Steve Coppell has attacked a fixture farce that has given Albion's relegation rivals a breather while his side face their fourth crunch match in ten days.

The Seagulls' showdown against arch rivals Crystal Palace at Withdean was brought forward to tonight on police advice.

Rock-bottom Sheffield Wednesday's match against Watford on Saturday has survived the international programme.

But home games for Stoke and Grimsby, against Rotherham and Wolves respectively, have been put back because of international call-ups, giving them each a fortnight's rest.

Coppell said: "Our game has been brought forward from Saturday and I would have expected everybody to be treated the same.

"We were told the game was going to be brought forward on police advice. There was no consultation. I just assumed, given the situation, that there would be more fixtures brought forward.

"Why have other teams been allowed to delay their Saturday match and we were forced to bring it forward?

"In our mini-league of four you just want everybody treated the same. We've all got seven games to go, yet two of us are playing this week.

" This is our fourth game in ten days. It might be a good thing for us but you don't coach or manage in these circumstances, you just see who is fit and then you repair."

Ironically, Palace have been depleted by injuries to 12 players plus a ban for Hayden Mullins as Albion seek to avenge their drubbing against Coppell's old club at Selhurst Park in October.

"That was low, 12 defeats in a row and 5-0 in a derby," said Coppell.

"It was humiliating afterwards. The players felt humiliated and it was difficult times. I had just come in, the players were unsure what was required and we didn't have a steady base of personnel at that time.

"It's obvious to say, but I assume it's going to be a different result tonight. We will just have to see how different. It's a yardstick for us, because we were well and truly trounced up there.

"I've got great respect for Palace. Their squad cost an awful lot of money to put together. There has been zero investment in this squad for a couple of years.

"We are asking these players to compete against top players in the division and they are up for the task. They are not frightened of the consequences. If it doesn't work for us then we will be up again for the next game."

Simon Rodger is fit to face his former club and Graham Barrett is expected to partner Gary Hart up front, with Bobby Zamora still sidelined and Anthony Rougier back at Reading.