[Albion] Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Ham United *** Official Match Thread ***

[Dick Head]

Albion v West Ham

PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: The American Express Stadium
Date: Saturday 26th August 2023
Kick-off: 17:30 BST
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn
Fourth Official: Sam Allison
VAR: David Coote
Additional VAR: Adrian Holmes
​

TEAM NEWS

Brighton teenager Julio Enciso is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury in training this week.

Joao Pedro may replace the Paraguayan, while Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that Evan Ferguson will start.

West Ham's latest signing Konstantinos Mavropanos is not ready to make his debut this weekend.

Fellow centre-back Nayif Aguerd is suspended, but Thilo Kehrer returns after recovering from a back problem.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Brighton have never lost to West Ham in the Premier League, winning six and drawing six of their 12 previous meetings.
• The Hammers have won only once in 16 top-flight clashes with Brighton (D7, L8), a 2-1 home victory in March 1983.
• West Ham have registered just two away wins against the Seagulls in 15 attempts (D5, L8), with both coming in the second tier.
• Brighton won this exact fixture 4-0 last season, with goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Joel Veltman, Kaoru Mitoma and Danny Welbeck.

Albion

• Brighton are seeking to win their opening three league games for the first time since 2011-12 in the Championship.
• The Seagulls could become just the fourth side in English top-flight history to score four or more goals in each of their opening three matches, after Everton in 1890-91, Sheffield Wednesday in 1931-32 and Blackburn in 1958-59.
• Roberto De Zerbi's team have scored in all of their past 18 Premier League matches, finding the net 41 times in that run.
• Solly March is aiming to become the first Brighton player to score in the first three matches of a top-flight season.
• March has been involved in 15 goals in his past 19 Premier League starts, with 10 goals and five assists.
• Danny Welbeck has scored for Brighton in each of their past three Premier League home matches against West Ham.

West Ham

• West Ham can remain unbeaten in each of their opening three matches of a league campaign for just the second time this century, after two wins and one draw at the start of the 2021-22 top-flight season.
• The Irons are vying to win consecutive Premier League games for the first time since last October, when they beat Wolves and Fulham.
• The Hammers have won two of their last 18 Premier League away fixtures, drawing four and losing 12.
• David Moyes is still seeking his first Premier League win over Brighton, drawing four and losing four of his eight managerial meetings with the Seagulls.
• James Ward-Prowse is one short of 50 Premier League goals.
• Said Benrahma is set to make his 100th Premier League appearance.

Roberto De Zerbi's West Ham Press Conference

 

[Mortdecai]

 

[Pevenseagull]

YAY!

It's official!

 

[jcdenton08]

Through to the next round here lads, no excuses.

 

[sydney]

2-1

 

[Seasider78]

Hope I am wrong and we bag another win but got a feeling this will be an unusually tough one against West Ham so 1-1

 

[Beach Hut]

So excited

 

[chickens]

Steamroller them with a James Ward-Prowse consolation late on.

(looking at the transfer threads, it wouldn’t be Brighton to keep a clean sheet)

 

[Guinness Boy]

Order is restored.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

It's got nil-all written all over it

 

[Brok]

An interesting read... https://www.kumb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=186820

 

[Icy Gull]

Ward Prowse seems to score against us for fun, however shit Saints were. We need to avoid corners and giving away free kicks outside the box and we should be fine

I expect a disappointing draw, with JWP scoring

 

[portlock seagull]

To the doomsayers, remember, Hammers fans know us as Brighton & F***ing Hove Albion such is our top flight record against them!

2-1 to the good guys Come on you super seagulls!

 

[Justice]

Ward Prowse seems to score against us for fun, however shit Saints were. We need to avoid corners and giving away free kicks outside the box and we should be fine

I expect a disappointing draw, with JWP scoring

Potter has left the building.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

This game could be season-defining.

 

[jackanada]

There's a lot against us here.
We've been talked up all week.
Playing against a low block where we have struggled before.
We concede more than most from set pieces and they have JWP.

On the plus side I can't make it and we're currently on a substantial winning run when that happens.

 

[BN41Albion]

I'm lacking confidence that we'll win this one... think I feel uncomfortable with how talked up we've been this week... plus Enciso out for an extended period is a big shame. Going to be a tough game I think but looking forward to it. Hope the trains aren't a complete shambles

 

[dstanman]

Looking forward to another trip to the Amex. Not going to be an easy game but expect we will get the 3 points

 

[Dick Head]

So excited

were loose

 

[Justice]

Damp sheets Utd are creeping out of the woodwork again, we are a good side no one looks forward to playing against us these days everyone should be confident.