Hodgson explains why Palace had to opt for ‘siege mentality’ vs Brighton

Crystal Palace had to opt for a siege mentality when they were only one goal up against Brighton, says Roy Hodgson.

Palace scored with their only shot of the game to take the lead via a Wilfried Zaha penalty. However, they could not hold on for all three points, as Brighton’s pressure eventually paid off to earn them a late equaliser.

Despite their lack of activity up front, Hodgson was pleased with how Palace defended, insisting their approach almost resulted in a win.

“The quality of the defensive performance and effort they put in against a good team,” he told BBC Sport.”We defended our way almost to a very good three points.

“It is something that can happen, in the first or the 95th minute – if the opponent have the ball around your area it can fall kindly or get fortune with a deflection, which I’m sure they would say is fully deserved.

“We started to show our teeth at times in the first half. But unfortunately there is always something in a game when you lead 1-0 and the opponent is taking the game to you, there is something that brings a siege mentality to see the game through.

“Had we got the second goal you would have seen a different mentality, but we decided on the siege mentality and it almost saw us through.


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‘A lot more to give’

“There is a lot more we have to give. We ran into a Brighton team that played well today.

“We were good enough defensively and with our discipline and spirit to come away with three points but we wouldn’t be whooping for joy saying that is all our tactical work solved.

“Luckily I am now doing it with a group with competition for places.”

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