Mind the gap. In the space of eight days, Brighton have won two games against Crystal Palace and stuck 11 goals past their arch rivals to highlight the growing chasm between Seagulls and Eagles.
It all started at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre on Saturday 5th October. Brighton Under 21s welcomed their Palace counterparts to Lancing, who arrived unbeaten in six matches.
Palace’s academy has long been hailed as one of the best in the country. The Albion’s reputation in this area is far more recent.
Two of the best youth development systems coming head-to-head with the added spice of the clubs’ hatred of each other was set to make for an enthralling, close-fought Premier League 2 fixture.
Except Brighton had not read the script. The Albion blew away Palace, racking up a 10-0 (TEN) victory. Eight of the goals remarkably came in the second 45 minutes as Brighton ran riot after the break.
There was little to indicate the scale of defeat set to engulf Palace during the first half. The biggest talking point was actually the return of Solly March, playing his first action in almost 12 months after injuring his ACL at Manchester City last October.
March was substituted in a pre-planned move after 25 minutes as Brighton ease him back gently following such a long spell on the side lines.
Brighton led 1-0 when he departed thanks to Cam Peupion opening the scoring with two minutes on the clock. Ruairi McConville doubled the advantage with a towering header on the half hour.
The goals flowed regularly through the second half. Caylan Vickers made it 3-0 on 47 with the first of what would end up being a hat-trick for the January transfer window signing from Reading.
Next Vickers converted a Peupion cross close from close range. Josh Duffus made it five on 59 minutes and Jamie Mullins and 16-year-old Harry Howell added goals six and seven.
Vickers completed his treble when turning home another Peupion cross, Howell bagged a brace with goal nine and Marcus Ifill provided the final insult by taking Brighton to double figures in stoppage time.
To say the result did not go down well with our friends up the road in Croydon would be a slight understatement. One rather excitable Palace went so far as to say the would turn up to an Under 21s game and threaten the players for the embarrassment caused.
This is an absolutely incredible head loss over a *checks notes* Under 21s game. Palace fans are a very, very, very odd bunch 😂 #BHAFC https://t.co/3e6fpc9jsT
— We Are Brighton (@wearebrighton) October 5, 2024
Yes, a grown man going after a bunch of teenage footballers for losing a game of football. Weird bunch, Palace fans.
More measured responses included several Eagles supporters finally admitting what the rest of football knows – that Brighton are now light years ahead of Palace, at every level.
Better owner willing to invest in the team. Better stadium. Better training ground. Better long-term vision. Better first team. Better academy. And better women’s team.
For the second meeting between Brighton and Palace took place in the WSL. The Eagles are playing in the top division of women’s football for the first time this season.
To be fair to Palace, the step up from Championship to top division is so big that most promoted clubs are expected just to make up the numbers.
The Eagles though were organised enough to restrict Brighton to a 1-0 win at Sutton United’s VBS Community Stadium in front of a record crowd for Palace Women.
Bruna Vilamala scored the only goal on 35 minutes, tapping home a rebound after home goalkeeper Shae Yanez dropped a cross under pressure from Nikita Parris.
Palace thought they had equalised in the 90th minute when a fierce Annabel Blanchard appeared to be heading straight for the top corner.
Albion goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley somehow clawed it out of the top corner to ensure the three points returned to Sussex.
With Brighton having thrashed Palace 4-1 when the sides last met in the Premier League back in February, 2024 has been a year dominated by the Albion at all levels.
(Yes, we will ignore the spectacular end of season collapse under Roberto De Zerbi combined with the new manager bounce of Oliver Glassner which just about saw Palace sneak to a finishing position above Brighton last season).
Roll on December 14th.
