West Ham get ironed out: Brighton 4-0 West Ham photos
Another game between Brighton and West Ham United, another set of photos showing an Albion win – and this one came via arguably the most impressive Seagulls performance of the 2022-23 season so far with the Hammers hammered 4-0 at the Amex.
There had remained a few lingering doubts about Brighton’s ability to put away struggling sides who set out to defend when visiting Sussex.
Brighton might be free scoring under Roberto De Zerbi, but Nottingham Forest had gone away with a point and Aston Villa and Fulham all three by deploying negative tactics.
Plucky Little Bournemouth too would have left with something to show for their efforts had Kaoru Mitoma not belatedly come to the party, scoring a 88th minute winner as Brighton beat the Cherries 1-0.
West Ham tried to sit back but the Albion were just too good on this occasion for it to work. The electric Mitoma won a first half penalty converted by Alexis Mac Allister, after which the Hammers briefly threatened.
Jason Steele justified his place in the starting XI over the dropped Robert Sanchez with two important saves with his legs in close succession.
The second half was all Brighton. Joel Veltman doubled the lead when chesting home a Pascal Gross corner. Gross then crossed low and hard to the back post for the stretching Mitoma to slide in.
Two substitutes combined to complete the rout. Facundo Buonanotte celebrated his first call up the senior Argentina squad by finding Danny Welbeck, who took everyone by surprise when drilling a shot out of nowhere straight into the bottom corner.
Brighton might have even had more. West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola denied Julio Enciso with a brilliant tip onto the bar at full stretch, one of several important interventions the Frenchman had to make.
Irons fans had long since abandoned their team before the final whistle blew, streaming out when the third and fourth hit the back of the net. Albion supporters meanwhile continue to dream of Europe.
If you have any photos you would like included in our Brighton 4-0 West Ham United photos gallery, please e-mail them to wearebrighton@hotmail.co.uk or tweet them to us @wearebrighton