For all the heat that accompanies the M23 derby, this latest instalment at Selhurst Park offered more smoke than fire.
Crystal Palace and Brighton fought to a goalless draw that summed up both their seasons so far – flashes of intensity, plenty of effort, but not enough precision to make the difference.
The best action came early, when both teams briefly threatened to turn the occasion into something worthy of the atmosphere. Maxence Lacroix’s misjudged swing almost turned a Brighton cross into his own net, before Palace keeper Dean Henderson denied Diego Gómez from close range. Moments later, Bart Verbruggen responded in kind, flinging himself to keep out Ismaïla Sarr’s curling effort. That exchange promised a spectacle that never quite arrived.
After that, it was a match of attrition. Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton, unchanged for the first time this season, saw more of the ball, but Oliver Glasner’s Palace defended with organisation and resilience.
Missing captain Marc Guéhi, the Eagles relied on stand-in centre-back Jaydee Canvot – who endured a heart-stopping moment when Georginio Rutter went down in the box. Referee Tim Robinson pointed to the spot before VAR intervened, showing Rutter had initiated the contact. The decision was overturned, and Rutter was booked for diving to roars of delight from the home fans.
That moment, and the raucous response it provoked, arguably defined the afternoon. Palace had their chances – Daichi Kamada’s spin-and-miss from ten yards chief among them – while Brighton wasted a glorious opening before half-time when Yankuba Minteh blazed over. Yeremy Pino nearly won it for Palace in stoppage time, forcing a sharp save from Verbruggen, but neither side could find a finish.
Palace can take solace in extending their unbeaten home run against their rivals and showing defensive depth even with Guéhi out. Glasner’s men look organised and hard to break down, if still blunt going forward. Brighton, meanwhile, will see it as a missed opportunity: more possession, more control, but not enough incision.
The crowd gave this derby its fire; the football could not match it. For Palace, this was another hard-earned point. For Brighton, another frustrating reminder that dominance counts for little without a cutting edge.
