By Jonathan Burgher
October 28 2002

It could have been nine or ten. Honestly. Steve Coppell's return to Selhurst Park was a miserable one as his Brighton side were massacred by Palace in this long-awaited grudge match. The star of the show was Andy Johnson, who followed up his first league goal for Palace last week against Wimbledon, with a hat-trick. Palace started brightly in front of a large derby crowd and forced four corners in the opening minutes, all of which caused Brighton keeper Michel Kuipers problems.

It was Julian Gray's corner that set up the opening goal on three minutes when Johnson fired home from Shaun Derry's knockdown. The goal silenced the vocal Brighton following and Palace continued to dominate. Wayne Routledge, who went off injured after 20 minutes, shot wide on 13 minutes and Tony Popovic had a seemingly good goal disallowed for a foul on the jittery Kuipers.

Bobby Zamora should have put Brighton level when keeper Alex Kolinko let the ball bounce over his head, but the striker sliced wide. Palace extended their lead on 33 minutes when Johnson converted a near-post header from Gray's corner.

The Eagles started the second half as they did the first and the third goal inevitably came three minutes into the second half. The livewire Johnson, too quick for Danny Cullip, was tripped in the box by the defender and Dougie Freedman dispatched the penalty.

Two minutes later it was 4-0. It was Johnson's pace again that caused problems and he won another penalty. Paul Brooker, the last defender, hauled him back and the Seagulls were down to ten men. Freedman, the usual penalty taker, handed Johnson the chance to complete his hat-trick and the ex-Birmingham man made no mistake from the spot.

Palace fans were in dreamland when Julian Gray scored a fifth on 52 minutes. His 10-yard drive gave Kuipers no chance after a weaving run. Palace wasted numerous chances in the remaining minutes. Freedman, Johnson and Dele Adebola were guilty of glaring misses while Brighton's only second half chance was a Cullip header which hit the top of the crossbar.

It's 12 straight defeats for Brighton while Palace go into Tuesday's game at Walsall full of confidence.