Crystal Palace finally snapped their 12-game winless streak with a hard-fought 1–0 Premier League triumph over arch-rivals Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Sunday. Ismaila Sarr emerged as the hero, scoring the decisive goal in the second half to secure a much-needed victory for the Eagles.
The Senegalese forward, who had previously tormented Brighton with a brace in last season’s 3–1 win at the same venue, struck again in the 61st minute. His clinical finish came after substitute Evann Guessand, making his debut following a loan move from Aston Villa, capitalized on a poor clearance from Lewis Dunk to set him up. Sarr made no mistake, firing past Bart Verbruggen to silence the home crowd.
The win marked Palace’s first success in all competitions since December 11 and lifted them to 13th place in the table, edging one point above Brighton. For the Seagulls, the defeat deepened their woes, with Fabian Hurzeler’s side now having managed just two wins in their last 12 league outings. The frustration of the fans was evident, as boos rang out at full-time alongside chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” directed at Hurzeler.
Palace handed a debut to their record £48 million signing Jorgen Strand Larsen, while Brighton showcased youth by starting 17-year-old midfielder Harry Howell. The first half offered little excitement, though Sarr came close in the 43rd minute when he fired wide after being played through by Daniel Muñoz.
After breaking the deadlock, Palace had chances to extend their lead. Strand Larsen twice threatened to score, while goalkeeper Dean Henderson produced a crucial save with his legs to deny Charalampos Kostoulas an equaliser. In the closing stages, Palace held firm through six minutes of added time to secure their first league win since a 2–1 victory at Fulham on December 7.
This result not only restores confidence for Oliver Glasner’s men but also intensifies the pressure on Brighton, whose season is rapidly unraveling.
