Brighton 1 West Ham 3: Hammers finally banish Seagulls demons in incredible fashion to go top of table
WEST HAM and David Moyes banished their Brighton demons in incredible fashion to move to the top of the table.
The Hammers had never beaten Brighton in the Premier League before this weekend, but it was 13th time lucky for the east Londoners.
West Ham may be top for just a matter of hours, but considering a chaotic summer and slow start caused so much damage a year ago – this is some start.
The Amex was the site of one of Moyes’ lowest moments at West Ham when Roberto De Zerbi’s side battered the Irons 4-0 last season.
But how different this felt – a clinical away performance inspired at first by James Ward-Prowse’s first West Ham goal.
There was then some brilliant counter-attacking from Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio after the break before some good old grit following Pascal Gross’ late goal.
All that against arguably the best Brighton side they will have faced compared to their last 12 attempts.
Moyes admitted that preparing to face De Zerbi’s side had left him with a thumping headache this week.
The plan the Scot had crafted after days of deliberation was to frustrate and hit quickly – and how it worked.
There was almost an early lead through Antonio, after Lucas Paqueta slipped a wonderful low ball into the path of the striker, who sent a limp shot at Seagulls debutant Bart Verbruggen, surprisingly selected ahead of Jason Steele by De Zerbi.
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After two warning shots, Brighton tried to turn the screw as West Ham sat in.
But the most the Seagulls could produce was a low shot from Billy Gilmour which fizzed wide of the near post after a spell of pressure.
West Ham were sitting and waiting for a mistake and were ready to pounce when one came.
Ward-Prowse, hugely energetic in the middle, raced in to cut out Adam Webster’s pass and thumped a ball forward for Antonio to chase down the left.
As the summer signing made a dash for the box, Webster was making things worse as he was left in a heap by West Ham’s No9.
Antonio drove into the area and squared for Ward-Prowse who managed to turn the ball home after his first effort had struck Gilmour’s back.
After two assists on his debut last week this was an example of why Moyes pushed so hard to sign the 28-year-old.
After Evan Ferguson almost levelled things up with a shot at Alphonse Areola on the turn, Ward-Prowse was back throwing himself in front of shots in the Hammers penalty box.
Brighton were struggling to find a way through West Ham’s block, but the Hammers then lost a crucial brick in their wall when Tomas Soucek was forced off after being punched in the head by Verbruggen as the two contested a dangerous Ward-Prowse free-kick.
They soldiered on without the Czech, however.
Debutant Edson Alvarez was just as impressive alongside Ward-Prowse, calm and composed in possession.
West Ham’s new midfield is looking rather sharp, but Brighton are still looking to rebuild their own following the sale of Moises Caicedo.
For all their neat possession, the Seagulls were struggling to create their usual abundance of chances.
Ferguson, the towering teenage striker, looked their most like source of a leveller and saw an early second half header palmed away well by Areola.
The Hammers were struggling to keep the ball but still posed a threat on the break, with Bowen prodding an effort wide of the far post and Emerson clipping the top of the crossbar.
They were warnings ignored by Brighton.
As the Seagulls overplayed on the edge of West Ham’s box, the visitors seized their moment.
Antonio collected the ball in the left-back spot and played forward to Benrahma on his own down the left.
The Algerian curled a stunner of a pass over for Bowen, who cushioned it with his first touch and rolled home West Ham’s second with his next.
Moyes jumped for joy and came close to repeating his jig from Prague on the touchline while De Zerbi was hopping mad.
He was leaping into the air again just six minutes later when Antonio joined the party, collecting from Bowen before holding off and turning Webster – again – and finishing well.
West Ham came within a whisker of adding a brilliant fourth through Ward-Prowse, before Gross rifled in Brighton’s 81st minute consolation.
Brighton threw everything forward to try and created a nervy finish but Areola made a string of superb late stops to just keep the Seagulls at bay.
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See how the game unfolded