West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui believes his team are on the right track after taking four points from two Premier League games ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Brighton.
Lopetegui was reportedly under intense pressure before last week’s home clash with Wolves, which West Ham won 2-1 before earning a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.
The Hammers were on the brink of victory at the Vitality Stadium when Lucas Paqueta’s 87th-minute penalty put them ahead, only for a remarkable last-minute free-kick from Enes Unal to earn the Cherries a point.
West Ham played their part in an entertaining contest on the south coast, winning the expected goals (xG) battle 2.06 to 2.01 despite allowing Bournemouth to fire off 29 shots.
“I think we were very close to winning on a very difficult pitch against a very good team who have been strong at home,” Lopetegui said after the game.
“We were very close and we did a lot of good things. We had more expected goals than them and in the first half we had a lot of clear chances.
“We are happy but not happy because we want more, and it was a pity for the fans because we were very close to achieving three points.
“It was a point, but I think it is important the behaviour we showed as a team and we showed we are moving in a positive direction and it is important to look forward. When we work as a team, we are much better, and this is what we have to think about.”
Super Fab last night pic.twitter.com/HuLkFzVbYw
— West Ham United (@WestHam) December 17, 2024
Brighton enjoyed an encouraging start to life under Fabian Hurzeler, yet Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to rivals Crystal Palace represented a reality shock and dropped them to ninth in the table.
They are now winless in four league games since beating Bournemouth in November, but midfielder Yasin Ayari believes things will turn if they remain united.
“It wasn’t our day,” he said. “We need to get back to where we were at the start of the season where we had so much confidence in front of goal and in our general play.
“The final touch and shot is not there for us at the moment like it was before, but if we stick together it will come.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
West Ham – Mohammed Kudus
Kudus has attempted 76 dribbles in the Premier League this season, a tally only bettered by Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye (82).
His average of 7.6 dribbles per 90 minutes this season is the second-most by a Hammers player in a season on record (2003-04 onwards), behind Kudus himself last season (7.8).
Brighton – Danny Welbeck
Welbeck has scored more Premier League goals against West Ham (six) than he has versus any other opponent, netting three times in his last six meetings with them for the Seagulls.
The former Manchester United and Arsenal man, has, however, failed to score in his last six games across all competitions, since netting in a 2-2 draw with Wolves in late October.
MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW
West Ham have won just one of their 14 Premier League meetings with Brighton (seven draws, six defeats), picking up a 3-1 victory at the Amex Stadium early last season.
Brighton, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their seven away Premier League matches against the Irons, though five of those have finished level.
It is both the most they have faced an opponent on the road without ever losing and the most West Ham have played an opponent at home without ever managing a victory.
Though Brighton have had a solid start to the campaign, they are winless in their last 10 Premier League away games against London sides, drawing four and losing six, conceding at least twice in all six defeats.
West Ham, meanwhile, have earned 10 points from their last five home league games (three wins, one draw, one loss), as many as they managed in their previous 11 at the London Stadium (two wins, four draws, five defeats).
Their improvement continued with Monday’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, and it would be no surprise to see the spoils shared in this one, too.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
West Ham – 39.1%
Brighton – 34.3%
Draw – 26.6%
