But it was Seagulls substitute Glenn Murray who stole the spotlight with a winner three minutes from time which set up a fourth-round trip to Middlesbrough.

It was a win Brighton just about deserved after they led at half-time through a Dale Stephens near-post drive.

Palace improved after the interval and they got back into the game through Bakary Sako’s 69th-minute long-range effort.

But Palace were denied a replay when Murray popped up at the back post to turn in a header from Uwe Hunemeier with his knee.

Palace appealed for handball and hoped the technology would save them, but it was not to be.

The VAR system was being used in a competitive game in England for the first time, with video referee Neil Swarbrick in a TV studio near Heathrow ready to alert match referee Andre Marriner if he spotted a glaring error.

That would have prompted Marriner to take a look at a replay on a pitchside monitor.

But while the man in the middle was seen speaking into his microphone after Stephens’ opener, not even Palace boss Roy Hodgson could have picked fault with the goal.

Both teams were disrupted early on when Albion’s Izzy Brown and Palace’s Jeff Schlupp were forced off following a full-bloodied challenge between the pair.

But Brighton recovered quickly and should have gone ahead when Solly March fluffed a free header at the far post.

Hughton’s side looked the more threatening and they forced their way ahead in the 25th minute – with some help from Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey.

Right-back Ezequiel Schelotto burst forward into the box before pulling the ball back to Stephens, who surged past two Palace defenders before shooting past

Hennessey at his near post. Palace had posed little threat but levelled on 69 minutes when Sako to beat Tim Krul from distance.