West Ham flummox Brighton, continue terrific start

Some early reaction from David Moyes, who says the Irons will aim to be more possession and attack-minded going forward.

At least compared to Saturday’s performance (via the BBC):

“Great effort from the players. We had to change a few things to get a result here. Brighton played very well with the ball but we were very good on the counter attack and took our chances. We defended very well today. We had to defend a lot. Let’s not kid ourselves, it is a part of football and it is not all about attacking. The last couple of games, we have defended really well as a team.”

On Alphonse Areola’s day: “He didn’t half pull off a couple of worldy saves. I am really pleased because we really needed him. Hopefully we improve and the football gets better. We are certainly getting the confidence because of the results. We’ve had to go away from home and the team we’ve had have been tough. The players have done a good job. Hopefully, we can introduce some new players.”

Nine saves from Alphonse Areola are just the tip of the iceberg as Kurt Zouma rings up 12 clearances and center back partner Angelo Ogbonna five more.

Brighton just couldn’t find its edge today and young Evan Ferguson’s work with Danny Welbeck in the hole, essentially, was quiet. Joao Pedro and Simon Adingra will hope for more of a run in the future, but didn’t show a ton today off the bench.

Brighton vs West Ham player ratings (Fotmob.com)

Goodness, gracious.

David Moyes is living his best life, as his system was enough to shut down if not infuriate the Seagulls down south.

West Ham barely got over 1/5 possession — 22% to be sure — and completed just 133 passes while getting out-attempted 25-12... but winning the xG game 3.33-1.52.

Moyesian.

Evan Ferguson won’t love his first touch in stoppage time but his second is powerful.

The hyped teenage striker turns and unloads on a rocket that Alphonse Areola gets airborne to push onto the bar.

The West Ham keeper was forced backward, Matrix-style, by the shot and it’s a very good save to keep things 3-1.

Now Danny Ings flies into the six to block a shot off the ensuing corner. West Ham is concrete tonight.

And just like that, Gross has his goal.

Edson Alvarez buys Gross’ shot fake and the German takes another step before lashing a shot.

It goes through the legs of James Ward-Prowse and soils Alphonse Areola’s clean sheet. The keeper is not amused.

Can Brighton cook up a stunning comeback?

Brighton has all of the ball but not a ton of hope.

West Ham is up 3-0 and has defended so well tonight. The Irons are packed in and moving well together.

There have been chances here and there for Brighton — Billy Gilmour and Pascal Gross have rattled off some good shots — but the Irons have more verified danger than their opponents. By far!

Jarrod Bowen takes the ball off the end line and swings a nice pass forward toward Michail Antonio.

The pass misses Brighton’s defenders but the Jamaican international has work to do to get the ball under control.

He does and bursts forward to snap a shot inside the same near post that Bowen found minutes prior.

3-0!

And what a goal it is! A technical wonder.

Brighton loses possession deep in West Ham’s end and the Irons break the other way.

Said Benrahma ends up with the ball and everyone on both sides appears calm and ignorant of the rocket Jarrod Bowen is riding down the right side.

Bowen takes down a terrific cross from Benraham with an even better first touch, spinning the ball just inside the far post with pure technical class.

What a showing from a team with 18 percent of the ball and a 2-0 lead.

Moyesian.

An almost laughable batch of first-half stats are complete.

Possession: Brighton 84-16
Total shots: Brighton 9-4
Accurate passes: Brighton 318-31 (Yes, that’s real)
Fouls: 6-6
xG: West Ham 1.15-0.58
Score: West Ham 1-0

The meme of the first half would be David Moyes doing the Jack Nicholson-"Departed” nod.

Brighton has an absurd 88% possession.

The Seagulls have completed 291 passes to West Ham’s 17.

SEVENTEEN.

Of course, the score is 1-0. David Moyes is comfortable here. That did not pay off against Bournemouth in Week 1, which became a draw, but was enough to get a big win over Chelsea in Week 2.

Week 3? Let’s see.

James Ward-Prowse has a free kick from the left and it’s led to a nasty collision.

Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen charges out for the ball for a firm two-handed parry, and his follow-through meets Tomas Soucek with both of those strong paws to the face.

Both sets of players and the referee signal for trainers, and we could be in for some delay. It’s hard to imagine he’ll pass a head injury test, but this typist isn’t a doctor either.

Adam Webster gets way too cute under duress from Michail Antonio.

The Brighton back’s karate pass back to... someone is tracked down by Antonio, who can’t get past Lewis Dunk but does rescue the chance with a pass into the six for James Ward-Prowse.

The English midfielder tries to finish with his left and tracks down the loose all after it’s blocked, cutting home for 1-0.

Food for thought at the Amex.

Both teams have had spells with the ball but Brighton’s settled into control and West Ham into solidity at the back.

No alarms, and no surprises.

Brighton finally gets some danger on the ball as West Ham gets a little sleepy with Pervis Estupinan’s lay-off for Billy Gilmour.

The ex-Chelsea man has a strong hit from outside the box but misses wide of the near post.

0-0

The West Ham central midfield replenishment is complete.

James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez, both purchased following the sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal, start for David Moyes.

Nayef Aguerd is out through suspension after he was sent off against Chelsea, so Angelo Ogbonna is expected to start at center back in his place.

In midfield James Ward-Prowse slotted in seamlessly alongside Tomas Soucek but Mexico star Edson Alvarez will be pushing for his first Premier League start.

The rest of West Ham’s team pretty much picks itself with Danny Ings, Maxwel Cornet and Lukasz Fabianski and Aaron Cresswell all set to play a big part in squad rotation once Europa League action begins.

Jakub Moder remains out with a long-term knee injury but Brighton have suffered a blow this week as Julio Enciso was injured in training.

Reports from Paraguay suggest it was a serious knee injury for the young attacking midfielder. Enciso, 19, was set for a breakout campaign so hopefully he isn’t out for too long.

Roberto De Zerbi has so many options in midfield and attack and it will be intriguing to see if Evan Ferguson gets a start and if Adam Lallana, Joao Pedro and Mahmoud Dahoud come into the lineup.