Brighton & Hove Albion come back with noble effort

Brighton & Hove Albion 3 West Ham United 1

Albion ended the season in a record-breaking 9th place in English football, surpassing their previous highest place of 13th in 1981-82.

The Seagulls also broke their previous points rally record chalking up an impressive 51 points – including 12 wins 15 draws and only 11 losses.

Albion finishing above rivals Crystal Palace for the first time in over 35 years.

West Ham who at the start of play could still take 6th place off Manchester United looked lively with Antonio and Jared Bowen  both anticipating goal scoring opportunities.

Moises Caicedo had Albion’s best chance after more sterling work from Marc Cucurella but the Equadorian side footed tamely at Lukasz Fabianski.

Probably the best spectacle of the first half was the ovation West Ham captain Mark Noble received from Albion fans as he warmed up as a substitute.

Michail Antonio scored a thunderbolt for West Ham just before half time.

But goals from Joel Veltman, Pascal Gross and Danny Welbeck gave Albion a convincing victory.

Veltman firing in from distance after latching on to a Solly March cross the ball creeping through Fabianski’s legs.

Albion somewhat dominated play from then on with Welbeck having a couple of chances – but it wasn’t until the 80th minute that substitute Tariq Lamptey and Welbeck combined to set up Gross to lash home The Seagulls second.

Albion’s fans chanting how much they wanted the hard working German to stay at the club now his contract is set to expire.

Welbeck heading home a third from a Gross corner in the last minute.

West Ham’s Mark Noble, playing in his final league game after 18 years, was given a rousing reception by Albion fans as he came on as a substitute for the Hammers and he applauded the away fans and west stand as he left the pitch.

Albion will begin their next Premier League adventure in August 2022. Taking a one month break for the World Cup in mid November.