BRIGHTON, England (AP) — The pressure increased on Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson after his team slumped to a dispiriting 4-1 loss at fierce rival Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.
Goals from Lewis Dunk, Jack Hinshelwood, Facundo Buonanotte and Joao Pedro made it a comfortable afternoon for the hosts, with the frustrated visiting fans again protesting the club’s leadership and many of them leaving before the final whistle.
Palace was the Premier League’s biggest spender in the January transfer window with an outlay of more than 30 million pounds ($38 million), but it didn’t pay immediate dividends despite newcomer Daniel Munoz starting at right-back and deadline-day signing Adam Wharton coming off the bench after just 28 minutes.
The 76-year-old Hodgson is without Eberechi Eze through injury while his other key man, Michael Olise, came off the bench at halftime when Palace was already 3-0 down and only lasted eight minutes before pulling up.
A late goal from Jean-Philippe Mateta did little to mask Palace’s problems, which are only made worse captain Marc Guehi had to come off with a first-half knee injury.
Brighton was coming off a surprising 4-0 drubbing at Luton in midweek, but Dunk headed in the opener in the third minute.
The 18-year-old Hinshelwood headed home a cross in the 33rd, and it was 3-0 just 86 seconds later after Wharton was dispossessed by Pascal Gross, who strolled forward before slipping in Buonanotte to score.
A brief, belated Palace flurry saw Mateta head in a cross in the 71st, but any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Pedro played a one-two with Danny Welbeck and slotted home to finish the Eagles off.
Brighton climbed above Manchester United on goal difference into seventh place, while Palace is 14th, five points above the relegation zone.
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