Adam Wharton has called on Crystal Palace to respond quickly after Sunday’s heavy defeat to Brighton at the Amex Stadium, admitting the team’s performance was far below the level expected of them.
Wharton captained Palace as they were unable to match their victories over Brighton in the previous two seasons. The afternoon quickly turned against the visitors, with Jaydee Canvot’s fourth-minute own goal followed by a remarkable effort from Diego Gomez near the halfway line and a composed finish by Yasin Ayari.
Reflecting on the performance, Wharton said Palace made the worst possible start and failed to compete across the pitch. He highlighted Brighton’s advantage in the early exchanges, with the home side winning duels and collecting both first and second balls as Palace struggled to establish themselves.
The midfielder also acknowledged that conceding three times so early made the match extremely difficult. Brighton’s opening goal gave them momentum, while Palace were unable to halt the pressure before the second and third goals arrived.
Wharton said the players must now assess what went wrong and identify how they can improve. Although he described the result as unacceptable, he insisted Palace could not afford to dwell on it and urged the team to work hard before the next fixture.
The captain also recognised the frustration of the supporters, saying they deserved better and that Palace needed to put the defeat right at the earliest opportunity.
