Brighton vs Crystal Palace Predictions

• Both teams played midweek European matches
• Both teams have scored in Palace’s last two games
• Both teams have scored in seven of the last 10 head-to-head matches

Tough test for Eagles after Lyon trek

Brighton have the upper hand heading into Sunday’s M23 derby clash with Crystal Palace at The Amex Stadium. The Seagulls are flying high in third place and enjoyed a comfortable midweek Conference League win at home while Palace, who are down in 12th spot, were beaten 3-2 away by Lyon in the Europa League.

It is not all doom and gloom at Selhurst Park because Pierre Sage’s side earned their second Premier League win of the campaign last weekend against Nottingham Forest – their newest rivals.

However, facing an in-form Brighton side on the road after a midweek trek to France will be a tough test and one which they may ultimately fail. Palace have won only one of their last seven away league trips, at floundering Fulham, losing four and drawing the other two.

Arsenal win overshadows other less inspiring displays

Brighton, meanwhile, have won five, drawn one and lost one of their last seven Premier League home games – a run which recently included a stunning 3-0 victory over champions Arsenal.

That superb result overshadows everything else, but it is worth noting that Man Utd played them off the park in the final game of last season when Brighton were trying to secure Europa League, or even maybe Champions League, football.

They could also only draw at home to Leeds last month when the visitors missed a host of opportunities to put the game beyond doubt at 1-0 up. And Sunderland carved them open a few times without finding the killer touch in last weekend’s game at the Stadium of Light.

Both teams to score at Brighton

Both teams to score looks a good play in the circumstances as Palace’s last two games have finished 3-1 and 3-2. The Eagles have enough of a creative spark to cause problems at the Amex Stadium, but they would have gone under against Forest if it wasn’t for Walter Benitez’s heroics.

Brighton have scored in every home game they have played this term and, as the Premier League’s top scorers, should have no issue holding up their end of the bargain in a BTTS bet.

Charalampos Kostoulas, who scored against Coventry, Man Utd and Arsenal in consecutive games last month, is probably the most reliable anytime goalscorer option here while a 2-1 home win would not be huge surprise even if Palace make the hosts work hard for it.