Brighton's Hurzeler Faces Mounting Pressure After Palace Defeat
Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler has pledged to continue his work despite facing intense criticism from supporters following a disappointing defeat to Crystal Palace at the Amex Stadium.
The German tactician endured a difficult afternoon as his side fell to a 1-0 loss, with Palace forward Ismaila Sarr scoring the decisive goal in the 61st minute. The result allowed Palace to leapfrog Brighton into 13th position in the Premier League table.
Hurzeler, who previously managed St Pauli, faced vocal disapproval from sections of the home support, with chants questioning his tactical decisions and calling for his dismissal. The 32-year-old acknowledged the challenging circumstances but remained resolute in his commitment to the club.
"There are only two options: to give up or to keep working harder, and that's always the option I choose," Hurzeler stated in his post-match comments. "I never give up. That's what I will keep pushing to do."
The defeat marked Brighton's 11th match without victory in their last 12 Premier League fixtures, a concerning run of form that has left supporters questioning the team's direction under their current leadership.
Palace End Lengthy Winless Streak
For Crystal Palace, the victory represented a significant breakthrough after enduring their own difficult period. The Eagles had not secured a win in 13 matches across all competitions since December 11, making this triumph particularly meaningful for manager Oliver Glasner and his squad.
Sarr's match-winning contribution echoed his performance in last season's corresponding fixture, where he scored twice in a 3-1 victory for Palace. The Senegalese forward's consistency in this derby fixture has established him as a key figure in Palace's recent success against their rivals.
Glasner expressed his gratitude to the travelling supporters, praising their unwavering loyalty during the team's challenging spell. "I just can say thank you to our fans. They had plenty of opportunities to boo us in the last months but they never did," the Austrian manager noted.
Tactical Decisions Under Scrutiny
The turning point in supporter sentiment came in the 71st minute when Hurzeler made a triple substitution, replacing Maxim De Cuyper, Carlos Baleba and Harry Howell with Diego Gomez, Yankuba Minteh and Danny Welbeck. The changes failed to produce the desired impact, leading to increased vocal criticism from the stands.
Despite the hostile reception, Hurzeler maintained his professional composure, accepting responsibility for the team's performance while requesting continued support for his players. "I will absorb the criticism. It's fine if they find the person in me to blame, as long as they support the team," he explained.
The result leaves Brighton in a precarious position, having missed the opportunity to move into the top half of the table with a victory. The club's hierarchy will now face difficult decisions regarding the future direction of the team as pressure continues to mount on the coaching staff.