FT: Brighton 3-1 West Ham: Izquierdo, Seagulls fly all over the Hammers

It turned out to be a forgettable week off the field for West Ham United. And it turned out to be a forgettable Saturday afternoon on the field as well, as struggling Brighton and Hove Albion were by far the better side in securing a clear 3-1 home victory over the Hammers.

Chris Hughton’s side set the tone for the afternoon with a dominant start, and were rewarded for it when Glen Murray coolly finish past Adrian in the 8th minute, after a perfectly waited pass from Pascal Gross. Control for the home side remained a theme of the opening 20 minutes and a bit there after, but slowly the Hammers were getting into the game.

And they were fully awoken at the half-hour mark, when fine combination play ignited by Javier Hernandez and supported by Joao Mario led to the Mexican star ending a bad goal scoring drought. It was a moment of individual class from Chicharito, and gave David Moyes side a needed boost to level the contest.

But as the Hammers ended the match seemingly getting back to neutral, the second half almost started the same as the first with Brighton in the clear ascendancy. And with West Ham providing no resistance whatsoever, Jose Iziquerdo provided his second stunning goal against the Hammers this season with a wonderful floating hit in the 59th minute.

Reeling from another Iziquerdo goalzo, West Ham conceded a third, as Gross provided another fine finish for the home side in the 75th minute for the cherry on top of Brighton’s edible cake today.

It was an ice cold day at the Amex Stadium, literally and figuratively for the Hammers, and they will need a proper bounce back next time out, when they face off against Watford at the London Stadium next Saturday.