Famous faces and faltering form: everything you need to know about Brighton

Match previews

2 Dec 2023

Crystal Palace head down to the south coast to take on Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, 3rd February (15:00 GMT) – get the lowdown on our latest opponents…

Factfile

Manager: Roberto De Zerbi
Position: 9th
Nickname: The Seagulls
Ground: The Amex
Founded: 1901

What’s the story?

After a strong start to the season which saw them sitting in 3rd by late September, Brighton’s Premier League form has tailed off and they have now won just three in their last 16 games.

A chastening defeat at Kenilworth Road made it three games in succession without finding the back of the net, with Luton Town’s 4-0 coming on the back of goalless draws against Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United.

In the cup competitions it has been a different story entirely, however, and a fifth round FA Cup tie awaits against Wolves after confident victories away at Stoke City and Sheffield United.

In Europe, four wins out of six in the group stage against Ajax, Marseille and AEK Athens saw them comfortably progress to the knockout rounds of the Europa League, where they will discover their opponents in mid-February.

So can the Seagulls balance European and domestic football in the second half of the season and maintain their top-half position? Roberto De Zerbi will be hoping for Premier League points and quickly, but standing in his way will be a Palace side determined to record another famous win on the south coast.

The boss

Graham Potter was a tough act to follow, but Roberto De Zerbi has taken Brighton forward with qualification for the Europa League and progress up the Premier League table. The former AC Milan and Napoli midfielder cut his managerial teeth in his home country, before taking over Shakhtar Donetsk and later moving to the south coast.

Record against Palace

Five of the last seven meetings between the two have ended 1-1, including this season. The two met at Selhurst Park just before Christmas, with Jordan Ayew opening the scoring before Danny Welbeck’s late equaliser ensured the points were shared.

In 11 of the last 13 meetings both teams have scored – could we be set for more goals on the south coast?

Did you know?

After yo-yoing between the divisions, ambitious chairman Mike Bamber brought Brian Clough to the club in 1973, who left after less than a year to begin his infamously disastrous spell at Leeds United.

In 1976 Alan Mullery joined as manager, and soon a bitter rivalry with Crystal Palace began, sparked by a late penalty miss in an FA Cup first round replay that year. Brighton reached their only FA Cup final in 1983, losing to Manchester United in a replay at Wembley.

Financial trouble blighted much of the next two decades, with the club close to extinction had their issues worsened. The sale of the Goldstone Ground meant the club were forced to play at Withdean Stadium. Mainly used to host athletics tournaments, it had previously operated as a zoo and as a miniature railway attraction.

With the rent on Withdean, their investment in a new stadium and other debts, the club needed to raise £2.5 million to stay afloat. Fundraising efforts were introduced, and ranged from players featuring on nude Christmas cards to a charity single ‘Tom Hark’, which reached No. 17 in the charts. Tony Bloom’s takeover in 2009 began a new era for the club.

Match details

Saturday, 3rd February
15:00 GMT
The Amex
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+

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