Another disappointing performance from West Ham, their worst of the season so far, saw them slump to a 2-0 loss to Brighton and Hove Albion at the London Stadium. Here are our talking points from this WHUFC vs BHAFC 2022/23 season clash
Kehrer starts at left centre-back for West Ham
Injuries had forced David Moyes to start Glen Johnson out of position at LCB against Forest. Johnson a full back by trade, dropped to the bench for this one, with new signing Thilo Kehrer playing at LCB instead.
Silly Kehrer foul on Welbeck (after Zouma mistake) gives Brighton lead
The German defender was decent in the first half, but a silly foul on Danny Welbeck gave Brighton an opportunity to take the lead from the spot, and MacAllister duly took advantage. Bad decision as it was from Kehrer, his defensive partner Kurt Zouma was equally at fault- he went roaming around the halfway line as a midfielder and got caught in possession, leaving Kehrer exposed.
Alexis Macallister and Moises Caicedo very good in centre of park
They may have sold the likes of Yves Bissouma and Marc Cucurella, but Brighton remain a formidable team, and Potter’s first choice midfield duo of Macallister and Caicedo comfortably outplayed their West Ham counterparts.
Sanchez two Soucek header saves and Dunk block on Soucek at the end
The Czech star had two headers excellently saved by Brighton keeper Sanchez and another attempt was brilliantly blocked by Lewis Dunk.
West Ham though need an answer to the Rice-Soucek conundrum. The two haven’t quite had the impact in the middle of the park in recent times that Moyes would’ve wanted, and lack of depth in the centre of the park (it looks from Moyes’ comments that Flynn Downes is even below Coventry in the pecking order) means the duo have to play 90 minutes in every game.
Brighton a bogey team for West Ham in the Premier League
While West Ham fans might be despairing seeing their side at the bottom of the league, it isn’t all gloom and doom yet. Their first loss was against defending champions City; the second against Forest should’ve atleast been a point, if not all three, and Brighton, well, are West Ham’s bogey team- they simply can’t buy a win against the Seagulls in the league.
This 2-0 2022/23 season win takes Brighton’s unbeaten PL run against West Ham to eleven games!
WHUFC 500th home league game- first PL team to lose that landmark fixture
Eight PL teams before West Ham have played 500 home league games, but the Hammers were the first team to suffer defeat in that landmark 500th home league fixture.
Scamacca delayed sub
Interestingly, Italian forward Scamacca was to first come on as a substitute for Benrahma but Moyes changed his mind, and Pablo Fornals was substituted instead. For a brief period West Ham then played Michail Antonio on the left wing and Said Benrahama at 10 against Brighton.
West Ham now bottom of the table without a point and without scoring a goal!
Manchester United lifted themselves off the bottom with a fine win over Liverpool and that result now means West Ham are bottom of the PL table, without a point & without having scored a single goal.
