MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES
Jonathan Pearce: This is not the oldest of rivalries – it stems from a feud between managers Alan Mullery and Terry Venables following a FA Cup first-round second replay won by Palace in 1976 – but for younger supporters, the bitterness matches the most ferocious derbies.
Palace has won only one home league game in six. Brighton has just one point from their last six away. But form means nothing in this.
Few would have foreseen the ease in which the Seagulls ran the Eagles ragged in the home fixture in December. The away side failed to find Wilfried Zaha until too late that day. This’ll be different and I can’t see Brighton completing the first double in 35 years
But with both sides closing on the likely 36-point safety mark, a draw wouldn’t surprise.
VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson: “It’s a derby game really, that’s how we and our supporters regard it. I suppose that people from the outside need to realise that we regard this as a very, very important fixture and one which means a lot to our fans.
“You’re affected by it, the way the fans feel, that’s what derbies do. They fire everybody up because we’re so much more aware of what it means to the people who follow us every week.”
Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton: “The fact is we have gone through a difficult spell, [but] overall we have done okay.
“During difficult periods, when you look at the opposition you are against, you have to be mindful of where we have been and that this is only our second season [in the Premier League].
“Certainly we should not get carried away. [Saturday] is a big one for both sets of supporters. Ours will make themselves heard, and it’s up to us to reward them for that.”
LAWRO’S PREDICTION
Brighton picked up their first league win of 2019 when they beat Huddersfield last week and I am pretty sure that, after finally winning, their manager Chris Hughton’s main aim will be to avoid defeat.
Prediction: 1-1
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Crystal Palace have won six and lost just one of the last nine home meetings in all competitions.
- However, Brighton could complete the league double over Palace for the first time since 1983-84, when they met in the second tier.
Crystal Palace
- Their tally of 11 points from the past six games has only been bettered by the two Manchester clubs and Arsenal.
- Palace have won just one of their last six league fixtures at Selhurst Park. Their overall home record this season is the second worst in the division.
- The Eagles have failed to score in half of their 14 home league matches in 2018-19.
- There have been just 25 goals scored at Selhurst Park, the fewest of any Premier League ground.
- However, Crystal Palace can set a club Premier League record by scoring for the 10th game in a row.
- Wilfried Zaha has scored five goals in his last six league games. He has five goals in in nine competitive appearances against Brighton – a career-high against a particular opponent.
- This is Roy Hodgson’s 300th match as a manager in the English leagues. The first of those fixtures was Bristol City’s 0-0 home draw versus Huddersfield Town in the third tier in January 1982.
Brighton & Hove Albion
- Victory over Huddersfield last weekend ended Brighton’s seven-game winless league run.
- They are looking to secure back-to-back league wins for the first time since December, when they followed up a victory over Huddersfield by beating Palace.
- However, Brighton have only earned a solitary point from their past six away fixtures.
- The Seagulls have kept only one away league clean sheet since last April.
- Glenn Murray has scored in each of his last three appearances against Palace, for whom he provided 47 goals in 125 appearances between 2011 and 2015.
- Murray needs one goal to become only the second player to score 100 in the league for Brighton, emulating Tommy Cook.
Source: BBC News
