Premier LeagueBrighton & Hove Albion 3-2 West Ham United
Saturday, 26th April 2025
by Chris Wilkerson
Three points quickly vanished in the space of three minutes as West Ham threw away a 2-1 lead to lose 3-2 at the Amex Stadium this Saturday afternoon. What appeared to be The Hammers' first win since February 28th turned into another late nightmare, following the victory thrown away last weekend at home to Southampton.
It was in the 89th minute that Brighton levelled, poor marking at the far post leaving the whole defence stretched, before Baleba lined up a screamer from 25 yards with 91 minutes and 55 seconds on the clock and completed a comeback Brighton needed in their fight for European football.It leaves West Ham stuck in 17th, although defeat for Ipswich on the same day now sees the side officially secure from relegation. With two points in their last seven games, there is very little feeling of safety for a team that has been on a downward spiral for 18 months.
The manager made changes to the side that could only manage a draw with lowly Southampton, a return to a back three as Mavropanos, Wan-Bissaka and Soucek came back into the team, replacing Soler, Coufal and Fullkrug.
The headline news was Fullkrug being dropped back to the bench, Potter suggesting he is managing the German's minutes, but also calling his comments last week unhelpful.
But a return to the starting line-up for Soucek was also noteworthy. The midfielder has looked to be on the periphery of things in recent weeks, but proved again with another goal that moving away from him in the midfield is much easier on paper than reality.
The Hammers lined up in a 3-5-2, Kudus and Bowen the closest thing West Ham had to a striker in a first half where chances were few and far between, although this game was a move away from what have been weeks of mostly boring football matches to watch as a supporter of this club.
Potter's side looked much better on the ball, and that was from every area of the pitch. In particular, the midfield functioned, in all aspects of play. Soucek looked perfectly comfortable, Paqueta moved the ball quicker, Ward-Prowse was pushing forward more to knit things together, safe in the knowledge he had a balanced midfield with and covering him.
West Ham started fast, Soucek nearly getting onto the ball in the box within a minute, and there is clearly a growing confidence and comfort in possession gradually growing in the team.
A lovely flowing move on 10 minutes was a great example, with one-touch passing from Ward-Prowse, Bowen and Wan-Bissaka releasing Bowen down the right side of the box. His low pass found Soucek moving into the box, but the angle was too tight for him to manage a shot on target.
The problem with playing nicely, but not making a mark on the scoreboard, is that you're always open to your opponent getting it right. And whilst Brighton didn't find a way through the West Ham defence, some things can't be planned for.
And you can't plan for screamers like the one Ayari pulled out to give the home side the lead after 13 minutes. The ball was moved from the left channel into the middle for the young Swedish midfielder, 20, 25 yards out from goal,
Ayari looked forward and saw his midfield opposition giving him space, and he used it, lining it up and curling the ball around Paqueta's eventual attempt to put him under pressure. Areola was given no chance, the ball soaring with beautiful bend into the top corner to open the scoring.
Still, with expectations so low for the remaining games this season, it was enjoyable to watch West Ham playing with some ease when moving the ball around.
With Brighton sitting deeper, West Ham came very close to an equaliser 20 minutes after the Ayari goal. A slow build gave Kilman the time and space to move forward, and he used it, gliding through the middle of the park and curling in a great cross.
Soucek met it, climbing above the defenders and heading back across goal, only to see his looping header flicked by the outstretched fingers of Verbruggen, desperately getting as high as they could to get the barest of touches, but enough to stop the ball dropping over him, rebounding off the bar instead.
The hosts thought they had doubled their lead before half-time, only for Wieffer's goal to be ruled out as he stood in an offside position before tucking home a rebound, but the sides went in at 1-0, with West Ham looking competitive and composed, without being particularly dangerous, and with a goal to chase.
Potter responded by introducing Fullkrug for Ward-Prowse. The midfield possession not bringing enough dynamic threat going forward. It took less than five minutes to work.Not that the German striker was involved, but West Ham levelled.
After a break was stopped and The Hammers reset, kept the play alive and readjusted. From the left, the ball was played into the middle and then the right, thanks to a wonderful pass by Paqueta to release Wan-Bissaka in space.
He quickly played down the line, where Bowen had peeled into space. The captain controlled, looked up and pushed into the box, before sliding it across the six-yard box. Three defenders were ahead of Kudus, but none reacted like the Ghanaian, who darted in and poked the ball at goal, catching out defence and goalkeeper as it nestled into the back of the net and restored parity.
Brighton should have gone ahead again immediately after Wieffer met a corner at the far post, but could only head right at Areola from close range.
These were two relatively level sides, and both had their periods of dominance and ascendancy.
