Roy Hodgson says Palace players have the chance to put things right after Brighton defeat earlier in the season
The Seagulls won the Premier League clash at the Amex 3-1 in December despite playing with ten men for an hour after Shane Duffy's red card at 1-0.
Palace defender Patrick van Aanholt apologised to the club's fans after that defeat and speaking in his pre-match press conference, Hodgson was asked about putting things right at Selhurst Park and said: "Let’s hope so, if they felt the need to apologise for it, then yes, this will be a chance to put it right."
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Hide AdLooking ahead to the derby clash, Hodgson said: "I think the rivalry was fiercest years ago, of course there has been quite some time where the two teams had not been in the same division. It was renewed with a vengeance last year when Brighton came up and are doing very, very well.
"I suppose that people from the outside need to realise that we regard this as a very, very important fixture and one which means a lot to our fans. You’re affected by it, the way the fans feel, that’s what derbies do.
"They fire everybody up because we're so much more aware of what it means to the people who follow us every week. The bragging rights that the fans take with them when they go to their work-place is important.
"I'm pretty sure that Chris Hughton will, like myself, revert to the fact that it's a very important Premier League game with three points at stake."
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Hide AdHodgson added his team have to be ready for the occasion and said: "For us it's a big game, it's one of the nine big games we have remaining.
"We do realise the importance of the occasion and to a lot of supporters, this means more than even a game against Man United.
"We have to make certain that when we go on the field, we're ready for that game and don't allow our performances to be affected by anything other than the performance we need to win the game."
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