Brighton thrash Crystal Palace 5-0 as Hurzeler warns players to stay humble

Fabian Hurzeler has implored his Brighton players to "stay humble" after they thumped rivals Crystal Palace 5-0 to continue their excellent start to the Premier League season.

Brighton raced into a three-goal lead inside 10 minutes, through an own goal from Jaydee Canvot, a wonder-strike from Diego Gomez and a composed finish from Yasin Ayari. The Seagulls became the ninth side in Premier League history to score three goals in the first 10 minutes of a match, and the first since Newcastle United against Tottenham in April 2023.

It only got better from there. Charalampos Kostoulas found the net four minutes after the restart, before Jack Hinshelwood added further gloss six minutes from time.

Records tumble for Seagulls

The win extended Brighton's Premier League winning run to four matches and took their goal tally to 23, their most ever at this stage of a campaign in the top four tiers. Only Barcelona have scored more goals than Brighton across the top five European leagues this season (39).

Gomez's halfway finish was struck from 51 metres, the furthest Premier League goal since Wayne Rooney's effort for Everton against West Ham in November 2017 (58 metres), and is already being touted as an early goal of the season contender.

Hurzeler: 'We have to stay humble'

Hurzeler said: "I am very happy for our supporters, our fans. They have waited long enough for this feeling, beating our rivals.

"We had another good performance, another clean sheet which was important, and I am happy for the boys.

"Although it is important to celebrate the goal and the win, there is room for improvement. We have to stay humble and understand why we are where we are at the moment."

Sage blames himself for Palace collapse

For Palace boss Pierre Sage, it was a day to forget. His side managed just five shots, their lowest total in a single Premier League match this season. The Eagles have now lost their fourth league game of the season and sit 14th, two points ahead of 18th-placed Fulham.

Palace have also conceded 17 goals in their opening seven Premier League matches, their most at this stage of a season in the top four tiers since 1980-81 (21).

Sage did not hide from the result: "Only one feeling – shame. When you play this kind of game you have to show another face. It was our worst face.

"We cannot accept that, especially at the beginning of the game. We didn't fight at that moment. Once it was 3-0 after nine minutes, the game was really different.

"It's my fault because I am the coach, I gave the angle to the players. I gave the motivation. I prepare the situations. We played so badly. It's my fault."