The most important thing on Thursday is that we don't just let them dictate the game. While the last two performances have calmed things down, a Selhurst crowd watching them pass it around for fun while we sit in our shape will lose its patience eventually, I think we have to put it on them to some degree

Can't wait for all that end product he'll give us

With an improved team available, I think we will avoid a 5th successive home defeat (I think we have lost the last 4 haven't we ?). Hopefully Eze, Lerma and Hughes will be available to start. I know Hughes is limited but he is a much better midfielder than Richards (who nonetheless has a bright future as the next centre back). Brighton have been good this season, but are not on their best form and are also quite injury-hit. So as long as Eze starts and we don't get more injuries, I am going for 2-1 to Palace and a long overdue home win, albeit in a tough match. Sadly my previous prediction on this site was a win v Bournemouth, so don't trust my judgement (and Doucoure is a huge miss for us in my view) !!

Happy that Ozoh, Ahamada and Franca can also play supporting roles, and I think they all have an important part to play in our future (Ahamada seems to get lukewarm comments but I have liked him when I have seen him come on).

My little girl said to me this morning 'Is it wrong that I'm more excited about the Brighton game than I am about Christmas?'

What have I done?!!

Palace 3-1 Brighton.

Well my two sons ended up supporting Liverpool (aged 6 because of that Owen goal against Argentina) and Ipswich (aged 6 because of a footy tournament at a Holiday camp where the leader was an Ipswich fan and all the other kids wanted to play for the other 3 teams in his tournament - Man U, Liverpool and Arsenal). Ironically, the younger son didn't know at that point that his great grandma used to live within walking distance of Portman Road and one of my first games was when I went to see Ipswich play Spurs with a cousin when we were staying down there.

I'm not confident Eze or Lerma will start based on Roy's press conference, although they may well be on the bench.
Could be a midfield of Richards, Hughes and Schlupp to start with an attack of Olise, Mateta and Ayew.
Keep it tight in the first half in Roy's inimitable style and then use the subs in the second half.
The mistake would be to be muck around at the back or try and outpass them in midfield.
Hit the ball in behind them and exploit the gaps they leave through pushing up.