Nine-man Crystal Palace cling on to beat Brighton

Nine-man Crystal Palace clung on to a 2-1 lead through 12 minutes of second-half added time at Selhurst Park to secure their first league double over arch-rivals Brighton in 92 years.

Jean-Philippe Mateta fired the hosts in front three minutes in, but Danny Welbeck drew the sides level before the break, surpassing Pascal Gross as Brighton’s top Premier League goal-scorer in the process.

Daniel Munoz put Palace back in front 10 minutes after the restart before both Eddie Nketiah and Marc Guehi were sent off with second yellow cards.

It was briefly nine versus 10 when Jan Paul van Hecke was also sent off with a second booking in the sixth minute of second-half added time.

It was an excellent outing from Palace keeper Dean Henderson, competing for England’s number-one spot under Thomas Tuchel, who was in attendance.

All five of the previous occasions these sides had met in the Premier League at Selhurst Park ended in 1-1 draws.

Mateta fired Palace in front with a brilliant finish from Eberechi Eze’s spot-on pass between the lines.

There was no doubt the Frenchman would find the back of the net when he then collected the ball at the edge of the penalty area, shifted from his right foot to his left and smashed it into the top corner.

It was Palace’s fastest Premier League goal of the season, and a first for Mateta – still sporting a protective device – since suffering a severe ear laceration in their FA Cup fifth-round victory over Millwall on March 1.

Henderson then gave Tuchel more to consider with a double save, first parrying away Carlos Baleba’s effort, then reacting quickly with an outstretched foot to ensure Welbeck could not get the rebound past him.

Welbeck would not be denied a second time, however, running inside