Albion v Crystal Palace - all the on-field action from The Amex (From The Argus)

2:18pm

Right, I'm closing this one down now.

Look out for more reaction on this website as the afternoon progresses.

Plus lots of coverage at the back, in the middle and I'd imagine somewhere near the front of the The Argus tomorrow.

And to those early-rising followers in the USA...

Have a nice day!

2:12pm

http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/10295067.Ulloa_double_as_Albion_turn_on_the_style/

1:57pm

1:51pm

Hammond replaced David Lopez in the 89th minute, the free-kick specialist receiving a standing ovation as he departed.

LuaLua fired a shot over as the game headed to four added minutes.

1:49pm

1:48pm

1:47pm

Palace had a hint of a chance - but no more than that - in the 85th minute when Parr galloped forward and delivered a coss which Zaha sent over with a half volley he had to take very quickly. Poyet was off his seat in a flash to admonish some defensive failing or other by his side.

1:41pm

Ulloa won the ball on halfway and went charging through with defenders converging. He got his shot away in time, from outside the box, and saw it blocked by Speroni. The rebound ran into the path of Buckley - but the keeper blocked his effort too. 

1:39pm

It was Albion, though, who went close to grabbing the next goal of the game.

1:35pm

Didn't look like it - tactical I'd say.

1:32pm

Zaha worked a neat one-two with Murray to get to the byline but his cutback was clutched above his head by Kuszczak at the near post.

Ulloa had matched Murray's two-goal contribution in the first derby of the season - and almost went one better on 70 minutes.

Ulloa got on the end of low cross from LuaLua, who had again beaten Richards, but his effort was smothered by a superb sliding intervention by Delaney.

Attendance: 28,499 (2,661 away)

1:29pm

LuaLua rejoined the action after treatment off the pitch.

1:28pm

1:28pm

Palace sent on striker Wilbraham for defender Ramage.

1:27pm

Ulloa headed too close to Speroni from a David Lopez cross but there was action off the ball as that happend as LuaLua was caught by Jedinak as they made their way into the penalty area in support of the move. The winger needed treatment, seemingly on his ankle.

1:24pm

Crofts replaced Orlandi on 63 minutes.

1:24pm

Palace needed inspiration and they went to the tricky Zaha. His attempt to nutmeg Calderon inside the area was read by the home right-back and Zaha lost his footing as the ball ran clear.

Then Zaha got in a low cross which Albion cleared.

1:21pm

1:20pm

1:18pm

Just to confirm...

1st Ulloa goal - header.

2nd Ulloa goal - volley from Orlandi's header.

1:17pm

1:17pm

Still Albion poured forward. LuaLua was causing constant problems.

When a corner he forced was cleared to just outside the box, David Lopez latched on to it with a firm right-foot drive which was straight at a relieved Speroni.

1:12pm

Albion had done just what was required - started the second half on the front foot as they attacked towards the North Stand.

1:09pm

It was almost three goals in four minutes playing time but Speroni got down to his left to hold Orlandi's flick after the rampaging LuaLua had got away and crossed low.

1:08pm

Just used my own tweet to save typing it twice. Admittedly Phillips might have come on at 1-0 for Blackpool that day but you take the point.

1:07pm

1:07pm

Palace sent on Phillips and Moritz for Bolasie and Williams.

1:06pm

Second half is in progress with two Palace subs on.

12:58pm

12:56pm

12:56pm

12:46pm

Parr gave his team needless work to do by shoving over Buckley as they chased a ball which seemed certain to beat both of them and bounce out of play.

Murray got in front of Greer to head away David Lopez's resulting free-kick. 

As the attack continued, Greer's lobbed pass looked to have got Buckley in on goal but he was crowded out as he looked to control the ball.

12:42pm

Brilliant skills from Zaha took his past Calderon and away from covering defenders. At least, though, they forced him back and inside and, when the ball ran to Jedinak, his long range blast was charged down by Greer's thunderous challenge.

12:39pm

Orlandi played a one-two with LuaLua down the left on 36 minutes and drove in a low cross which flicked up off a defender's boot. Speroni was up to claim the loose ball under a degree of pressure from Ulloa.

But that was a rare Albion threat and Upson was at full stretch to hook clear a cross into the home goalmouth moments later.

