Brighton pay the price as defensive errors prove costly against Crystal Palace

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi benefited from errors by goalkeeper Thomas McGill and Hayden Roberts to give the Eagles victory in the Premier League 2 match.

Andrew Crofts' team included first-team players such as Hayden Roberts, Evan Ferguson and Moises Caicedo as they looked for their first win in four.

The last time they played, they succumbed to a heavy 6-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers.

The match took place at the Crystal Palace Academy training ground in Beckenham.

Moises Caicedo. Credit BHAFC/Paul Hazlewood

Albion made a good start to the game and almost took the lead in the opening stages as Haydon Roberts had a shot blocked after the ball fell kindly for him following a corner.

Todd Miller also had a chance in the 4th minute to give the club the lead but fired over the crossbar.

The midfielder went close again in the 18th minute as he was put through in on goal by James Furlong, but the Palace goalkeeper Joseph Whitworth was able to smother the ball and prevent a goal.

It took 30 minutes for Thomas McGill to be called upon in a serious nature as he superbly managed to turn Rak-Sakyi's goalbound shot around the post.

Evan Ferguson then had two chances to break the deadlock before halftime. The first effort he was only able to smash the side netting from a tight angle.

The second opportunity came after he was played through on goal. He opened up his body to place his shot but was only able to bend his effort over the crossbar.

One of the stars of the first half was midfielder Jack Sprong who was able to dominate the midfield and create a few chances for his teammates.

Rak-Sakyi scores for Crystal Palace. Credit BHAFC/Paul Hazlewood

Despite Albion starting the second half the better side, it was Palace that had the first chance.

In the 56th minute McGill was forced into a vital save by Palace.

Striker John-Kymani Gordan tried beating the Albion shot-stopper from inside the box but was denied. Rak-Sakyi then had an effort saved as the game remained goalless.

There was a stoppage in play in the 63rd minute as Palace players Gordan and Malachi Boateng received treatment after colliding with each other.

After a nine-minute stoppage, both players walked off the pitch but were also both substituted. Aidan Steele and David Boateng replaced their teammates in the action.

Four minutes later Palace took advantage of some poor play as McGill's pass was blocked, and Rak-Sakyi was able to bury the chance.

In the 82 minute, Albion made their first substitution as Miller was replaced by Ulrick Eneme-Ella for the final stages of the match.

Albion thought they had equalised in the 85th minute. Caicedo played a pinpoint 60-yard pass to the right-wing finding Odeluga Offiah.

The full-back then found Cameron Peupion on the edge of the Crystal Palace penalty box. The Australian midfielder moved the ball onto this right foot and fired goalwards.

The shot looked to be heading towards the bottom corner but instead cannoned off the post.

Albion were fully pushing for an equaliser and Offiah was denied by the goalkeeper in the 88th minute.

The full-back got down the right and fired across the goal but Whitworth was equal to the effort.

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There was plenty of time for Albion to get themselves something from the game as 11 minutes were added on due to the stoppages in the second half.

Just as Albion were pushing for an equaliser, Palace took advantage of another defensive error, this time from Roberts in the 96th minute.

The centre-back lost the ball in the Albion box and Rak-Skayi was able to double his own and his side's tally for the game with his first-time finish and wrap up the game as a contest.

That was the end of the game and the Under 23s wait for a win goes on, and they will next be in action against Everton on March 11.