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battle of the birds

‘Crystal Palace vs Brighton is a derby? I’m not having that!’ – Ally McCoist stunned by not-so-local rivalry

The Eagles and the Seagulls’ unlikely rivalry dates back to 1976 – but Rangers legend McCoist finds it hilarious

Ally McCoist reacted with disbelief when he was told about Crystal Palace and Brighton’s unlikely rivalry, ahead of their ‘derby’ on Saturday.

Brighton fans the 45 mile trip to Selhurst Park this weekend in the latest edition of the battle of the birds - with LIVE and EXCLUSIVE commentary on talkSPORT!

 Crystal Palace and Brighton's last meeting in the Premier League in December ended in a 3-1 win for the Seagulls
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Crystal Palace and Brighton's last meeting in the Premier League in December ended in a 3-1 win for the Seagulls

Most of football’s great rivalries feature teams fighting for local supremacy or involved in long years of intense competition for trophies.

You think of Liverpool vs Manchester United, Arsenal vs Tottenham, Barcelona vs Real Madrid and Celtic vs Rangers.

Neither is true for Palace’s rivalry with Brighton - born from just one season in 1976/77 when the clubs appointed rival managers Terry Venables (Palace) and Alan Mullery (Brighton) and went head-to-head for promotion from the then-Third Division.

Both sides achieved their goal, although Mansfield actually won the league that year, but the two clubs were bitter enemies by the end of the season.

 Terry Venables (second left) and Alan Mullery (second right) apparently fell out after Mullery was named Tottenham captain ahead of Venables by manager Bill Nicholson
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Terry Venables (second left) and Alan Mullery (second right) apparently fell out after Mullery was named Tottenham captain ahead of Venables by manager Bill Nicholson

Palace and Brighton were also drawn together in the first round of the FA Cup that season which – after two draws and the second replay being delayed twice due to bad weather and eventually being played at Stamford Bridge – Crystal Palace won 1-0 after Brighton were controversially denied a late penalty.

Even Mullery has admitted he didn’t quite understand why the two clubs’ became such fierce enemies: “I used to find it very difficult to understand what their problem was,” he told the Guardian in 2011.

“Portsmouth and Brighton are 20 miles apart, Arsenal and Tottenham are about three miles apart. When you've got clubs 45 miles apart it does sound a bit silly.

"I don't think it was just the Cup run that started it off, I think it was the rivalry between their manager and me. That's where the rivalry came about. Because we were in the same league, doing the same thing — trying to get into the First Division at the same time.”

And Rangers legend McCoist – who certainly knows what a derby is all about – says he’s not having it!

LISTEN LIVE: Tune into talkSPORT for Crystal Palace v Brighton, Saturday March 9, Kick Off: 12:30pm

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