Palace host Brighton in crucial M23 derby

The opening fixture of game week 30 sees Crystal Palace host Brighton and Hove Albion in the M23 derby.

Palace come into the tie two places above the Seagulls in 13th, but both sides will still be aware of the need to secure results before the end of the season. Chris Hughton’s team will be helped by having a game in hand on their rivals – although that fixture is against Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea.

The Eagles have enjoyed the better of this fixture in recent years, losing one in nine home meetings against Albion, that defeat coming back in October 2005 when both sides were in the Sky Bet Championship.

Brighton striker Glenn Murray was prolific for Palace during their promotion season to the Championship as he netted 30 league goals and the 35-year-old has three goals in as many games against his former club.

Murray scored in this season’s reverse fixture as his penalty set Brighton on their way to a 3-1 victory despite a first-half red card for Shane Duffy.

The home side’s talisman Wilfried Zaha has returned to form at just the right time for Roy Hodgson, the Ivorian involved in six goals in his last six games. In addition, Zaha has five goals in nine games against the Seagulls in all competitions including two goals in the Championship play-off semi-finals back in 2013, setting up the Eagles to progress and eventually beat Watford in the final to gain promotion to the top-flight.

Brighton boss Chris Hughton has enjoyed more wins against Crystal Palace as a manager than any other side (6), level with Leeds United and Reading.

Palace and Brighton both have one notable absentee in the shape of Mamadou Sakho and Pascal Groß, both sides knowing victory sees a huge step towards safety achieved.

The head to head record in the Premier League is all square between these two, sharing one win each along with a draw. Hughton and Hodgson will both be hoping their side elevates themselves to the top of the head to head table coming Saturday afternoon.

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