Brighton and Hove Albion 1 West Ham United 3
Albion are no longer top of the league, displaced by West Ham after they ran out comfortable winners at the Amex this evening (Saturday 26 August).
James Ward-Prowse scored his first goal for the east London side to open the scoring.
Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio wrapped up the points for the visitors after the break.
Pascal Gross grabbed a late consolation for the Seagulls who slipped to a first defeat of the season.
Although the Seagulls had vastly more possession than the Hammers, on this occasion they could not make it count. French keeper Alphonse Areola was in scintillating form.
Billy Gilmour’s early effort was a precursor of Albion’s afternoon. The Scot dragged a shot just wide when very well placed.
West Ham capitalised well on a rare error from Adam Webster and the sheer strength of Antonio allowed him to find Ward-Prowse who slotted home on 20 minutes to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Albion had a chance early after the break as Kaoru Mitoma found Evan Ferguson but Areola pushed his close-range header away
Albion were exposed twice down the flanks for Bowen’s and Antonio’s well-taken goals, with Albion debutant keeper Bart Verbruggen looking exposed but not at fault.
Albion do look light in midfield against quality opposition although we won’t state the obvious.
Gross, who got a fine long-range consolation goal, looked a little off the pace in the latter stages of the game.
Areola made a stunning stop from substitute Joel Veltman’s stinging volley minutes after Gross’s goal which could have changed the whole complexion of the match.
Areola then saved brilliantly from Ferguson again before Danny Ings of all people headed a goalbound Lewis Dunk effort off the line in stoppage time.
Albion drop to fourth in Premier League! De Zerbi out?
The Seagulls take on fellow high flyers Newcastle United next Saturday at the Amex, again at 5.30pm
But before that one of the most momentous occasions in the club’s 122-year history – the UEFA Europa League Group Stage draw next Friday (1 September) from Zurich.
Hints in the match.programme about a special shirt for Europa League matches.
It doesn’t help when you change the goalkeeper after 2 good victories. Verbruggen is no doubt a good keeper but to drop Steele and throw him in at the deep end in a very important game was a terrible mistake by RDZ. He appeared reluctant to come out of the 6 yard box, and this was to blame for the second goal.
Add to this 2 amateurish mistakes from the hapless Webster giving away the 1st and 3rd goals – the 1st one trying to be clever with a limp-wristed back pass that he should be dropped for – and a poor/incompetent referee missing a clear penalty foul on Estupinan and a handball.