Summary

  • Murray scores winner off knee, with initial suspicion of handball

  • Sako had levelled for Palace after Stephens' opener

  • First competitive club match in England with VAR (Video Assistant Referee) technology in use

  1. Postpublished at 41 mins

    Brighton 1-0 Crystal Palace

    Palace still yet to have a shot on target. Can they get one in before half-time?

  2. Only takes one touch to score a goalpublished at 20:26 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2018

    Brighton 1-0 Crystal Palace

    Dale Stephens first half touchesImage source, Opta

    Dale Stephens made use of his one and only touch in the final third.

  3. Postpublished at 20:26 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2018

    Brighton 1-0 Crystal Palace

    I wonder what Charlie Brooker's take on VAR is? May be a new episode in the next series of Black Mirror.

  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:25 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2018

    Brighton 1-0 Crystal Palace

    The massive problem with VAR is that we can't hear the explanation of the decisions that are made by the officials (like they are in rugby). Too much time will be spent on a decision that still won't make sense to us because we don't know what is going through the official's mind.

    Liam, Bolton

  5. Postpublished at 37 mins

    Brighton 1-0 Crystal Palace

    After a very very dull spell of football Palace burst into life! Bakary Sako, making the most of a rare start, drives past his man inside the area and puts a testing ball across the box. Andros Townsend hasn't gambled or made a run though and Uwe Hunemeier is able to clear.

    Bakary Sako of Crystal PalaceImage source, PA
  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:24 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2018

    #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only)

    James Dale: Palace have really ruined the VAR test by not picking Zaha, he's usually good for two or three dives a game.

    Tony de Luca: Good to see Brighton fans making a stand against VAR by staying away in protest.

    LFC Way: Brighton score. Hold on lads, Don't celebrate just yet, let's ask VAR if the goal was legit! ...Thumbs up from VAR, OK you can celebrate now!!

  7. About timepublished at 20:22 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2018

    Brighton 1-0 Crystal Palace

    Dale Stephens celebrates scoring against Crystal PalaceImage source, Getty Images

    After Shane Long recently broke his goal drought...

    Dale Stephens has scored his first goal for Brighton since netting against Blackburn in December 2016 – 391 days ago.

  8. Postpublished at 35 mins

    Brighton 1-0 Crystal Palace

    Poor cross from Solly March, but that's already the seventh cross the Seagulls have put into the Eagles box. Get it wide, get it in. A solid gameplan.

  9. Quiet start for VAR... and Palacepublished at 20:19 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2018

    Brighton 1-0 Crystal Palace

    Rob Nothman
    BBC Sport at Amex Stadium

    Interesting to see Referee Andre Marriner after Dale Stephens’ goal checking his earpiece to hear whether there was any message from the Video Assistant Referee in his television studio in London.

    Nothing was forthcoming so Brighton took a deserved lead. A quiet start for VAR and by Palace for that matter.

  10. Postpublished at 31 mins

    Brighton 1-0 Crystal Palace

    Brighton have all sorts of space out wide as Gaetan Bong is able to put in another decent cross - again, Tomer Hemed heads over the bar.

    Hemed got 17 last season but has only scored twice in the Premier League.

  11. Postpublished at 28 mins

    Brighton 1-0 Crystal Palace

    Is that the goal to give this game the kickstart it needed? Crystal Palace are down to their bare bones now but they have showed precious little attacking intent so far tonight.

    Jose Izquierdo of Brighton and Hove Albion evades Yohan Cabaye and Timothy Fosu-MensahImage source, Getty Images
  12. 'He got done at his near post'published at 20:14 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2018

    Brighton 1-0 Crystal Palace

    Steve Claridge
    Ex-Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 live

    It's no more than they deserve, a wonderful first touch from Stephens, it opens up, he takes a touch. He goes for pace and it's past Hennessey before he can move. I think Hennessey will be really disappointed, he gets done at his near post.

  13. goal

    GOAL - Brighton 1-0 Crystal Palacepublished at 27 mins

    Dale Stephens

    Dale Stephens scores for BrightonImage source, Reuters

    Oh Wayne Hennessey!

    Wayne, Wayne, Wayne...

    Dale Stephens charges into the area with a neat first touch, he batters a shot into the near post and the Wales man just lets the ball go through him. He didn't even get a hand up.

    Poor goalkeeping.

  14. Backs to the wall for Palacepublished at 20:11 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2018

    Brighton 0-0 Crystal Palace

    Crystal Palace heatmap in the first halfImage source, Opta

    Brighton have 59% of the early possession, meaning Crystal Palace have rarely left their own half.

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:08 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2018

    #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only)

    If the referee has a shocker and then reviews it, he could easily go with his original decision to save his blushes. We saw that exact scenario in the Confederations Cup! A missed blatant elbow, and a yellow given upon review! The ref saw it in real time... it was a straight red all day long. For it to work it needs to another designated ref. A second opinion.

    Daz C, Derby

  16. Postpublished at 20:08 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2018

    Brighton 0-0 Crystal Palace

    Steve Claridge
    Ex-Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 live

    The job he did with England was woeful but Roy Hodgson's galvanized Palace, there's belief in that side now. Everything we probably didn't see from an England perspective and he's a thoroughly nice fella.

    Roy HodgsonImage source, Getty Images
  17. Postpublished at 21 mins

    Brighton 0-0 Crystal Palace

    Those fans who decided to give this a miss may have made the right call.

    'Your ground's too big for you!' is the witty cry from the away end. Not in the league it isn't!

    Jonathan Pearce has already commentated on two 0-0s this weekend...

  18. Postpublished at 20:05 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2018

    Brighton 0-0 Crystal Palace

    Steve Claridge
    Ex-Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 live

    Hemed's got head and shoulders above his marker and it couldn't have been any straighter at the goalkeeper. It was a simple, simple take.

  19. All left for Palacepublished at 20:05 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2018

    Brighton 0-0 Crystal Palace

    Crystal Palace attacking in the first halfImage source, Opta

    Crystal Palace heavily favouring the left hand side in the opening 15 or so minutes at the Amex Stadium.

  20. Postpublished at 18 mins

    Brighton 0-0 Crystal Palace

    Chance! Should do better again - Brighton striker Tomer Hemed meets a corner with a powerful header but it's straight at Wayne Hennessey.

    Hemed may have to be filed in the Cameron Jerome category. Prolific in the league below, short of goals in the top flight?