Welbeck keeps his head to salvage point for Brighton at Crystal Palace

The last time a Crystal Palace manager lost to Brighton it cost him his job so Roy Hodgson could have had no illusions about the importance of this match. But having looked like being able to celebrate the end of their winless run courtesy of Jordan Ayew’s goal, the substitute Danny Welbeck’s equaliser eight minutes from time ensured that Hodgson’s future remains very much in the balance.

A committed performance against Roberto De Zerbi’s side should mean that Hodgson won’t suffer the same fate as Patrick Vieira – who was sacked in a 7am phone call with the chairman, Steve Parish, as he drove to the training ground – just yet, even if games against Chelsea and Brentford after Christmas now look crucial with the former Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper lurking in the background.

​Hodgson had urged his players to embrace the occasion against their bitter rivals, although the pressure was firmly on the former England manager after a run of six matches without victory. He made three changes from the side that battled back to draw against Manchester City at the weekend, with the young players who excelled at the Etihad Stadium and Eberechi Eze having to settle for a place on the bench once again.

De Zerbi said that his players “would not sleep” the night before their trip up the A23 as they attempted to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat to Arsenal when they were still sporting a hangover from their exploits in the Europa League. With a place in the last-16 already assured, Brighton arrived in south London with the intention of ending their poor recent record here and increasing the ire of the home supporters.

This was the first time Palace had been without Brighton’s usual tormentor, Wilfried Zaha, for one of these showdowns since his departure in the summer, and despite the raucous atmosphere created by the their fans they laboured in attack against a defence that has now not kept a clean sheet for 22 league games – the longest run in their history. A hopeful cross by Michael Olise was scrambled away to safety by Lewis Dunk just in time with Jean-Philippe Mateta lurking.

Brighton could have gone ahead after 20 minutes when Simon Adingra found space on the right but his shot was pushed away by Dean Henderson. Palace finally registered their first effort on target when Mateta took aim from distance but it was comfortably saved by Verbruggen. The French striker should have done better when he was set up by Olise yet failed to make contact with the ball before Chris Richards was inches away from converting Jordan Ayew’s dangerous cross, with Dunk blocking Olise’s follow-up shot.

Pascal Gross was denied when Henderson parried his effort from long range that swirled in the wind on a blustery night. But it was Palace who made the breakthrough just before half-time when Verbruggen gifted possession to Olise and his cross was headed home from point blank range by a grateful Ayew. You could feel the instant relief flood around Selhurst Park.

It was Palace’s first goal before half-time since 11 November against Everton and De Zerbi’s response was to replace Carlos Baleba and Adingra with Facundo Buonanotte and Welbeck. Dunk should have levelled when he headed a Gross free-kick wide and the visitors were incensed when the referee John Brooks – who caused controversy here last season when he ruled out what should have been a legitimate Brighton goal for offside when he was the VAR – decided that Ayew had made no contact with Jack Hinshelwood as he prepared to shoot inside the box.

Henderson was at full stretch to save Billy Gilmour’s drive as Brighton continued to push forward, with Hinshelwood missing the target after being picked out by Gross at the back post.

Eze could have made sure of the points had he not been so casual with a late chance following a swift breakaway before shooting over from the resulting corner. His side were then made to pay the ultimate price when Welbeck brilliantly headed home a cross from Gross to give the travelling fans the last laugh – and leave Hodgson looking nervously over his shoulder.