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Unusually devoid of creativity, Brighton had found themselves imprisoned within Nuno Espírito Santo’s tactical cage, falling right into his hands. Jarrod Bowen, so often West Ham’s talisman, scored the goal, executing the masterplan from the narrowest of angles, perfectly executing the counterattacking strategy. Slowly but surely, still staring demotion in the face, Nuno’s team look capable of fighting their way to safety. His plan had come together so well that Bowen’s goal was supplied by a substitute in Callum Wilson, on the field for just 51 seconds. His masterplan fell short when the Amex, the home of late goals, staged yet another comeback, Georginio Rutter roofing the equaliser amid the type of madcap scramble that is commonplace at Brighton.
Before a late surge that had seemed wholly beyond them, Brighton could not muster a shot on target. Their ambitions of returning to the European stage they graced in the 2023-24 season are being hindered by inconsistency. West Ham were in Europe that season, too, though horizons are lowered. Leeds’ form has deepened relegation worries and they were denied the three points they needed to close the gap by Rutter’s equaliser.
Nuno presided over a 7-0 win over Fabian Hürzeler’s team last season at Nottingham Forest. His previous Premier League visit had seen both managers red-carded after touchline squabbles. With Lucas Paquetá returning from suspension after last Sunday’s tantrum, the Brazilian played off Bowen, playing centrally, a position where the Hammers captain has not often found his best form. Danny Welbeck and Rutter were restored to Albion’s attack.
Amid a horrible swirl of wind and rain that appeared to be keeping spectators from the Amex’s lower tiers, West Ham soon adopted Nuno’s trademark low block, aware of their opponents’ speed in transition, Bowen, Paquetá and Crysencio Summerville asked to chase long balls out of defence when they could. None of that trio are as adept as Wilson at holding up the ball, the former England striker benched. Thus, Paquetá’s playmaking, his attacking colleagues peeling off in readiness, was the chosen weapon.
Brighton struggled to sustain any attacking threat in the first half. Amid slim pickings, the closest they came was Maxim De Cuyper going close to emulating Bruno Guimarães when almost scoring from a corner, only for the wind to deny. Worsening weather played its part in Mats Wieffer missing a more genuine chance, De Cuyper’s cross skidding beyond reach when any touch would have done.
When Paquetá’s low shot tested Bart Verbruggen for West Ham’s first shot on target, it suggested Nuno’s strategy could come off. The grimmer conditions became, the more likely a mistake or deflection to result in a goal. Half-time arrived as respite for players and spectators alike.
With El Hadji Malick Diouf blocking off the speed of Yankuba Minteh, Brighton were missing the invention and drive of Yasin Ayari in midfield while Carlos Baleba continues to fall short of the performances of last season that won him rave reviews. The speed of Summerville and Bowen, licensed to roam, began to grow in threat. Verbruggen, left unprotected, produced a brilliant double save following Bowen’s scampering run and grubber shot and Summerville’s volley of the rebound.
Baleba departed on the hour, concerns continued over his ability to complete a full 90, for Jack Hinshelwood, as Hürzeler sought a control of midfield that never arrived. Nuno doubled down on his team’s prominence by throwing on Freddie Potts for Guido Rodríguez, only for Brighton, at last, to build up a semblance of momentum. Minteh blasted wide – his shot selection is often wayward – for his last participation in the game, amid changes from both managers that brought Wilson into West Ham’s forward line, and Brajan Gruda and Charalampos Kostoulas for Brighton.
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That immediately preceded West Ham’s goal. Wilson pounced on Jan Paul van Hecke’s mistake to send Bowen away to score. That woke Brighton up, though the closest they came was Maximilian Kilman almost knocking beyond his own keeper. Kostoulas also missed a chance but it was Wilson who went closest to a second goal in the game.
Late goals being habitual at the Amex, kept home supporters, quiet all sodden afternoon, expectant that their team could find the incision lacking all afternoon. Welbeck, hitherto anonymous, claimed an unlikely penalty, and Alphonse Areola made a save from Kostoulas but the Hammers keeper was left unprotected as Van Hecke, showing calm amid the squall, slid the ball for Rutter to crash in.
