ALTHOUGH the long-awaited fixture doesn’t take place until November, things are already hotting up between Crystal Palace and the Albion.

Acts of graffiti and vandalism - supposedly by fans of Crystal Palace FC have been spotted around Brighton in the past few days.

Fans have taken to social media to report the graffiti which declares support for the London team.

There are three main pieces of graffiti all within walking distance of each other along the seafront.

The graffiti is clear in its support for the Palace who along with West Ham are the only teams below Brighton in the Premier League.

One shows a simple CPFC while another spells out Ultras CPFC.

A third says HF05, a term connected to the Holmesdale Fanatics Ultras Crystal Palace supporters’ group.

On Twitter the group ‘liked’ a post that showed an example of the graffiti.

It was spray-painted on the back of a road sign but has now been covered by the term NSK BHA which relates to the North Stand Kollective at the Amex.

That group comes from a Brighton fan base which proclaims itself as “north stand ruffians.”

Liz Costa, vice-chairwoman of the Brighton and Hove Albion Supporters’ Club, said the graffiti was disgusting.

She said: “This has clearly been done by very sad individuals who need to be instructed to clean it up themselves.”

The rivalry between Brighton and Crystal Palace - which is also known as the M23 derby - has been less intense than usual due to the fact that the teams have played in different leagues for two years.

However, with Brighton now in the Premier League, tensions have evidently reignited ahead of the two fixtures that the teams will play.

Many meetings between fans of the teams have ended violently in the past.

In November 2012 there were serious exchanges between groups of fans on either side, which led to multiple arrests and prison sentences for a number of fans.

The two teams will meet at The American Express Community Stadium on Tuesday November 28 at 7.45pm and police will be out in force to control the city streets.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said the force was unaware of the graffiti and said nobody had reported it.