Albion Analytics: West Ham

Albion continued their strong start to the season with an away win at West Ham and are still unbeaten in 11 Premier League games against the Irons, having won five and drawn six meetings.

Brighton remain the only team West Ham have faced more than twice in the Premier League and failed to beat. This win also extends Albion’s unbeaten run to eight games going back to the end of last season and matches the club’s top-flight record.

Graham Potter’s team have remained an exceptional away side. They won the fifth-most away points last season (29) and have taken maximum points from trips to Manchester United and West Ham.

Brighton are the only side unbeaten in Premier League away matches in London since the start of last season. In those seven fixtures Albion have had four wins and three draws, also keeping three clean sheets and outscoring opponents 9-4. They have not conceded more than once on any of their last seven trips to the capital.

Compared to previous seasons, this is Brighton’s best first three games in terms of points won (7) and league position (5th), fewest xGA (2.37) and goals conceded (1). Only once before (6.3xG and 4 goals in 2020/21) have they better the 5.2xG and 4 goals scored in the first three games this season.

Alexis Mac Allister shone once more in the win at West Ham, in a deeper playmaker role in the midfield. The Argentina international attempted (66) and completed (58) the most passes of any player and was Brighton’s top player for tackles plus interceptions (5).

Across the first three game weeks, Mac Allister has been Brighton’s top player for total passes completed/attempted (133/152), progressive passes (17), tackles plus interceptions (17), pressures and successful pressures (52 and 16).

Mac Allister made the interception to initiate the counterattack for our penalty, which he then converted. He had a key role in the second too – his penetrative pass, which took five West Ham players out the game, was the pre-assist for Leandro Trossard.

After three game weeks Albion have conceded the fewest goals (1) and have the joint-most clean sheets (2) of any Premier League side. Only Arsenal (1.8) and Manchester City (2.3) have conceded fewer non-penalty xG than the Seagulls (2.6), evidencing the out-of-possession strength of Potter’s back-three system.

This defensive strength has contributed to Albion’s ability to manage games effectively. Including Sunday, since the start of last season they have taken the lead in 17 Premier League games and gone on to win 14 of those fixtures – drawing just three times and only dropping six points. Brentford and Liverpool are the only teams in that time period to remain unbeaten after going ahead.

In 2022, Albion rank seventh for total points won (34 in 23 games) and across a full 38-game season their form (1.48 points-per-game) is worth 56 points – this would be another club record.

In game week four Albion face a Leeds side with an identical record to Brighton – seven points won with two wins and one draw, though the total number of goals in their games (10) is double that in our games (5).