Just over a month after playing out a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park, Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace lock horns at the Amex Stadium for the second M23 derby of the season on Wednesday night.
The two teams are separated by 12 points in the Premier League table, with the Seagulls sitting in seventh place and the Eagles five places further back in 12th.
Match preview
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After cruising to a 4-0 victory at home to West Ham United, Brighton had to settle for a share of the spoils against Leeds United last weekend, with the Seagulls pegged back on two occasions in a 2-2 draw at Elland Road.
Patrick Bamford cancelled out Alexis Mac Allister's opener towards the end of the first half before Jack Harrison scored at both ends after the interval, with an unfortunate own goal – aided by Kaoru Mitoma's work down the flank and Solly March's movement inside the six-yard box – followed by a sweet curling strike beyond Jason Steele to restore parity.
Roberto De Zerbi believes that his Brighton side dropped two points in West Yorkshire, but they still remain in the hunt to qualify for Europe, with their solitary point claimed helping them move up once place to seventh in the Premier League following Fulham's defeat at home to Arsenal.
The Seagulls head into Wednesday's clash hoping to put aside the disappointment from their last meeting with Crystal Palace in which a "human error" by VAR wrongly disallowed a first-half goal from Pervis Estupinan. Brighton dominated proceedings with 75% possession and 17 shots, but James Tomkins capitalised on a mistake from Robert Sanchez to equalise six minutes after March had opened the scoring.
Brighton have failed to win each of their last seven encounters with Palace, including five draws, but having won four of their last five matches at the Amex, De Zerbi and co will be confident of success on Wednesday as they bid to close the nine-point gap to fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who have played three games more than the Seagulls.
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Following a torrid 10-game winless run in the Premier League, Crystal Palace have been dragged into the relegation picture, with their latest setback at the hands of reigning top-flight champions Manchester City last weekend, losing by a 1-0 scoreline on home soil.
Despite keeping the Citizens a bay for the majority of the contest, a needless late challenge inside the penalty area from Michael Olise proved costly as top scorer Erling Braut Haaland converted the resulting spot kick 12 minutes from time to condemn the Eagles to their 11th league defeat of the season.
Patrick Vieira's men have now gone three successive games without a single shot on target – an unwanted Premier League first since records began in 2003-04 – and the pressure is beginning to mount on the Frenchman as his Palace side sit just three points above the drop zone heading into the final 12 matches of the campaign.
Significant improvements up front and resilience at the back is required for Palace if they wish to come through back-to-back fixtures with Brighton and league leaders Arsenal unscathed, before preparing for a favourable-looking run of six successive games against teams below them in the Premier League table after the international break.
While goals have been hard to come by for the Eagles in recent weeks, they have managed to find the net in nine of their last 10 meetings against Brighton and they are unbeaten in their last three visits to the Amex, which bodes well for Vieira's men as they endeavour to claim their first victory of 2023 on Wednesday.
Team News
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After sustaining a knee injury against West Ham, Brighton's Tariq Lamptey missed the draw with Leeds and is a major doubt for Wednesday's contest, with Joel Veltman therefore set to continue at right-back.
Adam Lallana (muscle) and Jakub Moder (knee) remain sidelined with long-term injuries, but Levi Colwill and Yasin Ayari recovered from respective muscle and illness issues to make the matchday squad last weekend and will be available for selection against Palace, although the duo are unlikely to start.
Mac Allister, who is looking to score in three successive Premier League games for the first time, is expected to continue in the number 10 role in behind either Evan Ferguson or Danny Welbeck up front, while in-form duo March and Mitoma are set to retain their places on the flanks.
De Zerbi confirmed prior to Brighton's draw with Leeds that he 'prefers' Jason Steele to start in goal over Robert Sanchez, and the former is expected to start his third consecutive game between the sticks on Wednesday.
As for Crystal Palace, midfield duo Will Hughes and James McArthur have been ruled out due to illness, while goalkeeper Sam Johnstone remain sidelined with a calf injury.
Cheick Doucoure is available for selection after serving a one-match suspension and will likely return to the first XI at the expense of Luka Milivojevic, joining Albert Sambi Lokonga and Jeffrey Schlupp in centre-midfield.
Having failed to pose an attacking threat in the last three matches, Vieira is expected to make changes in the final third, with Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta both pushing to start, although Wilfried Zaha – who has scored more goals against Brighton (eight) than any other opponent in his career – is set to retain his place in the starting lineup.
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Steele; Veltman, Dunk, Webster, Estupinan; Caicedo, Gross; March, Mac Allister, Mitoma; Ferguson
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Lokonga, Doucoure, Schlupp; Ayew, Edouard, Zaha
We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace have caused Brighton problems on numerous occasions over the years, but their recent form in front of goal is a major concern ahead of their trip to the Amex.
The Seagulls, meanwhile, have been scoring goals for fun so far this campaign, netting at least twice on 13 occasions in the Premier League, and De Zerbi's side will fancy their chances of returning to winning ways with another impressive home triumph on Wednesday.
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Top tip
Oliver Thomas
