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November 23 2024 8.03am

Palace 5 - 0 Brighton

Sat Oct 26 2002 - League

Crystal Palace outfought and outsung a poor Brighton side to claim a famous 5-0 victory.

Andy Johnson scored a hatrick, with Dougie Freedman scoring one from the penalty spot, and Julian Gray wrapped up the game with a neat shot from the left wing.

Match Stats

Ground: Selhurst Park (Attendance: 21796)

Palace: Kolinko, Granville (Rubins, 58), Butterfield, Popovic, Powell, Mullins, Derry, Gray, Routledge (Adebola, 31), Johnson (Black, 75), Freedman

Subs not used: Michopoulos, Riihilahti

Bookings: Mullins, Powell

Goals: Johnson 4, Johnson 35, Freedman 51 (p), Johnson 55 (p), Gray 57

Brighton: Kuipers, Watson, Mayo, Cullip, Blackwell, Hart, Oatway (Rogers, 59), Brooker (sent off 54), Carpenter (Rodger, 59), Zamora, Barrett (Marney, 74)

Subs not used: Keeley, Hinshelwood

Booking: Hart

Referee: P Walton (Winwick)

Johnson gave the home side the perfect start, scoring from close-range following Julian Gray’s corner.

Tony Popovic had a "goal" ruled out shortly after but Johnson doubled the advantage with a near post header from a Gray cross on 35.

In the 56th minute, Johnson was hauled down in the box following a great run and Dougie Freedman stepped up to net from the spot.

Four minutes later, Johnson was brought down again in the penalty area and put away the spot-kick himself to claim his hat-trick. Brighton's Paul Brooker was sent off for bringing Johnson down.

Gray made it five nil two minutes afterwards when he ghosted past two Brighton defenders and drilled home from ten yards.

Johnson and Dele Adebola should have compounded Brighton’s misery with more goals as former Eagles boss Steve Coppell had a miserabale return to Selhurst Park.

Post match comments:

Trevor Francis said: "I think they were very lucky it was only five. We created a number of chances and on another day it could have been six or seven.

"I think the players were desperate to put the Wimbledon result behind them because they felt they let themselves and the fans down.


We created a number of chances and on another day it could have been six or seven
Trevor Francis

"The atmosphere in the changing room before the game was very good and the players were disappointed when the kick-off was delayed.

"I sent them out on the pitch to soak up the atmosphere and I think the players were very focused. We started really well and Johnson’s early goal was crucial."

Francis praised hat-trick hero Johnson: "I think they were very relieved when I took Andy off. He had very good game and they just could not deal with his pace.

"Andy's goal last week obviously gave him confidence and hopefully he can build on this performance."

Brighton (H) Photos From The Terrace Photos

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