Hürzeler urges Brighton to "stay humble" after Crystal Palace rout

Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler has urged his players to keep their feet on the ground and "stay humble" after a historic 5-0 victory over fierce rivals Crystal Palace.

Brighton made a blistering start, racing into a 3-0 lead inside the first 10 minutes through a Jaydee Canvot own goal, a highlight-reel strike from Diego Gomez and a classy finish from Yasin Ayari. The Seagulls became the ninth team in Premier League history to score three goals in the first 10 minutes of a match, and the first to do so since Newcastle United against Tottenham in April 2023.

Charalampos Kostoulas made it four early in the second half, before Jack Hinshelwood wrapped up a 5-0 win in the 84th minute.

The result extended Brighton's winning run in the league to four matches and took their goal tally to 23, the club's highest-scoring league start at this stage of a season. Barcelona (39) are the only team across Europe's top five leagues to have scored more goals than Brighton this season.

"I'm very happy for our fans. They have been waiting a long time for the feeling of beating our biggest rivals," Hürzeler said after the game. "We put in a good performance, and keeping a clean sheet was also very important for us. But as important as it is to celebrate the win, it is also essential to see that there are areas where we need to improve. We have to stay humble and not forget how we got to where we are now."

The defining moment of the match was Gomez's stunning goal from around 51 metres. Already being touted as a goal of the season contender, the strike went down as the longest-range goal scored in the Premier League since Wayne Rooney's 58-metre effort for Everton against West Ham in November 2017.

For Crystal Palace, it was a day to forget for head coach Pierre Sage. Palace managed just five shots in the whole match and, having conceded 17 goals in the first seven weeks, slipped to 14th in the table.

A deeply disappointed Sage said after the game: "The only thing I feel is shame. In games like this you have to show a different character, but we showed our worst side. We cannot accept being 3-0 down in nine minutes; we didn't fight at all in those moments. The responsibility is mine. I am the one who motivates the players, sets the tactics and prepares them. We played very badly and it is entirely my fault."