Wan-Bissaka, impressing again, had two half-chances. One came from Brighton playing back from midfield, blindly, to Bowen, but the forward wasted the chance to play Fullkrug through on goal, turning instead to his right, and traffic. He poked it to Paqueta, who squeezed it right to Wan-Bissaka, whose shot was fierce, but too close to Verbruggen.
Moments later, Bowen played a pass just behind the wing back needed it in the box, and he could only adjust to fire over.
Just as quickly, Brighton were on top, and had West Ham pinned back, but the defence held strong. They weathered the storm, and minutes into the last 10, The Hammers took the lead, and signalled a chance for their first win from behind all season.
It was Bowen and Wan-Bissaka creating down the right once more, one strong relationship to thrive this season, exchanging passes until Bowen got space. He stepped inside and then curled a ball deep to the far post, bending in towards goal.
It evaded the leap of Fullkrug, but dropped perfectly behind him for Soucek, throwing himself at it and powering a header home from six yards out to give West Ham the lead with just over five minutes remaining.
Potter brought Coufal on for Emerson, throwing the Czech defender in down the left to try and shore things up as Brighton substitutes Minteh and Mitoma had both come on to the wings and caused problems.
As with last week, everyone went deep. Brighton piled on the pressure, and found the same thing that Southampton did: this team cracks.
A ball from the left was passed centrally, and then it was chipped to the far post, the right side of the box. Gruda stood alone, and he calmly headed it across the six-yard box, where Mitoma ducked in and headed home from point-blank range to end those hopes of a West Ham comeback victory.
Deflated, it was less than three minutes later, they conceded again. This time, a lack of energy, desire or both can take some of the blame, but that shouldn't take away from a second screamer from range for the Seagulls.
A corner was headed clear and then laid to the edge of the box, Baleba stepped up, controlled and gathered himself. Bowen, the closest to him, watched on, only pressing him when he saw the young Cameroonian readying to shoot.
It was too late, the ball bending around and over defenders, flying into the far corner to Areola's right and nestling into the back of the net to send the Amex into raptures, Brighton into 9th, and West Ham players down to their knees as another game slipped out of their grasp.
For Potter, luck clearly deserted him, the irony of Brighton scoring low-value chances against him something he might find funny in a few weeks, considering how his time at the club often focused on the team's inability to score.
He will feel that his West Ham side deserved the win, and they arguably did if you discount the chaos at the end. But the scoreboard doesn't, and the game doesn't, and once more West Ham had thrown three points.
You just have to wonder if they'll get that victory in the four games we'll be forced through until this season can be forgotten about.
Manager?EUR(TM)s Rating
Graham Potter 6/10: The scoreline feels harsher on him than any of the players, his team looking sharp and in his image for much of it, but letting everyone down by just dropping standards at the back.
Want to submit your match reports to KUMB.com? More details here ...
Click to view all West Ham United vs Brighton & Hove Albion match reports Click to view all match reports by Chris Wilkerson Like to share your thoughts on this article? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.Player Ratings
Alphonse AreolaOne good save right at him, and three goals that do not look like ones he could do much about, but being beaten from range by two shots that were lined up, makes you wonder whether he has got himself in the right positions and got the foot speed across his line.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Threatened going forward, thriving again as a wing back. Another version of him down the left would make a big difference.
Emerson Palmieri
Looked better in possession than he has since Potter took charge.
Jean-Clair Todibo
The unit worked well right until it didn?EUR(TM)t, but the other two stood out more.
Max Kilman
Some good forward work, including a lovely cross for Soucek, and looks better in the left-sided role in a three.
Konstantinos Mavropanos
Solid in the air and on the deck, with a couple good passes forward.
Tomas Soucek
Great header for the goal and carried threat bombing into the box, looking more comfortable on the ball through the middle, too.
James Ward-Prowse
Played more vertically and made more effort to push forward, but it was the right call to take him off in a game where he didn?EUR(TM)t feel a necessary option in the deeper areas of midfield.
Lucas Paqueta
West Ham need more midfielders who can play in different areas of the pitch and are more all rounders than specialists, and Paqueta is one who can. He was fine today, some smart passing and combative moments.
Mohammed Kudus
Finally got his goal, months of struggling, and it was a reward for perseverance.
Jarrod Bowen
Two assists should see him with a higher score, but he made poor decisions on the ball at key times and was lazy for the last goal, a bit of pressure probably secures his team a point.
Substitutes
Match Facts
West Ham United: Alphonse Areola, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Emerson Palmieri, Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Tomas Soucek, James Ward-Prowse, Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen.Goals: None.
Booked: None booked. .
Sent Off: None sent off. .
Brighton & Hove Albion: .
Subs not used: .
Goals: .
Booked: None booked..
Sent off: None.
Referee: .
Attendance: 0.
Man of the Match: .