Gull-Mouth Action podcast - episode 103 | Leeds battered by Albion_ FA Cup disaster for Crawley Town.mp4
Ian Hart’s take on Brighton trip to Selhurst Park this Sunday
For almost every Albion and Palace fan, ‘Derby Day’, is truly more than just 90 minutes.
An unlikely rivalry forged just over 50 years ago, the passion still runs as deep, as it did in August 1974 when Peter Taylor’s Albion locked horns with Malcolm Alison’s Palace at the Goldstone Ground on the opening day of the 1974-75 football season.
A ‘double’ always injects that added bit of spice, Albion last did it in the 2018/19 EPL campaign, whilst Palace not long before their impressive (there I’ve said it), inaugural FA Cup win in May, did it last year, although the previous time they’d beaten Brighton twice in the League was in the 1930’s.
And I’m sure that telling stat is prevalent in Fabian Hurzeler’s mind. He takes his Albion charges to Selhurst Park this Sunday for a truly intriguing encounter, one point and one place, 9th and 10th respectively, separating the sides but Hurzeler still on a ‘Derby Duck’ after Palace’s aforementioned double last season.
Whilst to a degree both teams sets of form has been impressive, there have been blips, but the last place either set of fans want another one will be on Sunday.
Derby wise, it took me four visits to Selhurst before I tasted defeat, the Kelvin Morton penalty debacle in 1989.
But over the years since my first visit 44 and a half years ago, it’s really been a bit of a mixed bag.
Having seen Brighton play in competitive matches at 110 stadiums in 52 years, defeat very much comes with the territory, but losing at Selhurst is I have to admit a whole different ball game.
Victory against Leeds United has boosted confidence
So what of Sunday? Having travelled to both United and Arsenal and come away with nothing, I was buoyed to see the Seagulls bounce back against Leeds on Saturday, thus instilling a degree of optimism as we all embark on our collective journey up the M23.
It’s almost dangerous to put specific labels on matches, especially Derby games, but that said, this is probably the most significant one in recent years.
Last season Palace clearly had the upper hand, and no doubt the Albion faithful will be reminded on Sunday of both the FA Cup and The Charity Shield nestling in the Selhurst Park trophy cabinet.
But on the field that will count for nothing when the teams kick off at 2.00pm. In these halcyon days of the EPL, there is always that thought... does it really mean that much to the players, in the same way it meant to the likes of Nobby Horton, Peter Ward and Steve Foster? Given his behaviour at Selhurst last season Joao Pedro clearly didn’t!
But that said I think Fabian and the current squad do and that will be key on Sunday.
It will be foolhardy to put any kind of prediction on paper, but all we can hope for is come 3.50ish on Sunday, we can say Hurzeler’s men gave it their best shot.
I’ve sat there a few times, October 2002 immediately springs to mind unfortunately! when that hasn’t been the case, so does it effectively come down to a good old case of fingers crossed!
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