Danny Welbeck’s late header salvages a point for Brighton in 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace
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Brighton & Hove Albion's Danny Welbeck applauds fans after the 1-1 English Premier League draw with Crystal Palace.
PHOTO: AFP
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LONDON – Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto de Zerbi claimed that it was two points lost, despite his side needing a late Danny Welbeck equaliser to draw 1-1 with Crystal Palace in the English Premier League on Dec 21.
“I think we lost two points,” he told Sky Sports. “It is because we made too many mistakes, especially in the first half. In the second half, we played with more energy, to find the chance to score.
“We had two or three chances to score and didn’t score. We concede another bad goal that we can play better and we can’t lose the ball in that way.”
Brighton, who have just two wins in their last 12 league games, climbed to eighth in the table with 27 points after 18 games. Roy Hodgson’s Palace, who were coming off a shock 2-2 draw at Manchester City last weekend, are 15th on 18 points.
“As a group, we are a bit disappointed because we wanted to come here and get the three points,” Welbeck said.
“I feel like we should be a bit higher in the table with the way we’ve performed and there have been some results that got away from us. It happened again tonight.”
Palace looked to be heading towards victory after Jordan Ayew scored just before the break in a drab first half, when Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen hesitated and gave up possession. Michael Olise sent in a pinpoint cross to the back post that Ayew headed home.
But Brighton responded with 14 second-half shots and Welbeck, who entered the game after half-time, scored with a brilliant header in the 82nd minute – his 64th Premier League goal – to silence the Palace crowd.
“I am still making my way back from injury but I felt good and have been feeling good all week,” the 33-year-old added. “I was just trying to make an impact. To get the goal is good but I am disappointed not to get the three points.”
Remarkably, it was the fifth successive time this clash has ended 1-1 at Selhurst Park.
The Seagulls almost got the winner in bizarre fashion, when Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson rushed out to punch the ball away, but it bounced hard off Welbeck’s head and backwards towards the net. Fortunately for the home side, it rolled just wide.
“The bottom line is we have to accept that we know what we’re capable of,” said Hodgson of his team’s performance.
“We also know that even if we bring the absolute maximum of what we’re capable of, but if you play a Liverpool, Man City and Brighton it’s always going to be a tough ask.” REUTERS
