Jordan Ayew secured all three points and all off the bragging rights as his goal secured a 1-0 win for Crystal Palace against Brighton on Saturday.
Although the origins of the rivalry might be somewhat ambiguous, the joy etched on the faces of the travelling Eagles supporters when Ayew stroked the ball past Mat Ryan in the Brighton goal was clear to see.
It was a scrappy game in truth, with both sides guilty of squandering several clear-cut chances. The most note-worthy incident of the first half actually took place off the pitch as Brighton substitute Ezequiel Schelotto was shown a yellow card – despite not being on the pitch – after kicking the ball at Wilfried Zaha in the 27th minute.
The Seagulls perhaps should have broken the deadlock in the 55th minute but Neal Maupay fired straight at goalkeeper Vicente Guaita when through on goal.
But the deadlock was finally broken when Christian Benteke played in Ayew and he swept the ball past goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.
The defeat for Graham Potter’s men means they are lingering ominously above the drop zone, with West Ham United at home to Southampton at 3pm. They are the only side in the top four divisions still not to get a victory in 2020.
But the Eagles find themselves comfortably in mid-table, secure in the knowledge they have claimed the bragging rights in the M23 derby – for another season at least.
The hosts controlled possession and wasted the clearest first-half opportunity through Solly March.
The Seagulls winger was left unmarked inside the Eagles’ penalty area 10 minutes before the break after being picked out by Leandro Trossard’s centre but inexplicably fired into the side-netting.
Palace, unchanged from last weekend’s win over Newcastle, had enjoyed the better of the early chances.
M23 derby between Brighton and Crystal Palace explained
Benteke, buoyed by his first club goal of the season earlier this month, volleyed well wide after a fine through ball from James McArthur, while Cheikhou Kouyate was later smothered by Albion goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.
Roy Hodgson’s visitors were twice fortunate not to fall behind in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.
A goal-bound header from Albion captain Dunk following a corner struck team-mate Maupay, before the latter rifled a powerful drive straight at Palace keeper Vicente Guaita.
Albion threw on veteran striker Glenn Murray against his former club in the hope of deservedly breaking the deadlock.
But they were made to pay for their profligacy 20 minutes from time.
Ghana international Ayew was sent racing into the box by a perfectly weighted pass from Benteke and he calmly found the bottom right corner via a touch from Ryan to spark wild celebrations among the sold-out away end, including the detonation of a smoke bomb.
Potter slumped in his seat in the dugout after a goal which sucked belief from the home crowd.
Albion mustered little in the time remaining and would have lost by more had Zaha not struck the left post at the end of a stoppage-time counter-attack.
The late miss counted for little in the end as the Eagles hung on to gleefully celebrate a first away win since November 30.
