Crystal Palace’s Roy Hodgson was understandably delighted with a point against a dominant Brighton side on Monday night.

Wilfried Zaha, as he so often is, turned out to be the saviour for the Eagles as his arrowed rocket in the 75th minute cancelled out Neal Maupay’s early second half strike at Selhurst Park.

Graham Potter’s men looked to be heading back to the South Coast with the M23 derby bragging rights after dictating for much of the 90, but Zaha’s effort pulled-off a mini-miracle for Hodgson’s injury hit side.

“I’m very happy with a point after a team was virtually decimated after the Watford game, “ he said.

“We’ve been without a left back since before Watford.

“Our situation in this game was looking relatively bleak

“I think we were guilty of encouraging the players to attack too high up the field and didn’t get into their faces.

“We rectified this in the second half and it was a wonderful, gutsy performance.

“ In the end, I am satisfied we took our point.”

Left-Back Injury Curse

Hodgson, eluding to the left-back situation, thrust Jairo Riedewald into his back-line with regular full-backs Patrick van Aanholt and Jeffrey Schlupp both sidelined.

The Dutchman however was replaced at the break, and although looking rusty in the opening 45minutes, Hodgson revealed it was through injury the 23-year-old was replaced.

“He was touch and go before the game,” he revealed.

“Yesterday’s training, he somehow got a slight knock on his hip which until the warm-up looked like it was going to keep him out entirely.

“He said he was able to play but he was only able to last until half time.”

“Patrick van Anholt were hoping that might not be quite so long, Jeffrey Schlupp is a long term injury, Gary Cahill has had a minor injury, and Andros Townsend is a long term injury.”

Palace, now up to ninth travel to Newcastle on Saturday.

READ:REPORT:Crystal Palace 1 Brighton 1

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