Roy Hodgson praised Crystal Palace’s gutsy performance in the stalemate with rivals Brighton, but revealed the extent of their growing injury list ahead of a busy period of the season and called for reinforcements in January.
The Eagles were second best for 70 minutes, but Wilfried Zaha produced a moment of magic 14 minutes from time to cancel out Neal Maupay’s opener for Graham Potter’s team.
It ensured Palace did not lose for a third consecutive time in this grudge match with the Seagulls, which dates back to the mid-1970s when the two clubs were promotion rivals from the old Third Division.
Hodgson was already without six players due to injury and suspension and confirmed makeshift left-back Jairo Riedewald was forced off at the break with a hip injury sustained the day before the game.
“It was a wonderful gutsy, resilient, determined performance full of absolute character which is typified by the crowd and the support so in the end, on a day like today, I have to be satisfied to have taken a point,” he said.
“We don’t really go into the transfer market but I’m trying to persuade the American owners in particular that this is something we really do need to do.
“I thought we needed to do it in the summer and didn’t succeed in getting the players we thought were necessary to improve our squad then and nothing has changed.
“Steve (Parish) and Dougie Freeman are on board with that so I am hoping that between us and the American owners, we can find a way to release some money because I don’t think we will be able to bring in the quality of players needed to improve our squad on free transfers or loans.”
Palace were indebted to academy graduate Zaha at Selhurst Park, who struck his third goal of the season to earn a share of the spoils.
It came from nowhere, but only highlights when Chelsea are chasing him in the January transfer window.
But Hodgson added: “We aren’t about to go bankrupt so as far as I am concerned I’m counting on Wilf.
“I’m delighted to be working with Wilf but when the transfer window is coming around I can never say exactly what will happen. I will have to adjust, as will the club, to anything that comes our way.”
Hodgson confirmed post-match Gary Cahill needed a minor operation on his knee injury and would be absent for the foreseeable future alongside Joel Ward, Patrick Van Aanholt, Jeffrey Schlupp, Andros Townsend and Riedewald.
Brighton boss Graham Potter was left with mixed emotions after watching his side dominate for long periods.
“We feel a bit disappointed, but that is football. We did a lot well, controlled a lot of the game I thought,” he said.
“The final bit is to score and while we only managed one [goal] you know the home team can get involved in the game quite easily with some long balls or balls into the box.
“Zaha is obviously a top player and doesn’t need too much. It was a great strike.”
