Crystal Palace finally secured their first Premier League victory in recent times, clinching a hard-fought 1–0 win against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium.
This victory ended a frustrating nine-match winless streak, providing much-needed relief for Oliver Glasner’s team in a season that has tested both their patience and confidence.
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The match, however, was not a showcase of high-quality football.
Both teams struggled to find their form, and the first half reflected this lack of fluency.
Brighton had the lion’s share of possession but failed to create any real threats.
Lewis Dunk came close on two occasions from set pieces: he headed over from a Pascal Gross corner and later glanced a free-kick wide.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between.
Maxim De Cuyper’s low shot from outside the box was Brighton’s only effort on target before halftime, while Palace found it difficult to maintain coherent possession.
As the first half wound down, the visitors began to show more attacking intent.
Adam Wharton shot wide from the edge of the area, and Ismaïla Sarr’s effort was sliced under pressure, although Bart Verbruggen remained largely untroubled.
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The second half followed a similar pattern until Palace shifted momentum.
Glasner made a substitution, bringing on Evann Guessand just before the hour mark, and his impact was immediate.
Receiving the ball in midfield, Guessand delivered a perfectly timed pass through Brighton’s defense for Sarr to pursue.
The winger maintained his composure, delicately lifting the ball over Verbruggen to register Palace’s first shot on target.
This moment of clarity stood out in an otherwise scrappy match.
Brighton quickly sought to equalize.
Teenage forward Charalampos Kostoulas found space in the box but was thwarted by Dean Henderson, who made a crucial save to preserve Palace’s narrow lead.
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That was the closest the hosts would come to scoring.
Despite applying sustained pressure and earning several late set pieces, Brighton struggled with creativity and decisiveness in the final third.
Fabian Hurzeler’s team has now gone without a league win since early January, and the frustration among the home fans became palpable as the clock wound down.
Palace defended effectively in the closing minutes, managing to limit Brighton’s chances, slow the game down, and avoid retreating too far as their opponents searched for an equalizer.
There was even a chance to secure a second goal in stoppage time, but Verbruggen made a close-range save.
The final whistle was met with relief from the visiting supporters.
In a derby defined more by tension than technical quality, Palace seized the crucial moment that their rivals failed to capitalize on.