Andrea Maldera at the wheel for Brighton v West Ham

This has been a pretty good week for the Albion. Progress to the quarter finals of the FA Cup, a friendly home draw against League Two Grimsby Town with Wembley just one game away and Moises Caicedo signing a new contract. Brighton now have the opportunity to round it off against West Ham United.

Every time the Seagulls take on West Ham, we issue the same caveat. Brighton’s outrageous unbeaten record since promotion to the Premier League against West Ham has to end at some point.

Yet so far, it hasn’t. 2017-18. 2018-19. 2019-20. 2020-21. 2021-22. The August meeting at the London Stadium between the sides in 2022-23. 11 top flight games against the Irons and the Seagulls remain undefeated.

For West Ham fans, facing Brighton is almost as distressing as when Mick Carter was swept out to sea on Christmas Day to an unknown fate following his marriage to Janine.

And at least there was some rational explanation to that. Become entwined with Janine and you know what to expect; just ask Barry, Michael Moon and that old rich bloke who croaked on his wedding day when she was posing as a Jewish orphan called Judith Bernstein to fleece him for his money.

Nothing can explain why West Ham cannot beat Brighton. Even when the Hammers were challenging for the top six and the Albion fighting a relegation battle at the other end, West Ham were unable to take three points from the fixture.

This 12th Premier League meeting between the sides will be the first played out with Brighton significantly higher than the Hammers in the standings.

Whilst the Albion fight for Europe, West Ham are enduring a nightmare campaign. They sit on the cusp of the relegation zone with David Moyes having turned from the Moyesiah into someone who a fair amount of Irons supporters think should be sacked.

The Albion therefore come into the match as favourites. You can probably see where this is going. The one occasion where Brighton should be reasonably confident of beating West Ham will be the one occasion where it is the Hammers who finally turn the tables. Typical Brighton, add it to The List, etc, etc…

Everything would seem to be set fair for a Albion victory. Given how difficult Brighton teams of the past have found travelling to Stoke City and the experience of the Carabao Cup cock up at Charlton, Tuesday night’s win in the Potteries was much better than a lot of people have given the Seagulls credit for.

The players should be buoyed by both that and being one home win against League Two opponents away from becoming just the third Brighton team to make an FA Cup semi final.

Caicedo’s new deal has likewise generated a feelgood factor. And Roberto De Zerbi confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Pervis Estupinan and Solly March were both fit again after injury.

Brighton will be boosted by the return of two of their most in-form players since the winter break. If the Albion want to achieve De Zerbi’s dream of a top seven finish this season, then beating struggling West Ham at home is the sort of game they have to win.

Easier said than done, however. The Hammers might be near the bottom, but they still possess a quality squad. Players who achieved European qualification two seasons running do not become bad over night.

If Brighton are to come away with three points, there will likely be three factors they need to deal with. The first is Declan Rice. Stop Rice and you stop West Ham.

This is where Caicedo becomes crucial. On the Hammers most recent visit to the Amex on the final day of last season, Rice ran the show in the first half.

West Ham led 1-0 going into the break after a dominant display and were on course for the victory they needed to qualify for the Europa League rather than the Conference.

Yves Bissouma going off injured at half time saw Caicedo take over man marking duties of Rice. The young Ecuadorian gave a display mature beyond his years to stifle the best midfielder in England. Rice had no influence thanks to Caicedo and Brighton came from behind to win 3-1.

The second factor the Albion need to overcome is West Ham’s tactics. Moyes has become increasingly defensive as the season has gone on and his players have been unable to pull clear of the mire.

It appears now as if the Hammers’ approach is going to be try and avoid defeat away from home to grind out points and limp over the line.

Their most recent Premier League away game saw Moyes deploy a back five and two holding midfielders at Spurs. West Ham did then hammer Nottingham Forest 4-0 at the London Stadium a week ago, but were woeful again on the road in their midweek FA Cup tie at Manchester United.

Roberto De Zerbi has served up some thrilling Amex victories so far against the likes of Chelsea & Hove Albion and Liverpool. The old concerns still remain at home however about Brighton’s ability to break down more defensive teams.

Nottingham Forest left Sussex with a point. Plucky Little Bournemouth were a matter of minutes away from doing the same until Kaoru Mitoma belatedly came to the party. Fulham and Aston Villa went away with all three.

Danny Ings scored both goals for Villa that day and he will be back at the Amex again wearing claret and blue having signed for the Hammers in January.

If West Ham sit back, defend and look to hit Brighton on the counter, then it may turn out to be another frustrating afternoon for Albion fans. Which would obviously be a very on-brand way to end a good week.

And that third and final factor? The absence of De Zerbi from the touchline. Brighton’s head coach serves a one game ban and has to watch from the terraces.

Our recommendation if you are reading this, Roberto, would be the West Lower. The new pour-your-own Moretti facility is a game changer and if you leave on 42 minutes, there is no queue.

How much difference will De Zerbi not storming around his technical area like a madman make? His assistant Andrea Maldera will be in charge from the dugout but seems a much more placid character than his fellow Italian.

Whereas you can imagine De Zerbi hurtling around the streets on a scooter after one too many espresso shots, Maldera is the chap sitting in the town piazza with a nice glass of red calmly watching the world go by.

This may look like the easiest game Brighton have had against West Ham so far, but you underestimate them at your peril. The Albion’s good run of form against the Hammers has to run out at some point – but hopefully not with Maldera at the wheel.