Brighton and Hove Albion vs Crystal Palace; Premier League
Brighton and Hove Albion vs Crystal Palace. Premier League.
Amex Stadium.
Brighton 0-1 Crystal Palace: Ismaila Sarr ends Eagles winless run as Brighton are booed off
Report and free match highlights as Ismaila Sarr's second-half goal grabbed Crystal Palace a vital Premier League win; Brighton have just one victory in their last 12 games and were booed off at the Amex Stadium with fans turning on boss Fabian Hurzeler
Sunday 8 February 2026 17:54, UK
Crystal Palace ended a 12-game winless run in all competitions with a 1-0 victory over rivals Brighton, whose head coach Fabian Hurzeler came under fire from the home fans.
Ismaila Sarr's second-half goal was enough for a vital away win for the Eagles, with Brighton really flat and stale in their approach.
Brighton have won just one of their last 12 Premier League games - only Burnley (5) and Wolves (6) have taken fewer points since December 1. That form has heaped pressure on Hurzeler who was subjected to chants of "you don't know what you're doing" and "sacked in the morning" from a large section of the home support while his team was roundly booed off at full-time.
The win moves Palace nine points clear of the relegation zone and above the Seagulls in 13th place.
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Palace handed a debut to £48m club-record signing Jorgen Strand Larsen as part of two changes, while Brighton's three alterations included a first Premier League start for 17-year-old midfielder Harry Howell.
Seagulls captain Lewis Dunk glanced off target from a Pascal Gross free-kick before Eagles defender Maxence Lacroix blocked a powerful effort from Maxim De Cuyper with his left thigh but that was as good as it got for the home side.
Palace always carried a threat and the deadlock was eventually broken in the 61st minute when substitute Evann Guessand made an instant impact on his Eagles debut.
The Ivory Coast forward, who joined on loan from Aston Villa on January 30, seized on a poor headed clearance from Dunk to slip in Sarr, who took his time before finishing beyond Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
Strand Larsen twice threatened to double Palace's lead before they comfortably held on during six minutes of added time.
'It's the hardest moment of my career,' says Hurzeler after fans turn
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler said:
"It's the hardest moment, but it's also the moment where I try to get the most out of it, where I learn the most and grow the most, so therefore I will face this adversity and I will get through it.
"I'm responsible and it's part of being a football coach that you're blamed for the results and therefore I have to take responsibility.
"I always promise I give my heart. I give my soul for this club and I will keep doing this and I will keep trying to find solutions together with my team, together with my players, because that's why I'm here.
"I'm trying to help the players. I try to get now into their mind because I think that's the main thing, we have a loss of self-confidence and how you get the self-confidence back is only by getting the right results.
"In the end, I will absorb the criticism.
"For me, it's fine if they criticise me as long as they support the team, because I think our team, they need the support. Lots of players are struggling at the moment and therefore it's fine if they find the person they need to blame, because in the end I'm responsible - as long as they support the team, and I think they supported the team in a great way today.
"It's not a moment to talk about my human feelings. I think everyone can imagine how you would feel if 25,000 demand things and sing about you. The only two options to give up or to keep pushing, to keep working.
"And that's always the option I choose in my life so far. That's why I'm sitting here because I never give up because I keep fighting and that's what I will keep pushing to do."
Glasner praises Palace fans for sticking by his team
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner:
"A mix between relief and happiness. Not the best Premier League game. Circumstances dictated that, it's explainable. We defended very well. That is our foundation. We gave them one chance then we waited for our moment. We're really happy.
"Thank you to our fans. Plenty of opportunity to boo us and they never did. Bond created between the fans and the team They never booed. Not pleased but we always felt the support. Scenes at the end. Players and fans emotions you can't buy. Fans can go down the M23 making a couple of stops for some Guinness. Fans can wake up Monday morning happy when they go to work - the week is easier to start with a win."
