Brighton Hove Albion 1-1 West Ham United
Areola:5 Will have been pleased not to see too much of the ball given the wet and windy conditions. Nothing to do until a reflex save on 89 mins before the home team got the equaliser moments later.
Wan Bissaka:6 Cleverly got Kadioglu booked early the the game with a surging run. Not at the level of his Old Trafford performance but always looking to get forward.
Kilman:7 Important stooping header from the middle. Thankfully the least busy of the Hammers three central defenders. Made his fair share of clearances.
Mavropanos:6 Some good reading of the game, Kilman definitely benefitted by playing next to Dinos who took charge. Will be disappointed he didn’t get his head to the ball in the build up to the equaliser. Should have won the game on the 97th min.
Todibo:8 Impressive again and even found time to help out attacking the left flank. Rescued Diuof with a brilliant timed tackle just before West Ham took the lead.
Diouf:6 Positionally very good in his proffered wing back role. He crossing was off again but made a crucial block just before half time. Good battle with Minteh.
Rodriguez:6 I can’t have been the only one waiting for the horror show. Very disciplined and showed his experience. Exceptional tackle on 38 mins then stupidly got caught in possession moments later.
Fernandes:8 Very switched on and energetic early in the game, seemed to be everywhere.
Brighton Hove Albion 1-1 West Ham United: Fernandes was the best player on the pitch in the first half
Paqueta:6 Excellent vision to play Jarrod Bowen in and always looking to make something happen.
Summerville:7 Impressively managed to take out Baleba and Rodriguez with a single sliding tackle. Played on the shoulder at times to try and get in behind the Seagull’s defence. Should have scored when through on goal just before half time. Linked well with Bowen. Unlucky not to score with a scissor kick. Very lively.
Bowen:8 Started up front in a central position and looked sharp. Nice exchange of passes with Summerville almost opened up the home teams defence early in the second half. Almost scored an incredible solo goal. Incredible finish put the Irons 1-0 up after 73 mins.
Areola did not have a single save to make for the first 89 mins of the game
Substitutions
Potts: Replaced the exhausted Rodrigues on 62 mins. Received a yellow for trying to pull down a Brighton players pants.
Wilson:7 On for the returning Summerville with 20 mins left. Got an assist immediately. Looked lively.
Magassa: Subbed for Paqueta on 81 mins as part of a triple swap.
Soucek: Replaced the brilliant Fernandes
Mayers: On for Diouf
Lovely to see Paqueta playing well. One touch and pass for 80 mins letting his skill do the talking. No assists shows he needs to keep on playing well and concentrating on his game to improve. His passes were just off – nearly there though, so I’m hopeful.
Todibo was man of the match for me, tracked Giorginio all the way past halfway, got turned, Giorgionio made it all the way to the goal line but guess who had sprinted back in time to make a block – Todibo! Not many CBs could do that.
I like seeing 2 quick technical, skillful players like Summerville and Bowen playing off each other, giving an excellent player like Dunk a neck ache. If WHU add in a quick, technical no 9, that would be an interesting attack. Would n’t mind if WHU, in their search for a forward, found someone similar to Giogionio Ritter either. Nothing against Wilson, he’s another type of no 9 and also effective. Marshall, if one day manager thinks he is ready, is another effective style of play.
If manager goes defensive at end of the match, you still need to keep them at arm’s length I think, so as to prevent crosses coming into the penalty box one after the other, especially in such treacherous conditions. Easy to talk, bit more difficult on the pitch.
I’m enjoying watching our team play, especially the 2nd half when I thought we were the better team. 1st half a bit tactical following a gameplan I guess. Starting to really get behind this team, seeing them play for each other, exciting blend of youth and experienced, playing with energy, plenty of skill and speed (👍) and getting at the opposition. I think Brighton got away with it by the skin of their teeth.
Two good teams out on the pitch, plenty to enjoy as WHU supporter.
Areola made plenty of saves, did you even watch the game?
Spot on.
It is obviously gutting to lose three points at the end like that
However I feel that we are much better off than we were under Potter – when I was not sure if we would beat Derby’s 11 points in a season
The relegation battle will still run – and I feel that Fulham and Brentford could still get dragged into it
It will still be a long hard season but I have some hope now
COYI
I think he has improved the side rather than the last 3 managers. Yes he has made mistakes but has developed a totally functional midfield with the players we still had. Given many a youngster a chance. I think we may struggle the next few games but we are definitely better than before he came. And will not be relegated.
These ratings are hilarious. 5 for Areola who made some great saves. Must have been another match.
Bowen scored after being, mostly, invisible for the first 70 minutes. Not a solo goal, but hard work from Paqueta and a brilliant pass by Wilson.
Bromance has to end.
Why do managers over think, we were in control then takes off the energy of fernades and brings on pedestrian soucek, WHY
Anyone know how many points we have thrown away this season, after the 85th minute?
Still need 2 solid defenders and 1 striker and the jury is still out on Nuno. That said, we have 2 more points than I was expecting from these last 6 games with 4 more tough ones to come.
Disagree about Nuno. He has improved the defence. Just need the run of the ball now and a good January window. We’ll be okay in the New year.
It’s hard not to be biased but the Brighton player controlled the ball with his hand /arm even if not obviously intentional. He could of moved his arm away. Shame we really needed 3 points
Bournemouth and now Brighton goes all defensive and lose points when is he going to learn if the setup is right stick with it and take all the points
Why the late defensive changes again they never work , will this manager never learn, parking the bus and inviting pressure has cost us again.
When the changes were made I said its like he thinks we’re playing a friendly it disrupts the settled rhythm.
Got to blame Nuno for the triple substitution he made near the end. Handed the momentum back to Brighton and put us on the back foot.
Heartbreakingly close to climbing out of the bottom three…
Don’t care what anyone says that was handball
Robbed
Please explain to me why Nuno makes such ridiculous substitutions , I think we’ve done it again and hired a dud manager, we were winning and threw it away again, total nonsense , think we are relegated can’t see us getting out of it , Leeds and that are too strong.