Brighton & Hove Albion vs Crystal Palace *** Official Match Thread ***

[Dick Head]

Brighton v Crystal Palace

FA CUP - THIRD ROUND

Venue: The American Express Community Stadium
Date: Monday 8th January 2018
Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistants: Scott Ledger, Richard West
Fourth official: Graham Scott
Video Assistant Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Additional Video Assistant Referee: Peter Kirkup

TEAM NEWS

Brighton boss Chris Hughton has no new injury problems, with midfielder Steve Sidwell remaining the only long-term absentee because of a back injury.

Connor Goldson, Beram Kayal and Jiri Skalak are all expected to play.

Crystal Palace defender Scott Dann and winger Jason Puncheon are both out for the rest of the season because of serious knee injuries.

Midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek and defenders Joel Ward and Mamadou Sakho are also unavailable for Roy Hodgson.

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson said: "I don't know how many changes I would have made without these injuries, the squad is thin on the ground.

"We'll have a strong, competitive team versus Brighton. We're aware it's a derby game and we'll treat it accordingly. We'll put out a team that we think is right.

"I've only experienced one game of this derby. This rivalry developed while I was working out of the country, not in my earlier years as a Crystal Palace supporter.

"Both sides share the fans' passion and their enthusiasm, this is one of the big games of the year."

MATCH FACTS

• This will be the third time these two rivals have been drawn together in the FA Cup, with the last tie going to a second replay after the first two games ended in a stalemate in December 1976.
  
• Brighton have failed to score against Crystal Palace in four of their last five encounters in all competitions, including each of the last three. In contrast, the Eagles have failed to score in three of the last four.
  
• The Seagulls have progressed to the FA Cup fourth round in seven of the last eight campaigns, falling at the third round stage in 2015-16 against Hull City.
  
• Since being eliminated at this stage in three successive seasons between 2010-11 and 2012-2013, the Eagles have reached the fourth round in each of the last four seasons, including an FA Cup final appearance in 2016.

[Icy Gull]

Looking forward to seeing some of the fringe players. I think CH will put out a strong side, Kayal, Krul and Goldson are hardly youth team players are they?

It seems it means little to many Albion fans but putting one over on Palace will make my week. Losing will ruin it. A game without the pressure of three points and it’s a Derby, what’s not to like.

[Dick Head]

There are nearly as many refs as there are players.

[del strangefish]

[TomandJerry]

Even with VAR, wheel loose

[Dolph Ins]

Well I'm looking forward to tonight even if there seems to be little interest on here

[Beach Hut]

Just sorting out my toolkit

[hart's shirt]

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It seems it means little to many Albion fans but putting one over on Palace will make my week. Losing will ruin it. A game without the pressure of three points and it’s a Derby, what’s not to like.

Nail on head, Icy. It's the Cup. It's Palace. It's at home.

Bragging rights at stake (until mid-April at least) with a confidence-boosting win.

Opportunity for a player to become a cult Albion hero.

Let's do this.

[Ninja Elephant]

Let's hope something happens which requires the VAR!

It should be an interesting evening, whatever happens with the game.

[Wrong-Direction]

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Nail on head, Icy. It's the Cup. It's Palace. It's at home.

Bragging rights at stake (until mid-April at least) with a confidence-boosting win.

Opportunity for a player to become a cult Albion hero.

Let's do this.

Too right

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