The latest iteration of the so-called M23 derby takes place at Selhurst Park on Thursday evening, as Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion lock horns with Premier League points at stake.
Roy Hodgson's side produced a phenomenal comeback to draw 2-2 with Manchester City at the weekend, while the Seagulls were played off the park in a 2-0 beating at the hands of Arsenal.
Palace spent most of the opening 75 minutes camped inside their own half, but as Pep Guardiola's men failed to add to their advantage, Hodgson's men regained a shred of belief thanks to a Jean-Philippe Mateta tap-in before the Frenchman was felled in the area by Phil Foden in added time.
Cutting a perennially calm demeanour, Michael Olise slotted home from 12 yards to spark bedlam in the Etihad away end, as Hodgson's side became the latest team to weaken Man City's title credentials while also avoiding three successive defeats for the first time this season.
Discontent has been growing around Selhurst Park amid the Eagles' winter woes, which has left Hodgson's team 15th in the Premier League table, but Thursday's hosts are comfortably eight points clear of the drop zone and ought to have received quite the injection of confidence from their marvellous Manchester fightback.
0 Comments