The rivalry between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace is often a curiosity for outsiders given that is does not stem from geographical proximity. The two clubs are almost 50 miles apart and the deep loathing between them has existed for only 40 or so years, yet that will not dilute the hostility and the need for a heavy police presence at the Amex tomorrow in their first meeting in the top flight since 1981.

Some say that the feud stems from the clubs competing with each other for promotion in the lower leagues, while others cite Alan Mullery and Terry Venables, the managers in the 1970s, who were already fierce rivals from competing for the Tottenham Hotspur captaincy.

After Mullery’s Brighton side lost