing from Celtic in the number 10 role over Brajan Gruda. He probably needs a run of games there for judgement to be passed on what he can bring, so it will be interesting to see if he maintains his place against the Foxes next week.

Kaoru Mitoma – 4.56

Oliver Glasner did his homework, as you would expect from such a diligent manager. Palace doubled up on Mitoma to good effect.

DANNY WELBECK – 5.00

Welbz is Dat Guy. Great movement saw him steal some space for his goal, followed by a deft finish. Might have netted before that when following up Baleba’s volley, only to also be denied in what turned into a fine double save from Henderson.

Simon Adingra – 3.67

With Mitoma crowded out, it made sense to see if bringing on Adingra would mean Palace concentrated less on defending the left flank and in turn open the game up a bit more. Adingra though got nowhere, regardless of what the Eagles did defensively.

Joao Pedro – 4.00

Seemed to be in a right mood when he came on. Presumably because he wasn’t happy at being dropped to the bench. Completely the wrong attitude in any game of football… let alone when your team are facing their arch rivals.

Solly March – 4.00

In stark contrast to Pedro, March at least looked like he cared. Did his best to inject some energy and enthusiasm, even as it felt inevitable that Brighton were not going to overcome 10 (and then nine) men.

Brajan Gruda – 4.11

The best of the substitutes. Caused Marc Guehi to pick up a second booking of the afternoon, which at least means Palace will be without their captain and England international centre back for the trip to Manchester City next weekend.

Yasin Ayari – 3.67

Might have been the hero and written himself into Albion folklore had he done better with a late opportunity to equaliser.

Mats Wieffer – 3.56

The lowest scoring player in the Palace 2-1 Brighton ratings. Wieffer’s woeful attempted chest back to Van Hecke required his fellow Dutchman to wipe out Kamada for that second yellow.

The WAB Player Ratings are formulated using marks out of 10 given by Brighton fans via social media. To have your scores included, follow We Are Brighton on Twitter or We Are Brighton on Bluesky and look out for the player rating thread after each game.