It was the visitors who drew first blood when centre back Trevoh Chalobah fired into the top corner from close range in the 27th minute thanks to a quality corner from Will Hughes which had led to some confusion in the Brighton box.

Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen made a double save before being beaten as the home side found themselves two goals down six minutes later when Sarr met a deep cross from left back Tyrick Mitchell with a brilliant header.

Brighton responded with a wave of attacks after the interval but Sarr scored his second goal of the afternoon to leave the home side with a mountain to climb before centreback Marc Guehi scored a own goal in the 87th minute.

Unbeaten in their last five league games, Palace now climb to 15th place in the table with 16 points from as many matches. Brighton drop to ninth with 24 points, four behind fourth-placed Nottingham Forest.