Crystal Palace and Brighton had to settle for a 0-0 draw in a largely uneventful Premier League encounter at Selhurst Park, with a late VAR intervention denying the Seagulls a penalty.
The game began promisingly, with both sides creating chances in the opening 10 minutes, but the tempo quickly dropped.
Brighton thought they had won a penalty shortly after the hour mark when Georginio Rutter went down under a challenge from Jaydee Canvot.
However, referee Tim Robinson overturned the decision after consulting the VAR and booked Rutter for diving.
Palace started brighter, with Jean-Philippe Mateta testing Brighton’s defence after good work from Ismaila Sarr.
Brighton responded through Diego Gomez, who plucked a high ball out of the air and unleashed a fierce shot on goal, only to be denied by Dean Henderson.
Sarr forced another save from Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen moments later, but the game soon settled into a predictable rhythm, with both sides cancelling each other out.
Brighton’s best opportunity came just before halftime when Gomez stole possession from Adam Wharton, drove forward, and found Yankuba Minteh, who scuffed his shot wide.
Palace came close early in the second half when Wharton dispossessed Carlos Baleba, but both Sarr and Daichi Kamada were unable to finish, leaving the chance wasted.
In stoppage time, substitute Yeremy Pino almost snatched a winner for Palace, only for Verbruggen to make a low save to keep the scores level.
Missing influential captain Marc Guehi was a blow for Palace, though Jaydee Canvot slotted in seamlessly.
Manager Oliver Glasner made three changes from Thursday’s Conference League win over AZ Alkmaar, asking seven outfield players to turn around in just two days.
Despite fatigue, Palace started brightly, with Sarr and Mateta linking well early on, and Kamada went close twice after the break.
Pino’s late chance highlighted their attacking potential, but ultimately, the Eagles had to settle for a point.
With a busy schedule ahead after the international break, managing fatigue and injuries will remain a key challenge.
Brighton, without the same fixture congestion as Palace, still looked sluggish.
Head coach Fabian Hurzeler, booked for dissent and facing a potential touchline ban, will take encouragement from a second clean sheet in two games, but his side lacked attacking cohesion.
Gomez was the standout, creating four chances, double any other player, but Minteh struggled to convert opportunities, including a poor finish before halftime.
Rutter and striker Danny Welbeck failed to register a shot between them, and the team’s attacking struggles left Brighton unable to break through.
After 11 games, Brighton sit 11th, just a point behind Palace in 10th, highlighting a start to the season that has yet to find consistent momentum.
