De Zerbi excelling himself to have injured Seagulls still soaring

Kaoru Mitoma left Selhurst Park on crutches, Simon Adingra was substituted at half time, and we now know that both players will be out with injury for between four and six weeks.

The ever-growing Brighton injury list is causing a lot of concern and even anger amongst Albion supporters. But on the flip side, it is showing what an incredible job those players who are available and Roberto De Zerbi are doing despite all the difficulties.

Brighton are only one point off where we were after 18 games last season. Just two games of the past 12 have been won, but more importantly only three have been lost.

Every other club is dropping points in a season where teams seem more capable than ever of beating each other. Just look at the difficulties Manchester United and Newcastle have had over the festive period.

It is for this reason that we as Albion fans should be keeping our chins up. That and this Brighton side never give up, as we saw once again when De Zerbi took charge of the Seagulls for the 50th time in the away game at Crystal Palace.

I was hoping the Albion would begin all guns blazing at Selhurst. That, however, was not to be. They did though gain control of the game in the second half and eventually scored a deserved equaliser through Danny Welbeck after giving away another goal on the stroke of half time.

When I looked to see who the referee would be for the latest battle between Seagulls and Eagles, I almost choked on my cup of tea.

John Brooks was in charge, he who famously drew the offside lines from the incorrect Albion player to rule out a perfectly good Pervis Estupinan goal away at Palace in the corresponding fixture last season.

This, I must admit, did not fill me with a great deal of confidence right from the start. Once again, we were lucky to have BBC Radio Sussex and Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinal on the airwaves.

As normal, I combined local radio with the Sky Sports coverage including Albion hero Glenn Murray and former Palace player Jobi McAnuff.

Sky Sports produced a great VT before the game about the rivalry and a piece on De Zerbi linked to the singing of Andrea Bocelli.

The piece included DeZerbiCam footage and made for brilliant viewing. Compliments to the team at Sky for putting that together.

As well as praise for De Zerbi, there was concern in the studio that Brighton were still yet to keep a clean sheet this season.

Murray stood up for this record, reiterating that DeZerbiBall is about scoring goals which leaves the Albion at risk of conceding. It is certainly a style which provides plenty of entertainment for us fans.

To put another personal fly in the ointment for me, one of my non-Brighton supporting nephews had gone to the game in the home end as his new lady friend is a Palace supporter.

This gave me added reason to hope the Albion would see off Palace properly and conveniently to take the three points. Alas, it was not to be.

After a Selhurst lightshow, the game got underway. Brighton settled down, dominated possession and began to pass the ball around confidently and accurately.

Igor Julio played a cross field pass that found Adingra for a shot parried away by Dean Henderson. The ball fell to Carlos Baleba who rocketed an effort back which was wide of the target.

Palace had a good spell after that, forcing Bart Verbruggen into a save from Jean-Philippe Mateta. Jan Paul van Hecke then headed away a dangerous ball at the expense of a corner.

A bagatelle-style goalmouth scramble broke out in the Albion box but no Palace player could force the ball home, thank goodness.

Up the other end and Pascal Gross let rip a shot parried away by Henderson. Mitoma collected possession and the Brighton attack continued, although nothing came of it.

It looked like the score was going to be 0-0 going in at half time until the Albion were guilty of taking too many risks in possession at the back, giving the ball to Palace who punished the mistake through a Jordan Ayew header.

According to the Sky Sports stats, that moment moved Brighton top of the Premier League table for mistakes leading to goals this season.

Six errors have caused the Albion to concede, bettering the five of Arsenal. A very obvious area to work on for De Zerbi and the players.

Roy Hodgson could now deploy his normal tactics of trying to frustrate Brighton as Palace sought to defend their lead. It was De Zerbi’s job to find a way through, with his initial response being to substitute Baleba and Adingra and bring on Welbeck and Facundo Buonanotte.

The Albion were much improved for the changes. Lewis Dunk nearly headed in a free kick and then Jack Hinshelwood had a penalty appal not awarded by Mr Brooks.

Was that the right call? If you impede a player trying to take a shot and by doing that he loses his footing, maybe it should be a penalty? We have certainly seen similar calls go against Brighton in the past.

Chances continued to come. Billy Gilmour was unlucky with a drive towards the bottom right corner saved again by Henderson. Hinshelwood then let one go from close range which flew over the bar.

Henderson had a rare dodgy moment next similar to Robert Sanchez for Brighton at Palace last year. He treated the ball like a tub of lard, it slipped from his hands but Palace survived as no Brighton player could convert before the ball was scrambled away.

Van Hecke then made a great block to deny Eberechi Eze. Had Palace gone 2-0 ahead, that would have been that. And even without the Eagles doubling their lead, it still looked like they were going to win entering the final 10 minutes.

Mitoma initially tried to play on after injuring his ankle, seeing a shot saved by Henderson. Before the Japanese Bullet Train was forced off, Brighton had their equaliser.

Gross delivered a fantastic cross from the right and Welbeck placed a header into an area in the top right-hand corner of the goal the size of a small cardboard box.

It was the only place Henderson had no hope of reaching. You could not hope to see a more pinpoint header, it serving of a reminder of the quality Welbeck brings. How great to have him fit again and back in the squad.

Welbeck might have had a winner when Henderson’s attempted punch away hit the Albion striker in the face and rolled back towards goal. As everyone held their breath, it just went wide of the far post.

Brighton had 14 attempts on goal in the second half, summing up what a one-sided contest this was after the break. Given the circumstances, the Albion and De Zerbi deserve a lot of praise for that being the case.

Do not write Brighton off even without Adingra and Mitoma for the coming weeks. 2023 has been a brilliant year for the Albion. I have a feeling things might get even better yet in 2024.

Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony

Seagulls Best Ever Season Volume 2 charts Brighton’s record breaking 2022-23 campaign through the eyes of Tony Noble, an East Stand Upper season ticket holder at the American Express Stadium. It is available from Waterstones, WHSmith, Amazon Bookstore and all good bookshops as well as the Albion Superstore at the Amex and via this link.