Ismaïla Sarr’s second-half strike ended Crystal Palace’s 12-match winless streak as they edged past rivals Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 at the Amex Stadium.
The Ivorian forward, who netted twice in Palace’s 3-1 triumph at Brighton last season, calmly finished in the 61st minute to settle a tense south coast derby.
The victory marked Palace’s first in all competitions since December 11, lifting them to 13th in the Premier League table, just a point above Brighton.
Meanwhile, home fans vented their frustration at head coach Fabian Hurzeler, chanting “you’re getting sacked in the morning” as Albion were booed off following a largely uninspiring display.
Brighton, who had a chance to move into the top half with a win, have now claimed just one victory in their last 12 league outings.
Palace’s team included club-record signing Jorgen Strand Larsen, making his debut in a £48 million ($65 million) move, while Brighton handed 17-year-old Harry Howell his first Premier League start as one of three changes.
The derby began with intensity off the pitch, evidenced by a heavy police presence, but the first half offered little excitement on it.
Seagulls captain Lewis Dunk glanced narrowly wide from a Pascal Gross free-kick, and Maxim De Cuyper’s powerful shot was blocked by Maxence Lacroix’s thigh.
Palace gradually grew into the match, with Chris Richards’ long throws causing problems for Brighton, and Sarr forcing a near-miss in the 43rd minute after a pass from Daniel Muñoz.
A goalless first half seemed likely, echoing the 0-0 result when these sides met at Selhurst Park in November.
The deadlock was broken shortly after the hour mark. Evann Guessand, a second-half substitute on his Eagles debut, capitalized on a misheaded clearance by Dunk and played Sarr through, allowing the forward to finish with composure past Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
Palace keeper Dean Henderson kept Albion at bay, saving a close-range effort from Charalampos Kostoulas soon after the goal.
Brighton’s manager Hurzeler responded with a triple substitution in the 71st minute, bringing on Diego Gómez, Yankuba Minteh, and Danny Welbeck, but sections of the crowd jeered, chanting “you don’t know what you’re doing.”
Despite late pressure, Palace held firm, with Strand Larsen twice threatening to extend the lead.
The Eagles saw out six minutes of added time to secure bragging rights and record their first Premier League victory since beating Fulham 2-1 on December 7.
