Brighton and Hove Albion produced a derby day performance to remember on Sunday, hammering fierce rivals Crystal Palace 5-0 at the Amex. It is the biggest home win of the Premier League season so far and lifted the Seagulls into third place.
Total dominance
From the first whistle, Fabian Hurzeler’s side looked sharper, quicker and hungrier. Palace had arrived on the back of a 3-1 home win over Nottingham Forest, but they were simply swept aside. Brighton pressed high, won the ball in dangerous areas and punished every mistake.
The result equals Brighton’s 5-0 away win at Coventry City in September as their biggest of the campaign, and it underlines how far this team has come.
Goals from everywhere
One of the most impressive things about Brighton this season is how the goals are shared. In the league, Pascal Gross, Jack Hinshelwood and Charalampos Kostoulas have three each, while Kostoulas has five across all competitions. That spread makes Brighton very hard to defend against.
Brighton’s form
- Sunderland 0-2 Brighton (De Cuyper, Hadjam)
- Brighton 5-0 Crystal Palace
- Earlier: Coventry 0-5 Brighton
- League position: 3rd
A smart summer
Brighton’s recruitment continues to be among the sharpest in Europe. The club added Portuguese right back Costinha from Olympiacos, Nigerian winger Zadok Yohanna from AIK and centre back Pascal Struijk from Leeds United, and all three have helped give the squad more balance and depth.
They are also juggling European football, playing in the Conference League league phase this season, where Georginio Rutter has already been among the scorers.
Can they stay there?
Third place in October guarantees nothing, and Brighton’s squad will be tested by the demands of Thursday and Sunday football. But with the attacking variety they have shown, the Seagulls look like a side capable of staying in the European places all season long.