Charity singles and Old Big ‘Ead: everything you need to know about Brighton

Match previews

21 Oct 2023

Crystal Palace are back in action at Selhurst Park for a final time before Christmas on Thursday, 21st December (20:00 GMT) – get the lowdown on our latest opponents…

Factfile

Manager: Roberto De Zerbi
Last season: 6th
Nickname: The Seagulls
Ground: The Amex
Founded: 1901

What’s the story?

A summer of upheaval followed Brighton’s most successful Premier League campaign, with midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo leaving for enormous fees, while goalkeeper Robert Sanchez headed for Chelsea in a big-money deal.

Money was spent on replacements, with goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud and centre-forward João Pedro arriving from Anderlecht, Borussia Dortmund and Watford respectively. Roberto di Zerbi also added the experience of James Milner, who left Liverpool to continue his Premier League career into a third decade.

The Italian manager has the difficult task of balancing domestic and European football this season, and the Seagulls have qualified for the knockout rounds of the Europa League after facing AEK Athens, Ajax and Marseille in the group stages.

With just two wins in their last 11 Premier League games, form has been hard to come by since September but, as is so often the case, in these games form flies out of the window. Brighton have only won once at Selhurst Park since 2005, and will be hoping to improve their record under the floodlights.

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

The last four matches at Selhurst Park have all ended 1-1, while 10 of the last 12 meetings between the two have seen both teams score – are we set for more goals on Thursday night?

Did you know?

Much like Palace, Brighton owe a lot to John Jackson – although not that one. While Palace were served impeccably by the legendary goalkeeper, his namesake is one of the most important figures in Brighton’s history. He had managed the first professional club in the town with Brighton United, who folded in 1900. Jackson called a meeting in the Seven Stars Hotel in Brighton to establish a replacement, and so Brighton & Hove Albion were formed.

In 1920 they were elected to the Football League, and remained in Division Three until 1958 when they earned promotion. After subsequent 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

Thursday, 21st December
20:00 GMT
Selhurst Park
Sky Sports

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