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‘Shithouse’ Neal Maupay confronts Wilfried Zaha and taunts Crystal Palace fans

‘Shithouse’ Neal Maupay confronts Wilfried Zaha and taunts Crystal Palace fans after scoring an equaliser in Monday night’s game.

The 25 year old scored in the 95th minute to earn Brighton a point at Selhurst Park and his goal sparked fiery scenes on and off the pitch.

Palace looked to have victory in their grasp thanks to Wilfried Zaha’s penalty on the stroke of half time following a clumsy tackle by Leandro Trossard on Conor Gallagher in the box.

However the hosts were made to pay for Jordan Ayew’s poor finish from a clear opening when Vincente Guaita’s late goal kick led to Maupay’s late goal.

Joel Veltman volleyed Guaita’s kick back over the Palace defence and Maupay raced through to lob the Palace keeper and level the game.

He celebrated by cupping his ears to the furious home supporters in a clear reference to Zaha’s actions following his well-taken spot-kick in first-half injury time.

The Ivorian forward, who was making his 400th appearance for Palace, was clearly riled up by Maupay’s provocation and made his feelings known in front of referee Andre Marriner.

However, Maupay did not seem too concerned when he was asked to explain what had happened by Thierry Henry in a Sky Sports post-match interview.

“I think football is nothing without fans and without involvement with fans,” he said.

“It’s a derby so everyone wanted to win, of course it was really really tough.

“When I scored I looked at Zaha and smiled at him as I saw him celebrating his penalty in the first half, he gave some to our fans.

“I won’t say what he said or what I said but you know how it is on the pitch between players.

“You give a bit of banter and I think it was a good time for me and for us after scoring in the last minute, so perfect timing to give him something.”

Maupay wasn’t the only person to “give something” in the closing stages of the match, which ended with frantic scenes both on and off the pitch.

Palace’s James McArthur and Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez were both booked for their involvement in a tussle which involved several players from both teams.

There were angry scenes in the stands as Palace supporters goaded the away team as they attempted to get down the tunnel.

“With the goal going in at that time there’s emotion and passion, which you’d expect,” explained Seagulls manager Graham Potter.

“There wasn’t a massive amount of security there and it’s a little bit intimidating. Everyone is OK.”

A victory would have taken the Seagulls top of the Premier League for the first time in the club’s history, but a point sees them occupy sixth place on 13 points.

Palace are 15th having failed to hang on to what would have been their second league win of the season, which could have been wrapped up had Ayew converted a clear chance from Christian Benteke’s pass earlier in the second half.

Player ratings

Crystal Palace: Guaita (7), Ward (7), Andersen (8), Guehi (7), Mitchell (7), Gallagher (8), Milivojevic (6), McArthur (7), Ayew (6), Edouard (6), Zaha (8)

Subs used: Benteke (6), Kouyate (6)

Brighton: Sanchez (6), Veltman (6), Duffy (6), Dunk (6), Burn (5), Cucurella (5), Gross (6), Lallana (6), Welbeck (7), Trossard (5), Maupay (7)

Subs used: Alzate (6), Moder (6), Connolly (6)

Man of the match: Conor Gallagher

ON THE GAME

Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira: “The players are as disappointed as I am, the fans too. To concede a goal like that with the last kick is difficult to accept.

“We have to look at the game and how difficult we made it for them. They’re a good side with a lot of confidence. We should take the three points.

“We gave them so many problems. The way they played the last 15 minutes with long balls doesn’t look like them. Not scoring the second goal left the door open. That was an important moment for us.

“It was a tough game. Both teams didn’t create much.

“We are improving. We’re getting stronger. The first few games we played against Chelsea, Liverpool, West Ham, we managed to create chances. We deserve to have more points so far. We’re in a good process.”

Brighton boss Graham Potter: “It’s a fantastic feeling. It’s great for our supporters. It was a tight game. We pushed and pushed in the second half. We showed great spirit to keep going. It was a fantastic finish to get the equaliser.

“The crowd make a huge difference and Patrick’s style of play has changed to what they did before.

“It was a hard-fought tight game. I didn’t think there was too much in it. In the end we are happy with a point.”

“Dan [Burn] has been injured a long time and we felt a change might help. We weren’t fantastic in the first half, but we weren’t bad. We had some good opportunities. We wanted another player in midfield to help us in the build-up. We didn’t control that as well as we’d like.

“There’s a resilience, belief and character there. I didn’t think it was a one-sided affair. We deserved a point more than Palace did when they won 2-1 last time. That’s 13 points from six games, a good start but we can improve.”

Twitter users reacted as ‘shithouse’ Neal Maupay confronts Wilfried Zaha and taunts Crystal Palace fans…

@SimonHTAFC89: But Zaha kicked off about it coz he can’t take it

@d_andradesport: Zaha moaning at Maupay taunting the Palace fans when he literally ran to the Brighton fans to celebrate his goal in the first half – stop crying mate 😂

@WHUFCFZ: The level of shithousery from Neal Maupay is glorious. The fact that he rattled Wilfried Zaha and got in his head by doing so makes it even sweeter.

@NorthStandChat: Maupay in his post-match interview on Sky essentially saying he saw Zaha give the #BHAFC fans some when he scored, so he repaid it when he got the equaliser. Utter shithouse. Our shithouse.

@bhafcdan: Problem with Zaha is that he gives it out all game very happily but the moment someone else does it he cries and gets super frustrated. This is why Maupay is so clear

@WillHawk109: But Zaha had a hissy fit because he loves to give it but can’t take it. Inject it.

@FNPalace: Loool directed at the family stand

@MRodge99: Maupay the ultimate shithouse, couldn’t even give a one about the Brighton fans he was already away cupping his lugs like his life depended on it.

@douglas_orns: Ahh classic Zaha. Mocks Brighton fans when he scores then cries when Maupay does the same. Nothing but a little chav that’s made it big time.

@Al_R2408: You know when you see Maupay has scored a last minute equaliser, he’s going to give it stacks to the opposition fans

@tomwinter999: I hate Maupay but the scenes when he scored were fucking bang on 😂 the Palace fans were fuming after calling all the Brighton players wankers the lot. Plus the fact the Ref was all for Palace it’s great to see Brighton get the point they deserved

@Denner7s: Maupay copies Zaha and Zaha gets the ache over it. Good grief. Such a moaner.

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