Crystal Palace 1 Brighton 1

This is the oddest of rivalries, though intense and bitter, as it began with a decision by referee Ron Challis back in the 70s, thereafter called Challis of the Palace, who ordered a penalty retake for Brighton which the Palace keeper saved.

The then Brighton manager Alan Mullery is never one to forget or forgive an  injustice and kept the flames fuelled.

He is regularly interviewed for this fixture and last night was no different.

Terry Venables, the Palace manager at the time, tends more to see the funny side of things but the legacy was hatred between rival fans, despite the geographical  distance and both clubs having  closer opposition.

It’s the one game both teams want to win.

Brighton largely dominated the game for 70 minutes but the home side came good in the final quarter and Wilfred Zaha’s beautiful strike for the equaliser reflected the status of play.

Zaha is a match-winner but he does not track back and Brighton’s right back Montoya had acres of space to overlap.

Brighton under Graham Potter play fluid football. In Neal Maupay they possess a dangerous and prolific striker. We are mid-table. Last season we caved in after beating Crystal Palace but I can’t see this happening this time.

I was one that questioned the decision to replace Chris Hughton with Graham Potter but it’s fully vindicated and the decision to extend his contract indicates that Brighton want to secure one of England’s brightest coaches.