The Media Review: West Ham United

With a number of West Ham fans among the reporters in the press box at the London Stadium on Wednesday, it was to the Albion’s credit that they earned their share of the headlines.

For most of the evening, it seemed that the home side’s pursuit of a Champions League place would be the story, and one that Irons fans among Her Majesty’s Press would relish telling. But Neal Maupay’s acrobatic equaliser and his own story of redemption after his struggles at the weekend meant that the hastily re-written intros would mostly feature Albion’s French striker.

The i paper reporter wrote that “Neal Maupay was the Brighton villain on Saturday when he missed two chances in the goalless draw against Leeds, but he made himself the hero last night with a spectacular late equaliser at the London Stadium. The Seagulls had been behind since Tomas Soucek’s goal for West Ham in the fifth minute and were down to ten men when Adam Lallana limped off, but stayed in the game and arguably deserved their point.

“For West Ham it was an all-too-familiar tale against a team they simply cannot beat. This was their ninth game without victory against Brighton since the south coast club were promoted to the Premier League in 2017, and although they move a point clear of Arsenal in fourth place, they are now without a win in three matches. Brighton are without a win in nine, but will be much happier with the result.”

In The Sun, Duncan Wright wrote that “Neal Maupay’s stunning overhead kick showed Brighton do have the goal-den touch as they secured a late draw at West Ham despite finishing the game with ten men.

“The Seagulls had to finish the match a man down after losing three players to injury, but that didn’t stop them scrambling a draw with a moment of magic from Maupay.

“Graham Potter’s men had again wasted a series of good chances to score and looked to be heading for defeat after Tomas Soucek’s early header.

“But just before stoppage time Maupay turned on the acrobatics to strike a brilliant overhead kick into the top corner to earn a share of the spoils.”

In the Daily Telegraph, John Aizlewood wrote that “parity had seemed mostly beyond them, but Brighton had a point and they had made one too, for were back in the affections of their fans who cheered them long and loudly at the end, in contrast to their dissatisfaction after Saturday’s goalless draw with Leeds United.

“’We suffered early in terms of the scoreline,’ Brighton head coach Graham Potter said. ‘But we kept pushing. We deserved something and this was a fantastic point.’

“With nothing to lose, one substitution remaining and an hour to play, Brighton’s renaissance began. Excellent work from Solly March and Maupay allowed Jakub Moder to break through alone. The Pole’s low shot was destined for goal until it hit Fabianski’s trailing leg.

“When West Ham won another corner, Sanchez fluffed his punch horribly and the ball bobbled into the net off Michail Antonio, via Craig Dawson and Duffy. After three torturous minutes, Var first dismissed the suggestion that Bowen had fouled Lallana as the corner sailed over, but upheld the notion that Antonio was offside.

“After Bowen had gone close following majestic Benrahma trickery in the zone Cucurella might have been expected to police, Brighton continued to press. March ran Ben Johnson ragged, Lallana scuffed a simple chance wide and West Ham began to think about other things than extending their lead.”

Alyson Rudd of The Times wrote that “Brighton & Hove Albion’s winless run was extended to nine matches at the London Stadium last night but this time their fans celebrated the draw.

“The manner of failing to win counts for a good deal. Graham Potter’s team seemed destined once again to be attractive but toothless; however a late and audacious goal from Neal Maupay rescued the point. No one felt the need to jeer as they had after the goalless draw against Leeds United at the weekend.”

She also pointed out that Maupay’s strike was not his first late leveller of the season. “Maupay, in the 89th minute, reprising the late cameo role he gave us when Brighton travelled to Selhurst Park to score a late equaliser, beat Fabianski with a magnificent overhead kick from Tariq Lamptey’s cross. Marc Cucurella blocked on the line an effort from Kurt Zouma as an indignant home side sought to regain the advantage during the six minutes of added time.”

And Kieran Gill of the Daily Mail noted that far easier chances than Maupay’s had not gone in. “They were looking like a side allergic to scoring, then Neal Maupay produced a Hail Mary, scoring the most marvellous overhead kick to salvage a point for 10-man Brighton.

“They were a man shy, having used all three of their substitutes when Adam Lallana dropped down injured. Yet all it took was a Tariq Lamptey cross for Maupay to spark bedlam.

“Manager Graham Potter celebrated wildly, mostly in relief. It had looked like the same old story for Brighton after seeing so many chances go to waste. It was finally the least likely opportunity which would fly in for the visitors, [cancelling] out Tomas Soucek’s would-be winner from a corner for the hosts.”

In the Mirror, Darren Lewis emphasised the against-the-odds nature of Albion’s comeback, “an incredible show of character after Graham Potter lost two players to injury in the first half and saw his side placed under sustained pressure.

“In fact, for long periods in this contest, the Brighton boss was as frustrated as his fans with his men continuing their poor run in front of goal.

“Seagulls midfielder Jakub Moder should have equalized shortly before the break but allowed Hammers keeper Lukasz Fabianski to turn it into touch.

“Still Potter's men hung in there, despite being dominated by Moyes’.

“It was Pablo Fornals who had floated in the corner from which Soucek scored. Potter’s luck then appeared to go from bad to awful.

“Jeremy Sarmiento went down injured under no challenge after 12 minutes and had to be replaced by Solly March. 

“Defender Adam Webster was also replaced, a victim of his troublesome calf, by Shane Duffy 10 minutes before the break.

“So it was to Brighton’s immense credit that they were able to make a game of this. 

“VAR Jarrod Gillett kept the game alive when he controversially ruled out what looked to be a legitimate own goal from Duffy, suggesting Michail Antonio was offside in a decision that looked neither clear nor obvious.

“But still this game remained alive and when substitute Tariq Lamptey crossed from the right, Maupay pounced to send the away fans into raptures.

“After the night the Seagulls endured here in London, it was the least they deserved.”

Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian offered more of an overview, writing that “the supporters who booed Brighton after their stalemate with Leeds would do well to watch this game back to gain a greater appreciation of Graham Potter, whose talented side stayed true to their beliefs before rescuing themselves in style, Neal Maupay’s spectacular overhead kick denying West Ham victory at the death.

“Perhaps it had to be this way. Brighton have not won in nine league games, let in a dreadful goal from a set piece and their finishing was comical at times, but they remain one of the most watchable teams in the division. They will not change their approach for anyone and, for all their maddening tendencies in front of goal, it would have been a travesty if they had left east London with nothing after making West Ham look like anything but Champions League hopefuls.

“Brighton could make their point by pointing to Yves Bissouma’s control of midfield, Tariq Lamptey’s impact off the bench and their refusal to let the missed chances weigh them down. West Ham’s centre-backs, Kurt Zouma and Craig Dawson, could never relax with Maupay hounding them. The Brighton striker was relentless despite fluffing an early opportunity and there was also redemption for Robert Sánchez, who made up for his part in West Ham’s goal by making fine saves from Declan Rice, Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen in the dying stages.

“Winless in three matches, West Ham could not grumble either. David Moyes was furious that VAR intervened when it appeared that his side had gone 2-0 up at the start of the second half, but they did not do enough after going ahead via Tomas Soucek’s first goal since the opening day.”