Brighton hit Palace for five as Hurzeler's side climb to second

Brighton tore Crystal Palace apart 5-0 in the M23 derby on Sunday, a result that took them up to second in the Premier League and buried the memory of a February afternoon when their own fans booed the manager off the pitch.

Three goals inside the first 10 minutes settled the contest before Palace had found their feet. Jaydee Canvot turned the ball into his own net in the fourth minute, Diego Gómez scored from fractionally inside Palace territory in the seventh and Yasin Ayari added a third in the 10th.

Charalambos Kostoulas made it four in the 49th minute and Jack Hinshelwood completed the scoring six minutes from time. BBC Sport reported it was Brighton's biggest win over Palace since 1956.

The goal everyone will remember

Gómez's strike was the moment of the afternoon. Receiving the ball fractionally inside Palace territory, he sent it over goalkeeper Walter Benítez from a distance ESPN measured at 51 metres.

According to ESPN, that makes it the longest-range Premier League goal since Wayne Rooney scored from 58 metres for Everton against West Ham in November 2017. For a derby already running away from Palace at 1-0, it felt like the knockout blow with 83 minutes still to play.

Palace's day only got worse. ESPN reported that their supporters had brought inflatable Conference League trophies to taunt Brighton supporters, and that substitutes Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jefferson Lerma were both denied consolation goals by the woodwork. They leave with seven points from seven games, having won two, drawn one and lost four.

From boos to belief

The contrast with February is stark. Sky Sports noted that Brighton lost 1-0 at home to Palace that month, with Fabian Hurzeler jeered by his own supporters. Sunday was Brighton's first win over their rivals since then and, according to ESPN, their first against Palace in five attempts under the head coach.

"There was a time when Fabian Hurzeler could barely win over his own supporters. Now he has Brighton dreaming again," wrote Sky Sports' Lewis Jones. "Back in February, Hurzeler was booed off at the Amex after a 1-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace. The frustration was palpable. Questions were being asked, patience was wearing thin."

He added: "Fast forward to this 5-0 demolition of their fiercest rivals and the transformation is remarkable."

Ian Wright, speaking on Sky Sports Premier League, was blunter about the losers. "They absolutely embarrassed them. It was embarrassing [for Palace]," he said, before turning to the winners: "They look like they are ready to play anybody."

Matthew Upson called it "a total and utter destruction of Crystal Palace."

Where it leaves the table

Before kick-off, BBC Sport had said Brighton were chasing a record-equalling fourth consecutive Premier League win, and they got it in style. Their previous home league game, Sky Sports noted, had been a victory over Arsenal, so this was not a one-off.

The win was Brighton's fifth of the league season and leaves them on 16 points from seven games, with five wins, one draw and one defeat. BBC Sport also reported an eighth clean sheet in all competitions this season.

BBC Sport placed Brighton second after the match, with the caveat that they would slip back to third if Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest later on Sunday. ESPN's table had Manchester City top on 21 points, Arsenal second on 18 and Brighton third on 16. Either way, a side booed at home eight months ago is now sitting among the title challengers after seven rounds.

For Palace, the inflatable trophies will be a sore memory. For Brighton, the next test comes in that very competition: they are away to FK Jablonec in the Europa Conference League on Thursday 22 October, kicking off at 16:45 UTC.