AliousCrystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner remarked that Marc Guehi could benefit from some time off following his red card in their 2-1 victory over Brighton. The defender was one of two Palace players dismissed by referee Anthony Taylor in a heated clash at Selhurst Park.
The other sending off involved Eddie Nketiah, who had entered the match in the 68th minute to replace Jean-Philippe Mateta. However, the forward, who joined Palace from Arsenal in a £30 million summer transfer, lasted only ten minutes on the pitch. He received his first yellow card in the 69th minute for simulation after appearing to dive in the box following a challenge with Pervis Estupinan. Nketiah’s second yellow – and subsequent red – came nine minutes later for a dangerous high boot during a challenge with Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke.
Palace were further depleted in the 90th minute when Guehi received his second yellow card of the match for a rash tackle on Brajan Gruda, leaving the home side with just nine men.
During the extended 12 minutes of second-half stoppage time, Daichi Kamada and Ismaila Sarr slotted in as wing-backs, while Joel Ward, Jefferson Lerma, and Ben Chilwell formed a makeshift back three. Brighton, meanwhile, were also reduced to ten men late on when van Hecke was sent off for a foul on Kamada in the 96th minute, after the Japanese midfielder had nudged the ball past him.
Palace held on to secure the win, marking their first league double over Brighton since 1933.
Reflecting on the red cards, Glasner said, “You can’t change these decisions – once they’re made, that’s it. I make even more mistakes when refereeing training matches. That’s football. Now it’s an opportunity for others to step in. Marc has featured in every single game this season. He’ll only miss one match, so the break might actually come at a good time for him to recover and be fresh for the run-in.”
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