Albion boss Chris Hughton believes home advantage could place extra pressure on Crystal Palace.

The home side has won only three of the last 11 derbies between the Seagulls and Eagles.

And Palace, in spite of noisy support, have won just won of their last seven matches at Selhurst Park.

Hughton told The Argus: “It’s always an advantage if things are going well and they are playing well and winning a game.

“Sometimes that type of environment, when things are not going so well or they are not playing well or are behind, it can sometimes go either way.

“If you are a player or manager you would rather, of course, have that intensity going for you, which can help. But it can work both ways.”

Palace were bottom, eight points adrift of Albion, prior to the 0-0 draw between the arch-rivals at the Amex in November.

They have improved to 17th under Roy Hodgson, four places and four points behind the Seagulls.

Hughton said: “I’m not surprised at all. When you look at a team, you look at individual players they have and I think they have an abundance of quality in their squad.

“Roy’s had to deal with injuries in the difficult periods, particularly to Zaha who missed games, but I think man-for-man they are a very good team and a very good squad so it’s no surprise for me that he has been able to improve where they are and go on and get some very good results.”

Palace strikers Christian Benteke and Alexander Sorloth face late fitness tests. They have returned to contention following respective groin and hamstring injuries. Jeffrey Schlupp is nearing a return.