By Tim Hodges
Crystal Palace 3 Brighton & Hove Albion 0
The Seagulls lost to high-flying Crystal Palace with more than a little help from referee Mick Russell.
After just six minutes Brighton-born centre half Lewis Dunk was adjudged to have committed serious foul play and was dismissed.
Andrea Orlandi, who was beginning to have some influence on the match, was immediately switched to left back as Indigo Calderon who started at full back was switched to partner captain Gordon Greer in the heart of the defence.
Apart from former Albion target Owen Garvan hitting the top of the crossbar, Palace failed to make their man advantage count until five minutes before the break. At that point former Albion striker Glenn Murray headed in from close range from a Yannick Bolasie corner to put Palace in front.
Also before the break Liam Bridcutt almost got lucky with a free kick but Julian Speroni gathered well.
After the break Andrew Crofts replaced the struggling Orlandi for Albion.
Albion had a super chance to make it all square with the half just a few minutes old. After great work by Bridcutt and Ashley Barnes, Craig Mackail-Smith was one on one with Speroni but the striker’s shot hit the outside of the post.
Just as Albion were looking to get back into the game, Murray again broke free in the penalty area. This time, however, he was adjudged to have been brought down by Tomasz Kuszczak. Murray himself blasted the penalty home to double Palace’s lead.
It was all Palace now. Murray had another chance but skimmed the bar from Bolasie’s cross.
Barnes had a good chance to reduce the deficit as the clock ticked towards the final 20 minutes but it wasn’t Albion’s day.
Greer appeared to win the ball forcefully from Murray but the referee pointed to the spot again. This time it was Garvan who picked his spot and calmly placed the ball past Kuszczak.
Both Bridcutt and Mackail-Smith had speculative efforts before the end. But ten years on from that dreadful day in October 2002 the Seagulls once again found Selhurst Park to be an unhappy hunting ground.
Albion’s fiercest rivals may have drawn first blood again but the Seagulls will already be plotting their revenge in time for St Patrick’s Day.
Crystal Palace: Speroni; Ward (Moritz 54), Ramage, Delaney, Parr; Bolasie, Garvan, Dikgacoi, Jedinak (O’Keefe 86), Zaha; Murray (Wilbraham 74). Subs Not Used: Price (GK), Easter, Moxey, Gabbidon.
Albion: Kuszczak; Bruno, Greer, Dunk, Calderon; Bridcutt, Hammond, Orlandi (Crofts 45); Buckley (Dicker 74), Mackail-Smith, Barnes. Subs Not Used: Brezovan (GK), Harley, Dobbie, Lopez, Hoskins.
Referee: Mike Russell (Hertfordshire)
