Brighton and Hove Albion 0 Crystal Palace 1
Albion lost a vital match at home to Crystal Palace simply because they cannot stick the ball in the net.
When Solly March tamely found the side netting after Leandro Trossard fired a superb cross along the six-yard box the writing was on the wall for the Seagulls.
The lack of a confident striker or striking options will almost certainly come back to haunt Graham Potter in mid-May.
The most entertaining aspect of the first half was the ongoing battle between Ezequiel Schelotto and Wilfried Zaha.
Schelotto appeared to kick the ball against Zaha’s legs while he was warming up. Zaha attempted to throw a punch at Schelotto until Palace substitute Luka Milivojevic intervened.
Just after, Christian Benteke missed a good opportunity for Palace.
Albion dominated the early part of the second half and had a host of chances most notably Lewis Dunk whose goal-bound header from an Aaron Mooy corner was blocked on the goal-line by Neal Maupay.
Maupay had a chance from a Mooy through ball. The striker waited an age for the ball to drop over his shoulder, allowing Gary Cahill to clear.
Then Maupay went clean through, with only Vicente Guaita to beat, but shot straight at the Palace keeper.
Palace won it against the run of play as Jordan Ayew slid the ball under Maty Ryan who may have been unsighted by Lewis Dunk diving in front of him as Ayew struck his shot.
Albion take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux next Saturday (7 March) but are quite simply staring relagation in the face.
