Victory over Crystal Palace 'a special day' for Brighton matchwinner Knockaert

Anthony Knockaert called Brighton & Hove Albion's 2-1 victory at arch rivals Crystal Palace 'a special day' after scoring a stunning winner.
By Steve Bailey
Published 9th Mar 2019, 14:51 BST
Updated 9th Mar 2019, 15:55 BST
Anthony Knockaert celebrates the winning goal at Crystal Palace. Picture by PW Sporting PhotographyAnthony Knockaert celebrates the winning goal at Crystal Palace. Picture by PW Sporting Photography
Anthony Knockaert celebrates the winning goal at Crystal Palace. Picture by PW Sporting Photography

The French winger cut in from the right and unleashed a left-footed shot into the far top corner to give Albion the league double over Palace for the first time since the 1983/84 season.

Glenn Murray had given Brighton the lead with an excellent finish on 19 minutes but Palace levelled through a Luka Milivojevic penalty early in the second half.

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Knockaert's outstanding winner came on 73 minutes and talking afterwards to Sky Sports, he said: "It's amazing and a great feeling. We were desperate to get back-to-back wins and we did it.

"It's nice to help the team and it's a special day for us and the fans."

On his goal, Knockaert said: "I saw the space for me to go inside, so I went inside. I could have hit it first time but I thought it was too close to me so I took another touch to hit it perfectly and I did it.

"It's a super finish but more importantly I'm really buzzing for the three points."

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Knockaert was booked inside a minute for a challenge on Milivojevic and asked if he could have seen red, the Frenchman said: "I spoke to the ref at half-time and we both went for the ball but I was a bit late.

"The ref told me if I got the ball first he (Milivojevic) would have been booked. We both went for the ball but he got it first and I touched him a bit."

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