Early optimism fizzles out as Eagles and Brighton share forgettable contest

Remembrance Day rendezvous : Picture by @YTJourno

Premier League

Crystal Palace 0

Brighton 0

It started as if we might be heading for goal fest and ended with the feeling we might never see a goal again for the rest of our lives.

Draws between these two have become common currency in recent years and after the initial thrill of full-on attacks from both sides had subsided, a familiar cautionary holding pattern took hold. The second half had very little going for it.

With five of the past six encounters at Selhurst between the sides ending in 1-1 draws, fans knew what to expect - though April's 2-1 win and a double for the Eagles last season broke that chain of stalemates. The ambition was there, but chances dwindled and the closest we came was when a penalty decision was overturned.

In fairness, we were treated to a thrilling start with the Eagles so close to getting their noses in front through the deadly combination of Ismailia Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Sarr fed his fellow striker for a rasping drive over the bar, then the compliment was returned with Sarr's drive needing a fine diving save by Bart Verbruggen to keep him out. Sarr also came close after bursting through the inside right channel onto a lovely ball clipped down the line with the outside of the boot by Adam Wharton - the striker shooting across the face of goal.

The Seagulls were not afraid to pour forward as well though and Dean Henderson had Diego Gomez's powerful shot to deal with during a breathless start to the afternoon. Yankuba Minteh made a hash of a great chance following a breakaway late in the half when he pulled a weak shot wide.

The customary spikiness in the stands which surrounds this fixture did not quite rear its head on the pitch, despite the full-blooded nature of the contest, though Jefferson Lerma and Danny Welbeck did have a minor squaring up after a tangle.

The Eagles really should have broken the seal 10 minutes after the break when Warton found Sarr inside the box, but a ball pulled back from the right after much twisting and turning ended with Daichi Kamada sending a shot wide.

Brighton were awarded a penalty just after the hour after Jaydee Canvot and Wharton converged on Georgino Rutter, but ref Tim Robinson had a change of heart after VAR suggested a fresh look at the replay. Instead Rutter was yellow carded for 'initiating contact'.

Kamada did thrash a ball into the side netting to cause a ripple in the netting and a ripple in the stands as home fans briefly thought it had gone in, and sub Yeremy Pino's low shot had the Albion keeper scrambling down at his near post, but in the end neither side did quite enough to deserve all three points.

Eagles: (3-4-2-1) Henderson - Richards, Lacroix, Canvot - Munoz, Wharton (Pino 66), Kamada (Hughes 83), Mitchell - Sarr, Lerma - Mateta

Seagulls: (4-2-3-1) Verbruggen - Wieffer, van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu - Baleba (Veltman 75), Ayari - Minteh, Rutter (Kostoulas 75), Gomez (de Cuyper 85) - Welbeck (Tzimas 85)

Attendance: 24,326