Brighton scored three first-half goals as they beat rivals Crystal Palace comfortably in the Premier League to heap pressure on Eagles boss Roy Hodgson.
Palace started poorly and went behind in the opening five minutes for the second successive game when Lewis Dunk rose highest to head in a corner from Pascal Gross.
Roberto de Zerbi’s side dominated the ball throughout the first half and they doubled their lead in the 33rd minute when Jack Hinshelwood headed in Tariq Lamptey’s cross at the back post.
It got worse for the visitors a minute later when deadline-day signing Adam Wharton was caught in possession, and Gross teed up Facundo Buonanotte to score easily from close range.
Palace scored a consolation when Jean-Philippe Mateta headed in Joachim Andersen’s cross with 20 minutes to go before Joao Pedro restored the three-goal lead with an excellently worked goal late on.
Hodgson’s side failed to create many openings of note and Palace’s supporters once again expressed their frustration with the club ownership and management with banners calling for change.
Brighton, who made five changes from the side who lost 4-0 to Luton in midweek, looked rejuvenated.
The intensity they showed on the pitch was matched by their manager, who picked up his third booking of the season while appealing against a decision, and so will have to watch their next game from the stands.
Defeat for Hodgson puts Palace’s form back under the microscope. While they defeated Sheffield United last Tuesday, they have won just four of their past 17 league matches.
The Palace boss will point to the fact that he did not have his best players, with Eberechi Eze not fit enough to be in the squad and Michael Olise limping off just 11 minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute.
Coming into this game, the Seagulls had only won three of their past 16 league matches.
However, they are in a much better place than their rivals – in touch with the Premier League’s European qualification spots, still in the FA Cup, and in the Europa League last 16.
Their football is a joy to watch, with De Zerbi is able to get the best out of the players in his squad.
They have an excellent blend of experience and youth, with 18-year-old Hinshelwood and 19-year-old Buonanotte both scoring.
Brighton have a number of key players out injured but if they can get some of them back towards the end of the season, it could be an exciting time for the club.
As far as Palace supporters are concerned, the manner of this heavy defeat against their biggest rivals puts Hodgson back under pressure.
The Eagles have won two of their past four Premier League games, but the two defeats in that sequence have been heavy – with a 5-0 loss at Arsenal before Brighton’s convincing win.
Supporters had already made their feelings known about the club’s leadership with a banner during the defeat at Arsenal and there was another display of discontent at Amex Stadium.
Without Eze, who scored twice against Sheffield United on Tuesday, and with Olise only able to feature briefly, Palace were toothless in attack.
Fan feeling is far from positive, and given their poor results over the past four months, some may ask if the club will feel it’s time to make a change.
