Five different players got on the scoresheet at the Amex on Sunday, October 18, sinking Crystal Palace and handing Brighton fans significant bragging rights with a 5-0 victory. Despite being 45 miles apart, the two sides contest a rivalry that gives extra significance to the sizable defeat inflicted on Pierre Sage’s men from London. This victory could be talked about for some time.
The margin of victory is the widest since the 1950s, when Albion managed a 5-0 win in the 1955-56 season. However, it is not the record margin of victory in this fixture, with Palace’s 6-0 win in the 1949-50 season holding that accolade. It is, though, a massive statement of intent for the Seagulls, and a crushing blow for the Eagles.
A Ten-Minute Spell Sinks the Men from Selhurst Park
The result was as good as confirmed by the 10th minute, when the third Brighton goal hit the back of the net. Jaydee Canvot got the scoring started when he put through his own net with just four minutes on the clock. Diego Gomez would then steal the show with a halfway-line goal worthy of claiming the Premier League’s goal of the season already.
A Yasin Ayari third in the tenth minute sparked jubilation at the Amex, before the first half settled into a goalless thrum. The second half would see Charalampos Kostoulas net, and academy product Jack Hinshelwood add another to his growing list of Premier League goals. It was an excellent day at the office for the south coast side.
The win put Brighton in third, establishing Fabian Hürzeler’s resurgence with Albion. In fact, according to sites such as Comeon betting, the rival win saw them move to around 28.00 in the outright odds. It marks a considerable uptick in form for the German, who has had spells of discontent from the fanbase following his replacement of Roberto De Zerbi.
A Stark Contrast Between the Fortunes of Two Rivals
Albion’s thumping of Palace feels like more than just the crushing of a rival. Instead, it feels like a bellwether for where both clubs are. Palace may have won the UEFA Conference League last time out, but having lost key men in the form of Marc Guehi, Maxime Lacroix, and Daniel Muñoz, it feels like they are weaker than they were just last year.
Because of that, their Premier League odds point more to survival than progression as a club. Brighton, however, look poised for something more. Despite also losing important figures, such as Danny Welbeck, Carlos Baleba, and Jan Paul van Hecke, the Seagulls have reinvested well and look an imperious outfit. In particular, Luka Vušković appears to be one of the finest young defenders in Europe.
Brighton’s up to their “derby” win was a 4-3 defeat to Chelsea. There is no shame in losing to Xabi Alonso’s men, and that they have kept clean sheets in all but one of their other Premier League matches is indicative of something special. After the fifth goal went in against Palace, it took Brighton’s scoring record to 20 for and 4 against. Palace sat on 9 for and 17 against.
Champions League a Real Goal for Hürzeler’s Brighton
Brighton and Hove Albion will believe that this is their year to achieve greatness. Claiming a seat at the top table of European football would be up there as the greatest achievement in the club’s history. Doing so while maintaining an enviable net spend makes it even more impressive. It is not unlikely, either, given that they dismantled Arsenal already this season.
If Brighton can win the Conference League and finish in the Champions League spots, any doubts that fans would have had about Hürzeler would surely be completely dismissed. The German has continued the good work of the managers that came before and built upon it, establishing the south coast club as contenders at the top end of the table.
That feeling of a cultural shift in the Premier League was only underlined by the emphatic 5-0 win over Palace. The Seagulls have beaten Villa 4-0, Coventry 5-0, and the champions 3-0. The sky appears to be the limit for them, while the Eagles will feel like they’re no longer soaring alongside their rivals.
