Brighton & Hove Albion fell to a 0-1 home defeat against rivals Crystal Palace in a Premier League derby at the Amex Stadium on February 8, 2026. A single goal from a Palace counter-attack in the first half was enough to settle a tense and scrappy M23 derby, giving the Eagles a precious away win. Brighton dominated possession throughout but struggled to create clear-cut chances against a deep and disciplined Palace defense. The decisive moment came just before halftime when Palace broke at speed and finished coolly past the Brighton keeper. The Seagulls threw everything forward in the second half but were repeatedly repelled, with Palace's goalkeeper earning man-of-the-match honors. The result was a huge boost for Palace's survival hopes and a major setback for Brighton's aspirations of a European place. The Brighton manager rued his team's lack of cutting edge, while the Palace boss celebrated a "massive three points" and a "perfect derby performance." The rivalry added an extra edge to the match, and Palace's game management in the second half was exemplary.