- Albion beat West Ham United 1-0 at the Amex
- Glenn Murray on target for the Seagulls
- Albion secure their first clean sheet of the season
- Marko Arnautovic spurns a late chance to level the game
Glenn Murray’s record-equalling 99th goal for the club was enough to secure Brighton & Hove Albion a hard-fought 1-0 victory over West Ham United at the Amex.
Murray’s strike saw him move level with Kit Napier on 99 goals to become the joint leading post-war goalscorer, as the Seagulls claimed a second win of the season.
Chris Hughton made three changes to the side that lost 2-0 away at Manchester City last week, with Bruno and Murray returning to the starting line-up, while Alireza Jahanbakhsh made his first Premier League start.
Albion started the game with real urgency and Anthony Knockaert had the first opening for the match, only to see his shot from distance saved by Lukasz Fabianski.
In-form West Ham striker Marko Arnautovic had West Ham’s first chance with a volley on the edge of the area that was blocked by Murray.
In a frenetic start to the game, a Knockaert corner created havoc inside the box and following a game of head tennis, the Hammers defence eventually cleared their lines.
The Frenchman was involved in the thick of the action once again when he picked out Solly March on the left flank, but the latter’s effort rose high and over the bar.
But the deadlock was broken with 25 minutes on the clock courtesy of Murray, who ghosted into the box unmarked and clinically fired home Beram Kayal's cross past Fabianski to move to within one goal of the 100 mark.
The Hammers still carried a threat though, as Pedro Obiang fired a strike just over the target after Bruno blocked Arnautovic’s initial effort.
Murray could’ve added an assist to his strike shortly before half-time when he teed up Jahanbakhsh inside the area, but the Iranian’s effort went over the bar.
The second half began with West Ham on the front foot, and Shane Duffy had to be alert to block Arnautovic’s strike, before Maty Ryan was called into action to deny the Austrian.
Dunk then sent March free down the left wing, with the latter picking out Murray, but Fabianski was on hand to thwart the forward on this occasion.
The Hammers came within inches of levelling the scores when Felipe Anderson’s corner was met by Fabian Balbuena’s diving header, which went just wide of the far post.
Murray came close to getting his and Albion’s second of the night after rising highest from Knockaert’s corner, but the forward saw his resulting header go over the bar.
The Seagulls frontman had another opportunity moments later, after March brilliantly beat Lucas Perez on the right-hand side, but Murray headed the cross over Fabianski’s goal.
The fast-paced nature of the game continued, as Gaetan Bong and Duffy had to be alert to clear away crosses from Anderson and Arnautovic respectively.
Substitute Jurgen Locadia had the ball in the back of the net late on only to be flagged offside, before Arnautovic fired over down the other end, as the Seagulls claimed a narrow win.
ALBION: Ryan; Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Bong; Propper (Bissouma 80), Kayal; Knockaert, Jahanbakhsh (Izquierdo 70), March (Locadia 86); Murray.
SUBS NOT USED: Button (GK), Balogun, Bernardo, Andone.
1901 CLUB LOTTERY
1ST PRIZE £1000 171830
£100 SUPERSTORE VOUCHER 172558
MAGNUM OF CHAMPAGNE 173485
BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE 174330
BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE 172470
£100 SUPERSTORE VOUCHER 172558
MAGNUM OF CHAMPAGNE 173485
BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE 174330
BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE 172470
ALBION HAT TRICK
1ST £450 4010
2ND £50 1542
3RD £25 1200
2ND £50 1542
3RD £25 1200
1ST GOAL TIME 25 MINS