TNT Sports
Brighton 1-3 West Ham: James Ward-Prowse nets first West Ham goal as Hammers blitz Seagulls
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Published 26/08/2023 at 18:40 GMT+1
James Ward-Prowse’s superb start to life as a West Ham United player continued on Saturday. Fresh from his assist the previous week, the England international got his name on the scoresheet on the trip to Brighton in the Premier League. Brighton failed to fashion a response and the game was put beyond them when Jarrod Bowen netted a second shortly before the hour.
Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United celebrates with James Ward-Prowse of West Ham United after scoring the team's second goal during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United at American Express Community Stadium on August 26
Image credit: Getty Images
West Ham produced a counter-attacking masterclass as David Moyes’s side moved to the top of the Premier League table with a stunning 3-1 win at Brighton that ended the Seagulls’ perfect start.
James Ward-Prowse set the ball rolling when he followed up his eye-catching display at home to Chelsea with a scrappy 19th-minute opener to net his 50th goal in the top-flight.
Brighton bossed the first half with 84% of the possession but they struggled to create much of note against a well-drilled Hammers rearguard.
The hosts looked to turn the screw further following the interval with Evan Ferguson having a fine header brilliantly saved by the impressive Alphonse Areola.
It proved to be significant as West Ham put the game to bed with a two-goal-blitz in five devastating minutes.
First Jarrod Bowen finished off a wonderful pass from substitute Said Benrahma before Michail Antonio’s sublime turn and finish just past the hour ended The Seagulls’ hopes.
Pascal Gross did pull one back eight minutes from time with a fine, long-range effort but it could not inspire a dramatic comeback.
The result sees the unbeaten Hammers move to the summit, ahead of Tottenham and Arsenal on goals scored. David Moyes’ side will hope to continue their excellent start when they visit Luton next Friday, while fourth-placed Brighton will aim to bounce back when they host Newcastle on Saturday.
Talking Point - Brighton’s bubble bursts as West Ham's feel-good factor continues
Was this 13th time lucky? West Ham finally ended a winless Premier League run against The Seagulls in some style and in doing so continued their own fine, unbeaten start to the campaign.
All of the pre-match hype was about Brighton’s glut of goals and free-flowing football, but Moyes came up with the perfect game-plan to resist and repel the hosts' pressure, while remaining a major threat on the break. His players carried it out with aplomb to claim back-to-back league wins for the first time since last October.
Declan Rice may have left but in full debutant Edson Alvarez and Ward-Prowse they have added a nice blend to their midfield with Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus looking set to follow.
Last season's Europa Conference League triumph has added a layer of belief to this group of players and with savvy spending in the market, West Ham seem capable of continuing to spring a surprise as the season develops.
Player of the match - Alphonse Areola (West Ham)
It could easily have gone to Antonio for his tireless work in attack, his superb solo goal and hand in the others. However, Areola produced a series of superb second-half saves that prevented Brighton from really building some late momentum.
Player Ratings
BRIGHTON: Verbruggen 6, Webster 5, Dunk 6, Estupinan 7, Milner 6, Gilmour 7, Gross 7, Welbeck 6, March 6, Mitoma 7, Ferguson 6. Subs: Joao Pedro 7, Lallana 6, Veltman 6, Adingra 6.
WEST HAM: Areola 9*, Coufal 8, Zouma 8, Ogbonna 8, Emerson 8, Ward-Prowse 8, Alvarez 8, Soucek 6, Paqueta 8, Bowen 8, Antonio 9. Subs: Benrahma 8, Kehrer n/a, Ings n/a, Fornals n/a.
Match Highlights
19’ – GOAL! – Brighton 0-1 West Ham. Ward-Prowse slides in from close-range at the second attempt after an error from Webster allowed Antonio to cut in from the left and tee up his new team-mate.
47’ – BRIGHTON CHANCE! Areola springs to his left and produces a brilliant save to keep out Ferguson's header from Mitoma's pinpoint cross.
53’ – WEST HAM CHANCE! A slick counter attack ends with Bowen cutting in from the right but skewing a shot well wide of target.
58’ – GOAL! – Brighton 0-2 West Ham. Benrahma dashes down the left on another rapid break. This time he picks out Bowen with a sensational pass and the forward does the rest with a couple of wonderful touches and a nonchalant finish into the far corner.
64’ – GOAL! – Brighton 0-3 West Ham. Antonio gets in on the act with a wonderful turn with his back to goal that he follows up with a clinical low shot into the far corner.
82’ – GOAL! – Brighton 1-3 West Ham. Gross turns his man 20 yards from goal and arrows a low shot into the far corner.
90+2'’ – BRIGHTON CHANCE! Ferguson seizes upon Mitoma's clever pass and lets fly with a sizzling shot from inside the area that Areola manages to push over the bar.
Key Stats
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