Attendance: 20,968
Beam-back attendance: 1,642
After no contact in six years, the two sides that consider one another their arch-nemesis', faced off in what supporters in both camps were calling the most important game of the season.
Crystal Palace traveled to Brighton who were unbeaten in the league this season and were entering this game with the most arrogant confidence displayed by a football club I have seen in my time. But, knowing full well that a win would see them return to the peak of the npower Championship, Brighton took to the field at their new ground, The American Express Community Stadium (AmEx), against an optimistic Dougie Freedman squad of young guns and defensive soldiers, who have an excellent history against The Seagulls in previous meetings. Dougie Freedman, now manager, scored two in the last clash between the sides in which a last ditch winner separated the sides at 2-3. Prior to this, Andrew Johnson scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 thrashing that left Brighton fans scarred for life.
So when the game kicked off there was no doubt some "devil-eyes" going between the two sets of fans, as well as some obscene hand gestures and chants.
Squads:
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Wright (Ambrose 76), McCarthy, Moxey, Tunchev, Ramage (Parr 51), Jedinak, Williams (Gardner 90+5), Scannell, Murray, Zaha
Subs not used: Price, Easter
Brighton: Ankergren, Greer, Dunk, Painter, Taricco (Vincelot 59), Noone (LuaLua 64), Harley (Vicente 69), Dicker, Bridcutt, Barnes, Mackail-Smith
Subs not used: Brezovan, Hoskins
Brighton were the first to deliver some pressure and after Peter Ramage was booked for the Eagles, the free kick led to a corner kick that saw Craig Mackail-Smith slot home his fifth goal of the season within seven minutes.
As the first half progressed, Palace came out of their shell and forced some attacks. The closest of which (according to the Official Report on www.cpfc.co.uk) was Glenn Murray, ex-Brighton forward and current Palace #17, who "broke into the box and hit a low shot past the bottom left corner". Also, this half (looking at the stats and BBC report) was filled with just as much anger and vindictiveness as the attitude of Seagulls and Eagles fans words to one another, as the foul count totaled 14 at half time, with four bookings; Ramage, Bridcutt, Dunk & Zaha.
During the break I had the pleasure of serving the Crystal Palace fans that were at the "beam-back" at Selhurst Park and they didn't seem too pleased (with the football, not the beer) but when I brought the shutters down at the start of the second half, all were served and happily watching the game.
The second half was but only ten seconds in when yet another free kick was awarded, this time Taricco (Brighton) penalised for a challenge on Sean Scannell, shortly followed eight seconds later by a foul on Dean Moxey by the goalscorer Mackail-Smith.
After six minutes of the second half, Peter Ramage was replaced by Jonathan Parr who has not put a foot wrong so far this season in fans' eyes and has earned a respective following in the Facebook group "The Parrmy Army".
Several free kicks, corners and shots later, Brighton made the first of their three substitutions with Romain Vincelot replacing Mauricio Taricco, followed five minutes later by LuaLua replacing Noone. Brighton's third substitution saw Vicente tag-in for Ryan Harley, Palace still had two substitutions in their hand.
More fouls and corners followed and on the seventy-sixth minute Darren Ambrose took to the field (clapping and shouts of "Go on Darren!" could be heard at Selhurst) for David Wright and just minutes later (three to be precise) Wilfried Zaha wormed his way to the edge of the penalty area and cut back a well-aimed shot into Ankergren's goal at the bottom left (from Zaha's view) and I felt the floor tremble as Palace fans around me erupted with joy.
Zaha (left) celebrates his goal with Scannell, Williams & Tunchev
Photograph: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
Zaha spent the majority of his time on the field, (yet again) showing defenders how quick his feet could move past them and kept up some wonderful pressure. Brighton had been quiet for the second half and from what I saw had only five or six half chances, most of which were medium to long range free kicks but did come fairly close with a snap shot skating across Speroni's goal face.
With Brighton fans accepting a draw as a fair result and making their way home, Palace fans sat tight and watched as The Eagles pushed on and albeit a bit lucky Darren Ambrose partially walked the ball into the net after Jonathan Parr fed him the ball in the box and Palace had taken the lead on the eighty-ninth minute. With my ear drums threatening to explode and my head held in my hands as I watched Brighton come up the field and be pushed back down it I prayed and prayed for the referee to blow his whistle but when four minutes was shown on the fourth official's board my heart sank at the thought of a last gasp equalizer to snatch all three points from us. But it was not to be...
I must have done something very right in a previous life because my prayers were answered and just a couple of minutes after Ambrose had put us ahead, Glenn Murray, of all the players on the field, slotted home a strike fairly similar to Zaha's and left Brighton fans stunned, Palace fans overjoyed and my eardrums bleeding. Sean Scannell and Ambrose providing some pure genius football on the left wing with Ambrose passing to Murray who turned, shot and slotted into the right hand side of Ankergren's goal, nut-megging a defender on its way.
I would just like to point out how much I laughed when Wilf absolutely b*tched not one, not two but three of their defenders to run down the clock at the end, that's what you get for being cocky bastards!
So a win over the, ever so amusingly nicknamed, Scumweed that will have Palace fans bragging that not only are we the first side to beat Brighton at home this season in the league, but the first side to beat them at their all-new stadium in the league. Now that's a record you can't beat!
Speaking of records, this win means Palace have doubled their away victories registered last season and scored three goals in one game for the first time since February when we drew 3-3 at home with Reading.
Many Eagles fans will be relishing this victory and feeling a whole lot more confident with Dougie Freedman at the helm of our ever so wonderful club. Here's a few comment's from the Scot's post-match interview:
"We were slow to start very well in the first fifteen minutes but after that we started playing well and in the second half we were in control"
"I felt the substitutes made an impact and we started to control the game and most of the game was played in their half"
"It was fantastic for the fans"
"They have been through a lot in the last couple of years. The players stuck at it and hopefully the win will ease the pain of the last two years"
On Parr:
"He did well when he came on, shored up the right hand side and gave us an attacking option. I think him and Sean Scannell changed the game"
On Williams:
"He is a good player and good players wont be fazed. He is 17 and I mean it when I say if you are good enough you can play"
On Murray:
"He has played very well since he got here, it's not the Glenn Murray show though, it's the Crystal Palace show. He is a good guy with good experience...he scored a wonderful goal tonight."
On the club:
"We are moving in the right direction"
I for one, will not be getting a whole lot of sleep over the coming nights as I try to get over the astounding comeback and replaying how my night went, over and over in my head.
Extremely chuffed with the result, so happy with the lads and unfathomably proud to be a supporter, worker and lover of Crystal Palace Football Club.
Until next time,
Fly High Eagles!
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