Why Brighton were allowed to make six subs during fiery derby with THREE red cards
Crystal Palace earned a 2-1 victory over Brighton despite seeing two players sent off, while the Seagulls also saw a red card in a match where they were permitted to make six substitutions
Brighton and Hove Albion were in the rare position of being able to make six substitutions in their clash against Crystal Palace. The Seagulls fell to defeat against their rivals however in a match that saw three red cards.
Jean Philippe Mateta opened the scoring after just three minutes for the Eagles before Danny Welbeck claimed an equaliser. Daniel Munoz restored the home side's lead at Selhurst Park early in the second period before Eddie Nketiah, Marc Guehi and Jan Paul van Hecke alll saw red in the latter stages of the game.
And the eventful match saw Brighton permitted to make yet another substitution after Fabian Hurzeler had already called upon five players from his bench.
A collision between Joao Pedro and Palace ace Maxence Lacroix saw the latter surrounded by a medical team and checking for signs of concussion. The defender was replaced despite his protests by Joel Ward, seeing the Eagles gain a concussion substitute.
It was that moment that saw Brighton earn an additional substitution of their own. The Sussex side made use of their allowance and brought off Jack Hinshelwood for Mats Wieffer in stoppage time, as they went in search of a goal.
READ MORE: When Liverpool can win Premier League title as Arsenal drop more pointsREAD MORE: Roy Keane shows his true colours with classy gesture to superfan, 77, with dementiaDespite being at a two-man disadvantage for much of the closing stages of the game, Palace were able to continue riding high after claiming a place in the FA Cup semi-final last weekend. The Eagles dug in to defend their lead as Brighton searched for an equaliser.
"It was phenomenal," said Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, speaking to Premier League Productions. "The lads were in the trenches at the end.
"Going down to nine men, you have to dig deep and build relationships. No one knew what positions they were playing but they were throwing bodies in the way of shots. I'm speechless. It's fantastic. This fixture is massive for the fans. It means the same to us. We're delighted."
Oliver Glasner will now be without Nketiah and Guehi after each picked up two separate yellow cards. Both will miss the game against Manchester City, despite a degree of misfortune.
Guehi first mistimed a tackle on Brajan Gruda which resulted in a poor challenge, while Nketiah scarcely knew what he'd been pulled up for. The forward received his first yellow card for a dive, and a second for a high boot on Carlos Baleba.
"His foot wasn't too high, and the head was quite low as well," said former Chelsea ace Pat Nevin. "There is no way Nketiah was looking at him. I honestly don't think he knows what he's sent off for.
"The first yellow, there probably is contact. The second one, he wasn't looking at the player. In that situation, I don't think many pro's would send him off."
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