BRIGHTON 0 CRYSTAL PALACE 1
It’s bad enough losing to a bottom table side without that team being your hated rivals Crystal Palace.
Generally-speaking the Seagulls fans are a cheerful lot, grateful to be at the top table, but when it comes to Palace we display a different and less attractive side.
The Amex stadium is often raucous but when Palace come a-visiting it’s toxic.
Mind you that was not the reason I watched this game on the sofa. It was so cold ,wet and windy that I joined the TV-watching brigade.
It’s a strange rivalry as both teams have clubs nearer to them. It was fuelled by a number of close encounters in the 80s decided by controversial refereeing.
Ref Ron Challis – forever known here as ‘Challis-of- the-Palace’ – ruled out a Brighton penalty for encroachment. Brighton’s then manager Alan Mullery took it badly, throwing his loose change on the pitch.
Palace have not won here for 7 years but more relevantly Brighton have not won at all in 2020. Indeed our fans are observing that this is no better than this time last season when – seemingly secure after winning at Palace – Brighton went on s a losing run which cost Chris Hughton his job.
New man Graham Potter initially won plaudits for a more attractive playing style but right now the fans would take the points.
Brighton had 15 attempts on goal without scoring, Palace 6.
Jordan Ayew scored for them on the break and Wilfred Zaha might have added another but, with goal gaping, he scuffed his shot. I did not hear of any trouble between the fans but our long-haired Argentine left wing-back Schelito was winding up Wilfred Zaha all game.
Brighton still have to play Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Leicester City – with a key relegation battle against Norwich – in March and April.
It’s not looking good with 27 points … for Brighton or Graham Potter as by the end of the season their fortunes might divide.
