Brighton 3-0 Palace

Albion produced a performance to remember as they re-ignited their playoff bid with a thumping victory over rivals Crystal Palace.

Poyet's men exacted their long-awaited revenge with a quick-fire treble during an emphatic 10 minute period either side of half-time. Leo Ulloa headed the hosts in-front moments before David Lopez curled in a sumptuous free-kick - Ulloa then applied the finishing touch to a wonderfully worked third as the Eagles were dead and buried not long after the break.

A vociferous crowd witnessed a tentative start as chances were few and far between in the early stages - Andrea Orlandi and Kazenga LuaLua both saw long-range efforts blocked as the two sides looked to get a grip-hold. Palace soon grew into the game, and nearly went ahead through an unlikely source - Matt Upson misdirecting a header towards the Albion goal where Tomasz Kuszczak was on hand to produce a reflex stop and avert the danger.

Much talked-about winger Wilfried Zaha was beginning to cause problems in the final third, and it was his run and pass that led to the first clear-cut chance of the game, with the United loanee feeding left-back Jonathan Parr who had made his way into the area - he could only manage a tame right-footed effort, however, as Kuszczak gathered comfortably.

With the tempo beginning to pick up, Inigo Calderon volleyed high and wide, before ex-Seagulls striker Glenn Murray headed off-target. Just as the visitors were appearing to get into their stride, Albion delivered a sucker-punch with a devastating few minutes before half-time.

Will Buckley escaped down the right before lofting a delightful cross to the back-post, where Ulloa rose to scramble home via a Palace shoulder and send the bulk of the 28,000 crowd into delirium. And just as they were getting ready for a half-time breather, the Seagulls doubled their lead through a moment of set-piece magic.

Buckley skipped inside Jonathan Parr, before drawing a foul from Kagisho Dikgacoi on the edge of the area. David stepped up to bend a superb free-kick in off the bar and past a flailing Julian Speroni. The best was yet to come for the hosts, as not long after the interval they produced a terrific team-move to kill off the contest.

A slick exchange of passes on the right led to Liam Bridcutt's lofted ball into the box, with Orlandi cleverly heading the ball back for Ulloa, who fired a first-time finish past Speroni from close-range. The tie opened up further as Palace were forced throw players forward.

Indeed, the impressive LuaLua was becoming increasingly dangerous down the left, and the Congolese winger nearly set-up Ulloa's hat-rick, but Damien Delaney produced a timely block to deny the Argentine. He then had another opportunity to grab his third, forcing Speroni into a fine stop when one-on-one, with the Palace stopper also keeping out Buckley's follow-up.

The Seagulls were content to sit on their 3-goal lead in the closing stages, however, as the jubilant home crowd revelled in the victory - and a huge 3 points in their push for the play-offs.

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