Georginio Rutter was Booked for Diving After a Penalty Decision was Overturned

At a glance

Brighton given second-half penalty but overturned for Rutter dive

Palace captain Guehi missed game through injury

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Rivals Crystal Palace and Brighton had to settle for a point apiece from a largely dour Premier League tussle at Selhurst Park, where VAR intervention quashed a penalty award to the Seagulls.

The game started with plenty of promise as both teams created good chances in the opening 10 minutes, but the excitement waned.

Brighton thought they had won a spot-kick just after the hour mark when Georginio Rutter went down as he looked to go past Jaydee Canvot.

However, referee Tim Robinson was sent to the screen by the video assistant referee and overturned the decision before booking Rutter for diving.

Palace, who brought England midfielder Adam Wharton back into their side but were without injured captain Marc Guehi, threatened first through Jean-Philippe Mateta after good play from Ismaila Sarr.

Brighton soon responded as Diego Gomez plucked a high ball out of the sky and tested Dean Henderson with a stinging shot.

A minute later, Sarr forced a good save from Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen before the game settled into a predictable pattern as the sides largely cancelled each other out.

Brighton’s best chance came on the stroke of half-time as Gomez robbed Wharton of possession, drove forward and slipped the ball through for Yankuba Minteh – only for the winger to scuff a shot horribly wide.

Palace should have gone in front 10 minutes after half-time when Wharton robbed Carlos Baleba in the Brighton half, but first Sarr and then Daichi Kamada got the ball stuck under their feet before the latter shot wide.

Substitute Yeremy Pino almost won it for Palace in stoppage time, but Verbruggen got down well to his right to keep out a low shot as the game – as had seemed inevitable for long spells – ended goalless.

Palace analysis: Hosts solid but laboured without Guehi

To lose influential skipper Guehi was undoubtedly a blow for Palace, even if young centre-back Canvot slotted in seamlessly in his place for Oliver Glasner’s side.

Despite that, they still probably edged it in terms of chances with Kamada twice going close after the break before they almost snatched the win through Pino’s late strike.

Ultimately, they had to settle for a point, and with games continuing to come thick and fast after the international break, fatgiue is something the Eagles will have to deal with so they will hope to keep the injuries to a minimum.

Brighton analysis: Seagulls fail to get off the ground

While Palace had a quick turnaround after their European exertions, there was no such busy schedule to hamper Brighton, yet the Seagulls seemed to suffer from the same sluggishness as their opponents.

Head coach Fabian Hurzeler, who was booked for dissent and now faces a touchline ban, will be pleased with a second clean sheet in two games – as many as his side had managed in their previous 22 league matches – but they lacked spark when going forward.

Gomez was an exception as he created four chances – double that of any other player in the match – but Minteh was some way off his best with his poor finish late in the first half symptomatic of his overall display.

Rutter, who could have no complaints over his booking for diving following the penalty incident, played just off striker Danny Welbeck, but they failed to muster a shot between them in the match.

It continues a strange start to the campaign for Brighton, who sit 11th, a point behind Palace in 10th, after 11 games.

Average rating7.03

Source: BBC