Glenn Murray has revealed being left out might have helped him score his latest derby goal.

The Albion striker netted for the fourth successive game against Crystal Palace after a last-minute recall.

He had been due to lose his starting place to Florin Andone, only for his colleague to be injured in the warm-up.

Murray’s 100th league goal for Albion came when it was least expected.

Not because no one fancied him to score against his old club. He always does that.

But because, at around 12.50pm on Saturday, he should have been sitting on the subs’ bench.

Not watching with interest as a hit-and-hope from Lewis Dunk caught on the breeze and floated obligingly away from the waiting head of Palace defender James Tomkins.

But that was how things worked out.

The Argus:

Glenn Murray arrives at Selhurst Park expecting to be on the bench

As a member of the club’s media staff said when Murray walked out towards the end of the Albion line for kick-off: “He’ll score his 100th now.”

It all happened quickly – even for an experienced pro. Which is why Murray thought it might have helped him.

He told The Argus: “The gaffer decided (on Friday) on Florin and unfortunately for him he has pulled up before the game and I was called into action for a start.

“But sometimes that can work in your favour.

“You haven’t spent all night thinking about the game and you just go out and act on instinct and thankfully that has worked this afternoon.”

But surely he does not have sleepless nights worrying before games.

“I don’t worry, but you go over things in your mind.

“It worked this afternoon. It was a good afternoon for us and a crucial three points.”

Murray believes the fact Andone was picked to start underlines Albion’s improved strength in depth.

He added: “That’s what you do in football, you amass the best squad you can and you put the players out there that you feel best suit the afternoon.

“The gaffer felt that was Florin but that wasn’t to be and I had to step in and do the job and, fortunately, I was able to.”

Funny how things work out, isn’t it?

Albion had a player sent off at home to Palace but the sub sent on as a result, Leon Balogun, scored with his first touch.

They lost Murray to injury at the same time but the player sent on to replace him, Andone, came up with a wonder goal.

Then, when Andone was ruled out, Murray returned the compliment.

Albion have taken the bad hands they have been dealt and turned them into nothing but aces.

Murray’s finish was fabulous, even if the defending by Tomkins was far from that.

The scorer said: “It was just a clearance that went behind the back four.

“It was really windy out there so it was tough to judge the ball.

“The wind was swirling and Tomkins just got caught underneath it.

“It just fell in my path and I had one thing to do, which was try to hit the target and thankfully I did.”

Murray’s goal came right in front of the home end, the Holmesdale.

It is the end into which he converted a penalty against Tomasz Kuszczak back in 2012 before handing over a second spot-kick to a team-mate.

The end into which he scored with no celebration last season.

Asked whether he would have liked to have marked his 10th league goal for Albion in style rather than stay deadpan and keep a straight face, he replied: “I enjoyed my time here and I have got no ill feelings towards the club.

“I had some fantastic years and played with some brilliant players in a successful period for the club and that’s why I never celebrate or when I scored goals for Palace against Brighton.

“It (100 goals in all competitions) has been and gone. That is just trying to make a story out of another story.

“As far as I am concerned that has been passed and I want to build on it and get as many goals as possible this season.

“It’s just a big three points for us, especially on the back of the crucial three points last weekend (against Huddersfield).

“To come and get three here is big for us.

“Now we look forward to the Cup tie also in south London next weekend (at Millwall).”