Brighton & Hove Albion 1 West Ham United 1
Albion, magnificent at times, had to settle for a point apiece against an enigmatic looking West Ham.
Javier Hernandez sprinted clear to bundle the ball home just after the hour mark.
But after seeing a superb strike ruled out by VAR in the first half, Leandro Trossard marked his full debut with another superb effort to equalise for Albion five minutes later.
The Seagulls continued where they left off at Watford although it was the Hammers who controlled large parts of the early play.
Robert Snodgrass and Hernandez getting behind Albion’s defence more than once early on.
It was as if Davy Propper and Pascal Gross then picked up the bit. As Albion started to control midfield.
A strike from Solly March was well beaten away by Lukasz Fabianski and West Ham’s eternal punisher Glenn Murray had a half chance.
But it was good build up play involving March and Dan Burn, the latter hooking the ball into the area for Trossard to volley home from close range to seemingly put Albion in front.
For a few seconds of wild celebration on the pitch and in the stands, Albion were top of the Premier League. Then a sobering moment as referee Anthony Taylor cupped his ear, held up the re-start an trotted over to Fabianski to signal a goal kick – as the big screens flashed – ‘’VAR No goal’’
On the hour mark Hernandez went through and found a way past a Maty Ryan to put the Hammers ahead.
Albion looked hurt, but not deflated or defeated as in previous seasons
Within five minutes and after good link up play with Propper and Murray, Trossard took two touches and fired emphatically past Fabianski to pull Albion level.
Neal Maupay and Florin Andone were again introduced and it was a Maupay who had two clear efforts to put Albion in front.
The Seagulls are now 4th in the Premier League after the conclusion of Saturday’s matches.
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