THOUSANDS more Crystal Palace fans will be at the Amex for next month’s FA Cup clash.

Albion have been pitted against their arch-rivals in the third round of the cup which will be held on the first weekend in January.

In the Premier League, clubs playing away from home are allocated ten per cent of the stadium’s capacity for their supporters.

But in the FA Cup, they are entitled to 15 per cent. This means more than 4,500 tickets could be allocated for Palace fans when the clubs meet next month.

Last week Palace fans were allocated just 2,000 seats.

The encounter resulted in mass disruption, numerous arrests and injuries.

A groups of at least 150 Palace fans, many without tickets, turned up late at the Amex and tried to get in the ground.

Stewards closed the turnstiles and police escorted the fans back to the station.

Yesterday club bosses met with the authorities to discuss how to prevent a repeat of the disorder.

PC Darren Balkham, Sussex Police’s football liaison officer, saw the funny side of the tasty cup tie.

After former player and pundit Jermaine Jenas pulled the clubs out of the hat, he tweeted: “I was never a fan of Jermaine Jenas.”

Chief inspector Simon Nelson, who oversaw policing for last week’s match, said he has “never come across such concerted attempts to cause disorder and engage in violent behaviour” in his 12 years of policing Albion games.

He called it a “return to the dark days of football,” adding: “Outside the stadium, we dealt with a number of public order incidents, particularly amongst a contingent of away supporters who were being escorted from the railway station.

“We are aware that a significant number of people attempted to enter the ground with pyrotechnics, knives and knuckledusters, which were found following efforts to gain access through fire exit doors in the south stand.”

The FA Cup draw means Albion and Palace, after not playing against each other for more than four years, will play at least three times this season.

There is also the possibility of a fourth fixture if the cup game is a draw.

The replay would be at Selhurst Park.

Police bosses told The Argus they had begun reviewing the last week’s operation in an attempt to prevent similar scenes.

The spokesman said: “Sussex Police is talking to Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace as part of the review and debrief process following the match on November 28.”

Albion bosses are expected to announce further details about the tie in the coming days.