Old home truths rain on Coppell

Crystal Palace 5 Brighton and Hove Albion

Steve Coppell returned to what, after four spells as Crystal Palace manager, he probably thought was his spiritual home of Selhurst Park. But going there yesterday as Brighton's new coach must have destroyed the spirit of optimism which he may have held.

His second game guiding Brighton failed horribly to change the pattern of events that had begun long before he joined the club. Yesterday's defeat was their 12th in succession and did nothing to decrease the ire of some supporters who, ahead of the match, had been involved in street fighting.

Brighton's misfortunes of late may have been the greater, but Palace had endured related troubles only seven days before. While Coppell not only lost his first match in charge of Brighton 4-2 to Sheffield United and saw his charges give away a two-goal lead, Trevor Francis had watched in anger and frustration as Palace also discarded a two-goal advantage, allowing Wimbledon a draw.

The Palace manager had shrugged off the jeers that rang out after that performance but with Simon Jordan known to be an impatient chairman, a victory yesterday was thought essential and, before dozens of riot police had taken their positions to maintain the segregation of fans, Francis was comforted by a fourth-minute goal.

Brighton's goalkeeper, Michel Kuipers, had already misjudged two corners and half cleared a third when the fourth from Julian Gray left him flat-footed. Tony Popovic headed down and Andrew Johnson scrambled the ball over the line.

Palace's pressure was constant. They won six corners in the first 12 minutes and in the 13th Popovic had a headed "goal" from yet another corner disallowed. This time Kuipers had the excuse that he was pushed.

Nothing Brighton attempted seemed destined for completion. They were unable to clear their lines with any degree of confidence and left Bobby Zamora virtually without service from their outplayed midfield.

Almost inevitably, Palace increased their lead from a corner. Gray again had the Brighton defence in disarray as his kick came in low and Johnson stooped to glance in a header. Brighton were completely disarmed.

The obvious challenge for Palace as they entered the second half was the preservation of their lead. Their abysmal failure to do so the previous week must have been sharp in their minds. Yet Brighton seemed in no way capable of a recovery. The centre of their defence looked on the verge of panic while any Palace attacks down the flanks faced only shadowy opposition.

The loss of Wayne Routledge after 30 minutes of the first half had hardly interrupted their stride. Coppell, who had watched the first 45 minutes from the stand, went to the dugout for the second period and received a warm, possibly ironic, cheer from his former fans.

Not that Coppell's appearance had any inspirational effect. Within 10 minutes of the match restarting, Brighton were four goals behind and shipping unnecessary penalties.

The first came when Johnson made a long run, pursued by Danny Cullip, who tripped him just as he was about to shoot. Dougie Freedman smashed the resulting spot-kick past Kuipers.

Four minutes later, Johnson himself raced into the penalty area and Paul Brooker pulled him down. This time the referee not only gave a penalty, which Johnson dispatched, but sent off Brooker. Brighton's embarrassment was compounded after 57 minutes when Gray, who always had ample freedom on the left, slipped inside and hit a superb cross-shot inside the far post.

Kuipers, who frequently rowed with his defenders, saw Johnson and Gray bearing down on him time and again and, but for some understandably overconfident dribbling into the box, Palace would have had more goals.

At least Kuipers did not have to face Johnson over the final minutes as the forward was substituted. In that time Palace strolled and Brighton waited desperately for the final whistle.

Crystal Palace 5 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Johnson 4, 35, pen 55, Freedman pen 51, Gray 57

Half-time: 2-0 Attendance: 21,796