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 ahead of last week's home game with Wolves, which West Ham won 2-1 before drawing 1-1 at Bournemouth.
The Hammers were on the brink of victory at the Vitality Stadium when Lucas Paqueta's 87th-minute penalty put them ahead, before a remarkable last-minute free-kick from Enes Unal earned the Cherries a point.
West Ham played their part in an entertaining match on the south coast, winning the expected goals (xG) battle by 2.06 to 2.01 despite Bournemouth being able to fire 29 shots.
“I think we were very close to winning on a very difficult pitch against a very good team that was strong at home,” Lopetegui said after the match.
“We were very close and 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 shame for the fans because we were very close to getting three points.
“It was a point, but I think the behavior we have shown as a team is important and we have shown that we are moving in a positive direction and it is important to look ahead. When we work as a team we are a lot better, and this is what we need to think about.”
Super fantastic last night pic.twitter.com/HuLkFzVbYw
— West Ham United (@WestHam) December 17, 2024
Brighton got off to an encouraging start under Fabian Hurzeler, but Sunday's 3-1 defeat to rivals Crystal Palace was 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 around if they stay united.
“It wasn't our day,” he said. “We need to get back to where we were at the start of the season when we had so much confidence in front of goal and in our overall play.
“The final touch and the shot is not there for us at the moment like it was before, but if we stick together it will happen.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
West Ham-Mohammed Kudus
Kudus has attempted 76 dribbles in the Premier League this season, a number surpassed only by Everton's Iliman Ndiaye (82).
His average of 7.6 dribbles per 90 minutes this season is the second-highest by a Hammers player in a season ever (as of 2003-04), behind Kudus himself last season (7.8).
Brighton – Danny Welbeck
Welbeck has scored more goals in the Premier League (six) against West Ham than against any other opponent. He has scored three times in his last six meetings with them for the Seagulls.
However, the former Manchester United and Arsenal man has failed to score in his last six games in all competitions since scoring a 2-2 draw against Wolves at the end of October.
MATCH PREDICTION – draw
West Ham won just one of their fourteen Premier League meetings with Brighton (seven draws, six defeats) and recorded a 3-1 win at the Amex Stadium early last season.
Brighton, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their seven Premier League away games against the Irons, although five of them have ended on level terms.
It is both the most times they have played an opponent on the road without ever losing, and the most times West Ham have played an opponent at home without ever recording a win.
Although Brighton have had a solid start to the season, they are winless in their last ten Premier League away games against London sides, drawing four and losing six, while conceding at least twice in all six defeats.
West Ham, meanwhile, have collected ten points from their last five home games (three wins, one draw, one loss), as many as from their previous eleven points at the London Stadium (two wins, four draws, five defeats). .
Their improvement continued after Monday's 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, and it would be no surprise to see the win shared here too.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Westham – 39.1%
Brighton – 34.3%
Draw – 26.6%
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