Crystal Palace Under-18s will look to return to winning ways, reignite their title push and gain revenge for earlier defeat when they face fierce rivals Brighton & Hove Albion in the U18 Premier League South on Saturday (21st March, 11:00 GMT) at the Academy – here is everything you need to know.
The match will be streamed LIVE on Palace TV+ on Saturday (21st March), with coverage beginning at 10:45 GMT ahead of a 11:00 GMT kick-off – click HERE to find out more and subscribe.
Supporters can follow live commentary on our Academy X (Twitter) page, with a full match report and reaction published shortly after full-time in our Academy news section.
Highlights and extended reaction will be available on Palace TV+.
Palace were held to a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Fulham on Tuesday evening in an entertaining contest where momentum swung throughout.
That draw means Alonso’s side are now unbeaten in five matches, winning four of those across all competitions to reach both the Premier League Cup final and FA Youth Cup semi-final, while remaining firmly in the title race.
Palace sit third on 35 points, four behind second-placed Chelsea and nine off leaders Tottenham, with two games in hand.
Saturday’s clash also carries added motivation for the young Eagles, following a difficult trip to Brighton earlier in the season. Palace fell to a 4-0 defeat on the south coast in a game that proved one to forget, with four red cards shown over the course of a challenging afternoon.
With lessons learned and momentum building, Palace will be determined to respond strongly this time around...
Brighton have enjoyed a strong 2025/26 campaign, currently sitting fourth in the U18 Premier League South on 32 points – level with Aston Villa, though having played a game more. They are just three points behind Palace, who also hold a game in hand.
The Seagulls’ record of nine wins, five draws and six defeats highlights their consistency across the season.
Since the turn of the year, Brighton have improved significantly, climbing the table with four wins, three draws and two defeats – one of those coming against second-placed Chelsea.
Last time out, they staged a dramatic comeback to draw 3-3 with Leicester City. Trailing 3-1 deep into stoppage time, goals from Tate Ferdinand and Liam Crutchett – after Raffaele Oppong’s earlier strike – rescued a point.
Historically, Brighton have been steady rather than spectacular at this level, rarely breaking into the top six in recent years. Their best FA Youth Cup run came in 2021/22, when they reached the sixth round.
Brighton expected XI: Trialist; Outen, Evans, Ferdinand (c), Crutchett; Oppong, Brennan; Kasvosve, Dzekawong, Palmer; Newnham-Reeve.
Brighton could once again field a trialist in goal, as they did against Leicester. Tate Ferdinand remains a key figure at the heart of defence, though his partner is less certain, with Jake Evans and Seb Ademola both options.
There is also rotation at full-back, where Jackson Morby, Cristiano Anah, Theo Outen and Liam Crutchett have all featured.
Raffaele Oppong and Zac Brennan provide consistency in midfield, while Anton Palmer and Bode Newnham-Reeve are regular attacking outlets.
Brighton have won nine, drawn five and lost six of their 20 league matches. They have scored 44 goals – the joint fourth-most in the division – and conceded 33, the third fewest, matching Palace’s record.
Recent form is mixed. Across their last five matches, they rank 10th in the league, with one win, three draws and one defeat, although they have still scored 10 goals in that time.
Looking at a broader run of form paints a stronger picture. Across their last 10 matches, Brighton rank fourth, with five wins, three draws and two defeats, collecting 18 points and scoring 24 goals – the third-most in that period.
Away from home, they are one of the form sides in the division, unbeaten in their last five on the road with three wins and two draws – the third-best away record over that stretch.
Henry Kasvosve has been Brighton’s main attacking threat this season, scoring nine goals in 18 league appearances. Prior to matches against Chelsea and Leicester, he had scored in four consecutive games.
The forward joined from Bristol City in November 2024 and has since gone on to represent Wales at under-19 level, making his debut in February 2025.
Stephen Menzies has taken interim charge following Bjorn Hamberg’s departure to Swedish side Elfsborg.
“It’s a role I would have liked to do at some point, so it was good to get the opportunity now, even if it was a bit unexpected,” he said.
Menzies is supported by former first-team striker Tomer Hemed and has been part of Brighton’s set-up since 2012, progressing through the club’s youth ranks.
The match will be streamed LIVE on Palace TV+ on Saturday (21st March), with coverage beginning at 10:45 GMT ahead of a 11:00 GMT kick-off – click HERE to find out more and subscribe.
Supporters can follow live commentary on our Academy X (Twitter) page, with a full match report and reaction published shortly after full-time in our Academy news section.
Highlights and extended reaction will be available on Palace TV+.
Crystal Palace Under-18s v Brighton & Hove Albion Under-18s