12:36pm

Williams popped up on the right wing and lofted in a cross. Murray headed wide and seemd to think he was nudged by Greer while he was in the air.

Then Williams tried a low shot from outside the box which Kuszczak held easily diving to his left.

12:34pm

12:33pm

Murray, back to defend a free-kick, took a hefty whack off Ulloa as they challenged for a high ball. He resumed after treatment.

12:31pm

Palace were looking the more cohesive team - although LuaLua offered moments of excitement for the hosts. Buckley was given room to cross from the right but the dragged the ball behind Ulloa and the visitors tidied up.

12:28pm

12:27pm

Then Zaha got on the ball with a weaving run and clever pass to get Parr in behind the defence - but the left-back wasted a good chance by shooting tamely at Kuszczak.

12:26pm

Orlandi rallied the home side with a great piece of work, nicking possession just inside the Palace half, going on a run and crossing deep towards David Lopez. But, with fans hoping for a trademark volley as the ball dropped on to his right foot, David Lopez tried to control and missed it completely - to the delight of Palace fans behind that goal.

12:24pm

Palace were enjoying a lot of possession now.

12:24pm

Tempers flared for the first time on 20 minutes when Zaha reacted angrily to a foul by Bridcutt. Ref Pawson lectured both players while an incensed Poyet made a point to the fourth official. Bolasie curled the resulting free-kick towards the path of Williams peeling off beyond the far post. Upson spotted the danger and intercepted with a diving header - but only succeeeded in sending the ball towards his own net. The alert Kuszczak dived to his right and pawed the ball away.

12:21pm

Orlandi and David Lopez looked to work a short corner but the latter's eventual cross was headed away easily.

12:19pm

Parr bundled over Buckley on the right corner of the box to offer Albion an inviting free-kick in the 15th minute. But Orlandi's attempted curler went disappointingly into the middle of a three-man wall and, when the ball ran clear to LuaLua, his 25-yarder deflected gently into the hands of Speroni.

12:14pm

Calderon then sent Buckley on a run down the right and his cross forced Ramage to intervene.

12:12pm

12:11pm

12:11pm

Bolasie was on the ball early for Palace. He found a bit of space on the lelt and whipped in a low cross which bounced into the arms of Kuszczak.

12:09pm

The fans' songs were reverberating around The Amex - but on the pitch it was a quiet opening.

Albion were clearly intent on getting the ball out to their wingers. Buckley and David Lopez combined neatly in the fifth minute but the latter's cross was too high for its intended target of Orlandi arriving beyond the far post.

12:03pm

Albion were lining up in a 4-1-2-3 shape, at least when they had possession.

12:02pm

Wingers LuaLua and Buckley were both tight to the touchline as Albion got the game under way.

12:01pm

Match is in progress.

12:01pm

Unlike last season's meeting, Albion will play North to South in the first half.

11:56am

11:55am

11:54am

Anybody got anything to say on Twitter?

11:51am

Right, let’s talk doubles. Palace can become the first team this season to beat Albion home and away in the league today. They can also complete their first double over the Seagulls since 1932 – and Brighton weren’t even the Seagulls then!

Albion’s high number of draws (14, most in the Championship) means home and away doubles will be rare this season. So far they have taken six points against Burnley and Huddersfield and could add to that against Peterborough.
As well as Palace, Leicester and Middlesbrough could yet do the double over Gus Poyet’s men.
The last double in this fixture came in the second tier back in 1983-84 when Albion won 3-1 at home and 2-0 away. Eric Young was star performer, and also scored, in that late-season success at the Goldstone. The aggregate attendance for those two games was 29,000, not many more than we are expected to have here today.

11:49am

After a bright start to the day, rain is sweeping across The Amex now.

11:47am

The Albion players leave the field after their warm-up. Early indications are that any doubts over a lack of atmopshere for this early-kick off are unfounded.

But who will have more reason to sing this afternoon?

11:41am

Good morning to Vegas Seagull and our readers in the USA. Nice early start for you! Or maybe it's still effectively still a Saturday night out in Vegas

11:40am

To clear up any confusion, this is the regular matchday running report which you are no doubt used to seeing when Albion play. Team news is online on this site.

http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/10294979.Albion_start_with_wing_pair/

11:32am

At the risk of sounding like Richie Benaud taking over for his first stint of commentary of the day.....

Good morning everyone!