By Hughie Southon
Danny Ings makes his second start in a West Ham shirt at Brighton this afternoon whilst Jarrod Bowen is included after his emergence from the bench in defeat at Manchester United in midweek.
The 30-year-old Ings will be looking for more goals on the south coast after opening his Irons accound against Forest in the 4-0 London Stadium win.
Searching for a first Premier League win over Brighton at the 12th attempt, the changes in attack see Pablo Fornals drop to the bench, while Michail Antonio is not involved at the Amex Stadium.
Kurt Zouma returns to the matchday squad for the first time since a 2-0 win over Everton in January.
With Łukasz Fabiański sidelined due to injury, Alphonse Areola retains his starting spot. The French stopper is set to make his first Premier League start since the Irons’ 1-0 defeat to Manchester United in January 2022 in Sussex today
Ben Johnson, Nayef Aguerd, Angelo Ogbonna and Emerson line up in front of Areola, as the Irons aim to record a first away win against the Seagulls since an EFL Championship fixture in October 2011, where first-team assistant coach Kevin Nolan netted the winner.
Tomáš Souček, Paquetá and Declan Rice are retained in midfield, while Saïd Benrahma leads the support of recalled Ings and Bowen.
Brighton & Hove Albion: Steele, Lamptey, Dunk ©, Webster, Estupinan, Caicedo, Groß, March, Mac Allister, Mitoma, Ferguson
Subs: Sánchez (GK), Welbeck, Sarmiento, Enciso, Undav, Gilmour, van Hecke, Veltman, Buonanotte
West Ham United: Areola, Johnson, Aguerd, Ogbonna, Emerson, Rice ©, Souček, Paquetá, Bowen, Ings, Benrahma
Subs: Anang (GK), Hegyi (GK), Downes, Cresswell, Fornals, Zouma, Lanzini, Scamacca
What the actual *** was that?? Absolutely shocking. No fight, no purpose – like rabbits in the headlights. I’m baffled as to why we’d set up and play like that after last weekend. Johnson has been woeful. Paqueta and Soucek so slow and laboured. So disappointed.
Moyes rollicking at half time? Nope, more of the same. Absolutely disgusting.
Of course… the first corner they get this season… After 138…. Welcome to West Ham.
Johnson has been absolutely disgraceful today. Not even a 1/10. Unbelieveable.
If that’s not an indictment of Moyes I don’t know what is. Especially after last week.
That’s enough now, Mr Sullivan. I don’t care if we take a chance on a young, adventurous manager who entertains and we go down – I can’t watch anymore of this turgid, stagnant, over cautious rubbish.