Roy Hodgson voiced his contentment with Crystal Palace’s performance in their 1-1 draw with Brighton despite conceding a late equalizer. Substitute Danny Welbeck’s goal negated Jordan Ayew’s opener and extended the record of five consecutive 1-1 draws between the two teams.
Palace are currently in 15th place and nine points clear of the relegation zone after going winless in seven matches. Their winless streak exceeds Nottingham Forest’s and they now prepare to face Chelsea after Christmas. When asked if he was feeling the pressure, Hodgson remained unfazed, stating that the players are doing their best and that they will focus on what they are capable of in the upcoming match against Chelsea.
The hosts opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time after a mistake by Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. They were missing key player Jordan Ayew in their previous game but saw the return of Eberechi Eze, who was not fully fit. Roberto de Zerbi, Brighton’s manager, expressed his disappointment in the result, noting that mistakes cost them the win.
Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma left the game with an ankle injury after what was a frustrating afternoon for both teams. Despite the result, both managers emphasized the need for patience and continued dedication to the development of their young players.