A strike affecting Southern train services has increased security fears around next month’s FA Cup tie between Crystal Palace and Brighton.

Rail workers are set to stage a 24‑hour walkout on January 8, causing major disruption to fans travelling to the Amex Stadium as train journeys from London to Falmer station could be reduced or even cancelled.

Disorder last month overshadowed the first Premier League meeting between the clubs and a strike would complicate the policing of the third-round tie, which kicks off at 7.45pm. Talks are now due between Sussex Police, both clubs and the rail company.

Palace are unhappy the match has been moved to a Monday night because they fear an evening kick‑off raises security issues.

And the strike by the RMT union would cause travel chaos to about 2,000 travelling Palace fans.

Ahead of previous RMT strikes Southern Rail said it planned to run 90 per cent of its normal service but this morning it could not guarantee trains will run. One alternative would be for the train company to put on a special service to the station for the game.

Sussex Police today said: “We are aware of the strike and that will be taken into account in our overall planning for policing the match.”

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The police were already on red alert after the chaos during the 0-0 draw at the Amex Stadium last month when six arrests were made.

Palace fans without tickets stormed a turnstile and two stewards were taken to hospital. The disorder resulted in hundreds of Palace supporters being denied entry to the ground.

Sizeable groups of Palace supporters arrived late after being held at Falmer station by police before the game. Brighton accused a minority of Palace supporters of being “intent on causing disorder” and Sussex Police described the trouble as a “return to the dark days of football”.

The proposed industrial action is part of a long-running dispute over the role of guards. Southern said in a statement: “We ask them [the RMT] to call off the strike and come to the negotiating table as we have suggested on many occasions.”

There was criticism of the policing around the fixture between the clubs last month.

Chief Inspector Simon Nelson said a number of Palace fans had “knives and knuckledusters” at the Amex Stadium but Sussex Police later admitted that statement was wrong.