Brighton cruise past Palace

Brighton bounced back from their heavy defeat to Luton Town and put in a fine display at home to rivals Crystal Palace.

Brighton enjoyed the best start possible when they took the lead with just over two minutes gone in the game. Pascal Gross' inswinging corner from the right managed to find the head of Lewis Dunk in what was a crowded box.

It was Dunk who rose highest though with his header nestling into the corner for the captain's second goal of 2024.

Roy Hodgson has had injuries to deal with this season and the Palace manager was forced into an early change with Marc Guéhi going off, replaced by the Eagles' new arrival from Blackburn Rovers, 18-year-old Adam Wharton.

Shortly after that, the game looked over in the span of just two minutes.

The Seagulls got their second of the game when Tariq Lamptey got to the byline and floated in a cross to the far post that was headed in by teenager Jack Hinshelwood. 

Then just seconds after restart it was three. Some neat football inside the box led to Gross flicking the ball for Facundo Buonanotte to curl an effort past Dean Henderson.

At 3-0, the game looked pretty much over by half-time although Palace did get themselves back into the game in the 71st minute.

The visitors won the ball high up the pitch Joachim Andersen whipping a cross in from the right that Jean-Philippe Mateta rose to head past Bart Verbruggen.

Any hopes of an unlikely late Crystal Palace comeback were quashed in the 84th minute by a lovely goal from Brighton. 

João Pedro received the ball midway inside the Palace half, had space to turn and drive forward where he laid the ball off to Danny Welbeck. Welbeck's flick was perfectly weighted for the Brazilian to run onto the ball and wrap up all three points for Roberto De Zerbi's side.

This was exactly the kind of performance the Italian manager would have wanted to see after Tuesday's defeat. 

However, things aren't looking great for Roy Hodgson who couldn't build on their win over Sheffield United with heavy pressure remaining on the veteran manager.

FT: WHAT A WAY TO BOUNCE BACK! 😍

[4-1] 📲 https://t.co/S3j1TIedJv // #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/ky8J5dzx8B

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) February 3, 2024