Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson praised the effect The A23 derby matchwinner Jordan Ayew has had since his arrival 18 months ago.

The Ghanaian scored the only goal of the game against Brighton late in the second half, coolly putting away Christian Benteke's pass to notch his seventh of the season and sealing the Eagles's first away win over their bitter rivals in the top flight.

Palace's top scorer this season has become a cult-hero amongst fans, excelling since making last season's loan spell from Swansea permanent in a snip of a deal at £2.5million in the summer. 

"Last year, he did a great job when he was on loan, we made that loan permanent at the start of the season because we knew what he could do," said Hodgson.

"But of course last year he didn't score many goals and that was something which bothered him and I suppose was a factor for us, are we going to get the goals out of him that we need?

"He's scored a large proportion of our goals and still contributing to the team in so many other ways.

"His contribution without goals is enormous, that work-rate, that desire, that constant thorn in the opposing team's defence."

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Albion substitute Ezequiel Schelotto sparked a minor first-half melee when he was booked for kicking the ball at Wilfried Zaha.

Asked about that incident, Hodgson, whose side now sit on 36 points, replied: "I'm just glad that Wilf didn't lose his head, that's important. Luka (Milivojevic) did well to come in and stop that.

"But if that's the worst thing that's going to happen in a derby game of this nature then I think we've done quite well."

'We were the better team' - Potter

Brighton boss Graham Potter felt his side, who now find themselves deep in a relegation battle, deserved victory having dominated possession and registering 24 attempts at the AMEX Stadium.

"I thought we were on top of the game, I thought we were the better team," he said.

"They didn't do too much to get their goal, which is disappointing, against the run of play.

"But that happens in football, if you don't score then you leave yourself open to something. We did enough in the game to get something.

"It's a sore one for us."