West Ham will look to get their season up and running this weekend with a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion. The Seagulls await the Hammers on Saturday after Manuel Pellegrini’s side were thumped in the season opener.
After a 5-0 loss at home to Manchester City, West Ham need to improve significantly for their second game. Here are two reasons to be cautious and two reasons to be optimistic this weekend.
Concern: Bogey team
Brighton have become West Ham’s nemesis in recent years. Since Brighton were promoted to the Premier League, they have enjoyed three wins and a draw in four games against the Irons with an aggregate score of 9-3.
In fact, you have to go back to the 2011/12 season – when West Ham were last in the Championship – to find the last victory against Brighton. This was a 6-0 win at Upton Park as Ricardo Vaz Te scored a hat-trick. In the same year, Kevin Nolan scored the only goal to give West Ham a 1-0 win at The AMEX.
Moreover, Glenn Murray regularly torments West Ham. The veteran striker knows how to put the ball in the net against West Ham. He has four in his last four games when facing the Hammers.
It has nearly been eight years since West Ham’s last win at the AMEX. West Ham need to put the psychological issue of playing Brighton and Murray out of their heads on Saturday.
Concern: Brighton hit form
Graham Potter’s first game in charge of Brighton signalled a major improvement on Chris Hughton’s Brighton. Using the same players, Potter has his side playing fast free-flowing football.
On the opening day of the season, Brighton thumped Watford away from home. Many tipped Watford for a successful season but Brighton beat them 3-0 at Vicarage Road.
Abdoulaye Doucoure scored an own goal while Florin Andone and Neal Maupay also got on the scoresheet. Maupay, who was linked to West Ham in the summer, has all the hallmarks of a player who would cause West Ham some problems.
Optimism: Brighton are not Man City
There was only one positive to take from West Ham’s humiliation at the hands of the champions. There is only one game against them remaining in the Premier League.
Compared with the sheer quality of Man City, West Ham players will feel relieved to be facing Brighton next. As long as the players avoid complacency, there should be a strong chance of winning.
West Ham showed rare glimpses of talent last weekend but Man City were just too good. Brighton will not be quite so clinical and relentless this weekend.
Optimism: Nearly fully-fit squad
Felipe Anderson and Jack Wilshere were injury doubts ahead of the weekend but they both seem fine. The Hammers are without Mark Noble but most of the other players should be available.
On paper, West Ham’s squad is much stronger than Brighton’s. If Sebastian Haller and Pablo Fornals can gel in this team, then they could cause Brighton some serious problems.
West Ham will have more of the ball this weekend so the likes of Manuel Lanzini, Wilshere and Fornals will have more attacking to do, rather than constant defending. It is all set up for a good contest at The AMEX.
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