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Why the ‘M23 derby’ is one of the fiercest in the Premier League

Rachel014 mins


Whenever Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace play each other, questions arise about the origins of the intense animosity between teams whose 43-mile separation means they are in different counties.

When the clubs meet again at the Amex Stadium on Sunday (2 p.m.

Herscheler was the St Pauli boss and away on a fact-finding mission when the sides drew 1-1 at Selhurst Park last season, while Glasner took over as Palace manager 16 days after their 4-1 defeat at Brighton on 3 February.

Here are some of the history lessons the pair may have taught, as well as a look at some memorable encounters between Brighton and Palace.

The Brighton-Palace rivalry: When did it start?

There were problems in games between the teams in the mid-1970s, as well as a reversal of Palace’s ‘Eagles’ nickname by Brighton fans which eventually led to Albion taking their own nickname – the Seagulls – in direct opposition to the Palace.

During the 1976/77 season, the teams played in the first round of the FA Cup which required three legs before Palace prevailed 1-0.

Two intensely charismatic characters were in the dugouts: Alan Mullery for Brighton, Terry Venables for Palace. The pair were roommates at Tottenham as players, with Spurs manager Bill Nicholson choosing Mullery over Venables as captain.

Mullery was furious after Albion lost their cup tie. Their captain Brian Horton had a penalty disallowed by referee Ron Challis before the replay was saved, and iconic Brighton striker Peter Ward also had a goal chalked off.

The manager created an immortal image when he flashed a ‘V’ sign at the celebrating Palace fans at full-time, complained to Challis and threw change at the opposition, adding: “Palace don’t deserve this.”

Alan Mallery v Terry Venables

Martin Hinselwood, a Palace player at the time, who would go on to become a respected youth manager at Brighton and briefly manage the Seagulls in 2002, remarked that Venables “always seemed to outdo Alan”.

Palace finished two points ahead of Brighton, as both teams were promoted from the Third Division that year, and a relentless history of promotion battles, dramatic matches and hatred between fan groups had begun.

In between, Palace beat Mallery Brighton to the title again in 1978/79 as both sides were promoted to the top flight and were awarded five penalties in 27 minutes of a 2-1 win for Palace in 1989, including one Ian’s weird spot. Wright, who was rejected by Brighton as a youngster for being too small.

Palace had lost eight and drawn two of 10 derbies between 1979 and 1986, but were in charge from 1990 to 2001, spending three seasons in the Premier League and the rest in the second division, while Brighton were on the brink of oblivion at the other end of EFL.

After almost going out of business and staying in the EFL for the last game of the 1996/97 season, Albion spent time in two temporary homes before finally moving to the Amex Stadium in 2011.

Palace vs Brighton: Modern results

When their almost 13-year wait to play at Palace again came to an end, it was a glorious day for the home fans at Selhurst Park, who witnessed a 5-0 drubbing in the second division, with future England striker Andy Johnson netting a hat-trick – trick .

Palace have lost just once in eight meetings with a 1-0 defeat at Selhurst Park in 2005 to become the first team to beat Brighton at the Amex Stadium, as well as beating them there in the 2013 Championship play-off semi-finals.

Jordan Ayew scored the only goal of the game in Palace’s first Premier League win at Brighton in 2020, and great drama characterized the game in the next four encounters, three of which were decided by 90th-minute goals.

Brighton’s resounding victory more than 10 months ago is the only time either side has won by more than one goal in the last 11 games between them, with Hinshelwood’s nephew Jack among the scorers on that occasion.

Palace’s last two defeats to Brighton have also heralded the departure of their managers: Patrick Vieira’s last game was a 1-0 defeat at the Amex Stadium in March 2023, while their defeat at the same venue last season proved Roy Hodgson’s last away game. of his tenure.

Why is Brighton vs Crystal Palace called the M23 derby?

Reports tend to call the game the “M23 derby” to mark the path between Brighton and London. The actual road that provides a direct connection is the A23.

Brighton vs Palace: Five episodes in the rivalry

Brighton 1-1 Palace, 2 October 1976

In the spirit of balance, let’s start with a tie at Brighton’s original home at the Goldstone Ground, which was attended by a crowd of more than 27,000 in Division Three.

Mullery reportedly joked about Venables arranging for smoke bombs to be thrown onto the pitch, feeling disruption from fans had hampered his team’s momentum.

As was often the case for both sides, Palace took the lead against the run of play through Jim Cannon. Brighton quickly equalized with a Kenny Sansom own goal.

Palace 2-1 Brighton, 27 March 1989

A superb early goal from Ian Wright, a red card for Brighton’s Mike Trusson and a successful Mark Bright penalty put Palace 2-0 up and seemingly on course for a routine victory, despite Bright and Wright missing then penalties consecutively.

Alan Curbisley replied from the spot after the break before defender John Pemberton fired a penalty over the bar for the hosts. Palace reached the top via the play-offs that season, while Brighton flirted with relegation but survived.

Palace 5-0 Brighton, 26 October 2002

Steve Coppell was Palace manager for that five-penalty game and his task when the sides met again after a 13-year hiatus was to rescue Albion from a desperate start to the Championship season.

Unfortunately for Brighton, Koppel’s first away game in charge only cemented his status as a Palace legend, with Johnson scoring twice in the first half. Current Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman then scored, as did Julian Gray after Johnson completed his hat-trick.

While Palace finished 14th, Koppel brought his considerable experience to life to revive Brighton’s season, taking their failed relegation battle to the final day of the season.

Brighton 3-0 Palace, 17 March 2013

This was Brighton’s first win over Palace for more than seven years, first at home for 25 years, first at the Amex Stadium and only win in the game in eight attempts between 2005 and 2017.

Spanish midfielder David Lopez drew a spectacular free kick between the goals from target Leo Ulloa. Brighton were chasing a play-off spot in the Championship at the time, while Palace were hoping for automatic promotion.

Brighton 0-2 Palace, 13 May 2013

Palace had the last laugh that season in the Championship play-off semi-finals.

After a 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park, two goals from Wilfried Zaha in 20 second-half minutes gave the visitors a 2-0 aggregate victory, with the manager who had masterminded Brighton’s promotion from League One leading them to their new home, Gus. Poyet, leaving the Seagulls two days later.

Ian Holloway led Palace to victory over Watford in the play-off final and have been in the Premier League ever since.

Brighton – Crystal Palace head to head

The extremely tight overall record between the teams reflects the nature of their matches and results against each other over the decades.

The exact figures are up for debate, but Brighton have 42 wins to Palace’s 38, according to 11v11.comwith 31 finishing as ties.



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