Brighton & Hove Albion 1 West Ham United 0
By Tim Hodges from the Amex
Albion won their first Premier League game since August as Glenn Murray netted his ninety ninth goal for the club, although it was hard work , as a creative West Ham spurned a number of clear cut second half chances.
Bruno started at full back in place of Montoya, and looked to renew his previously successful partnership with Anthony Knockaert.
West Ham pressed Albion back early in the first half. Although they didn’t have a clear cut chance until Marko Arnautovic saw his rasping deflected off Murray’s thigh.
Ali Jahanbakash making his full Premier League debut for the Albion saw Lukaz Fabianski get down well to smother his shot.
Then Anthony Knockaert released Solly March , who was seemingly playing in a free role , but March got his angles wrong and fired well wide and over.
Beram Kayal, enjoying an extended run in the team , with Dale Stephens our injured , looked composed and energetic and it was he who made Albion’s goal.
Kayal took the wide course as he clipped in a cross , which appeared to get a flick from Jahanbakash, before falling nicely to Murray to side foot home and put the Seagulls in front.
Almost immediately Mark Noble took the game by the scruff of the neck and created a chance for Pedro Obiang, who fired over.
Just before half time Jahanbakash fired over from distance again
It was really backs against the wall for Albion for most of the second period.
The impressive Pablo Zabaleta was getting forward as much as possible for the visitors.
Arnautovic fired a free kick over from a good position , then from an Andiry Yarmolenko corner Fabian Balbuna headed wide , when it seemed much easier to score.
Albion couldn’t get possession often, but when they did, looked promising.
West Ham introduced Mikail Antonio and Robert Snodgrass to try and support Arnautovic up front.
