Brighton 0-0 Crystal Palace: Premier League's unlikely but heated derby fails to catch fire as the spoils are shared in disappointing Amex clash

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All smoke and no fire, all context and no content. Just a weird and wonderful rivalry played out in a wasteful and woeful game that Roy Hodgson somehow, and perhaps predictably, quite enjoyed.

He has always had a certain fondness for these stalemates and what they might say about a well-arranged defence. On those metrics, it was a job well done. They were solid tactically, they got a point that they needed and they showed progress.

The same could probably be said for Chris Hughton, as well.

Christian Benteke led the line for Palace at the Amex on Tuesday. Here, the forward tries to hold off Brighton's Davy Propper

Brighton defender calls for a penalty following a late challenge from Sakho but Andre Marriner ignored their appeals

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, on loan at Palace from Chelsea, looks to keep the ball under pressure from Jose Izquierdo and Propper

Wilfried Zaha, who scored a double when these two sides last met in 2013, tussles for possession with Anthony Knockaert

MATCH FACTS, RATINGS, TABLE AND MATCHZONE

Brighton and Hove Albion (4-4-2): 

 Ryan 7.5; Bruno 6.5, Duffy 6.5, Dunk 6.5, Suttner 6.5; Knockaert 6.5, Stephens 6, Propper 6, Izquierdo 6 (March 71, 6); Murray 5 (Hemed 86), Gross 5.5 (Brown 82)

Subs not used: Krul, Kayal, Goldson, Schelotto  

Bookings: Izquierdo 48, Dunk 65 

Manager: Chris Hughton 6  

Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): 

Hennessey 6.5; Ward 6, Tomkins 6, Sakho 6.5, Schlupp 6; Cabaye 6 (McArthur 66, 6), Milivojevic 6; Loftus-Cheek 6.5, Zaha 6.5, Townsend 7; Benteke 6 

Subs not used: Dann, Fosu-Mensah, Puncheon, Sako, Speroni, Van Aanholt 

Manager: Roy Hodgson 6 

Referee: A Marriner 

Attendance: 29,889

MOM: Matthew Ryan  

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Palace forward Christian Benteke struggled to get into the Brighton penalty area during the draw at the Amex. You can see more information and statistics from Sportsmail's Matchzone here .

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But on the more primitive desires of goals and entertainment, this was a game that fell someway short. The occasion did what it could to make up for it, at least for those who made it in, with a significant number of ticket-holding Palace fans denied entry to the game and reports of other ticketless supporters getting through.

Those travelling who were admitted seemed to enjoy it all, between the regular bangs of smoke bombs. Yet for the neutral, for the emotionally uninvested, there was little to relish about a fixture loaded with history yet precious few chances.

Indeed, when Hodgson walked into his post-match press conference and saw a line of blank faces, he remarked: ‘Lively here, isn't it. I've seen more life in a glass of water.’

But this was not the battle of 1976, when Alan Mullery, the Brighton manager, was showered with hot coffee by the crowd and allegedly rated the entire Palace side at around a fiver. This was not the grubby madness of 2013, when a member of Brighton entourage left an unpleasant surprise on the Palace dressing room floor. It was none of the above, this first top-division encounter between the sides since 1981.

Brighton centre midfielder Propper beats his opposite number, Yohan Cabaye, to a header during Tuesday night's derby

Benteke cries in pain as he goes down under the challenge of Brighton centre back Lewis Dunk during the opening stages

Benteke, who was making his first start for Palace in more than two months out with injury, climbs highest to win a header

Travelling Crystal Palace supporters let off a smoke bomb but pyrotechnics couldn't inspire their side to net

But it did have merit, mostly for Palace. It showed how they have developed, given it was their first point away from home this season and their first clean sheet anywhere since May.

That is down to Hodgson as much as anything. He is turning this club around after the debacle of their start to the campaign, so he was entitled to see more value in this game than most.

‘For us, we knew what we had to do to make certain we didn't go away empty handed,’ he said.

‘I’m satisfied with it. It was a fair result and I'm particularly pleased to keep a clean sheet. It was important coming here not to lose that momentum we're building up. It's an extra point away from home.’ 

Brighton manager Chris Hughton dishes out instructions to his side during the goalless first half at the Amex Stadium

Izquierdo battles with Palace defender Joel Ward as both sides looked to sieze the initiative before the break on Tuesday

Palace's joint-top scorer Zaha attempts a drag back as he is put under pressure by Brighton full back Markus Suttner 

The stalemate against rivals Brighton ensured Roy Hodgson's side picked up their first away point of the season

But there was a sense that Palace might have done more, that they might have pushed for three points instead of one, when you consider their line up. 

With Christian Benteke’s return to fitness after a knee injury, he made his first start for two months, allowing Hodgson his first sustained look at the attacking quadrant of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Wilfried Zaha, Andros Townsend and Benteke.

That is an attack which can aspire to more than draws, even if this one wasn’t to be sniffed at, considering Palace’s struggles. 

It was actually Zaha and Benteke who had the best chances of the match, in the 14th minute, when Benteke’s shot was saved by Matthew Ryan and Zaha put the rebound too close to the keeper. 

The visitors' central midfielder Luka Milivojevic slides in and nicks the ball away from Brighton's Pascal Gross at the Amex

Mamadou Sakho watches on as Benteke climbs highest to win a header amid the billowing smoke caused by smoke bombs

Knockaert plays a left-footed pass as Palace defender Jeffrey Schlupp looks to put him under pressure on Tuesday night

Dale Stephens fires a shot at goal for the home side but neither they nor Palace were able to break the deadlock at the Amex

Thereafter, they offered very little going forward and Brighton probably shaded the chances, without a standout moment. As Hughton and Hodgson both suggested, the occasion may have stifled the football.

For Hughton, they remain unbeaten at home since the first game of the season, a fine achievement in an extremely impressive campaign. 

‘Clubs will be aware of the start we've had,’ Hughton said. ‘That's down to good momentum we've had in the last few seasons here. Clubs will be aware of that.’ 

Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey fails to hold on to a cross as Brighton pushed for a opening goal that wouldn't come

Sakho hooks the ball clear for Hodgson's side on Tuesday. The point means Palace remain rooted to the bottom of the table

Andros Townsend goes to ground under the pressure of Brighton winger Knockaert in a game that produced few chances

Seagulls skipper Bruno applauds the home crowd following the final whistle. The draw sees them slip to 10th in the table