HAMMERED
Seagulls thrashing puts Bilic on brink
BOOS echoed down from the stands as West Ham were embarrassed at home by Brighton.
Manager Slaven Bilic cut a forlorn figure as the Hammers slipped to just one place above the relegation zone. Two goals by Glenn Murray and a spectacular Jose Izquierdo strike took the Seagulls up to 10th.
SO much for that winnable run of games.
So much for the belief at West Ham that Swansea, Burnley and Brighton represented a chance to rack up the points and move them into the top half after a tough start.
Right now they are looking up at Brighton. The overriding feeling watching this shambles was that maybe Slaven Bilic’s side really are that bad.
Co-owner David Sullivan did his best to back his manager pre-match, insisting: “He didn’t sign up for one or two years. He signed for three and he deserves that chance.”
At this rate, however, Bilic will be lucky still to have a job by Christmas. Brighton were everything the Hammers were not. Organised, alert, efficient, and clinical in front of goal.
Chris Hughton continues to defy those convinced that promoted Brighton will be an easy three points this season. This was their first top-flight away win in 34 years. On this evidence, more will follow.
West Ham were sloppy, complacent and only really woke up once Glenn Murray had headed the Seagulls into a 10th-minute lead.
Pedro Obiang gave away a foul on the left, Pascal Gross floated a free-kick into the box and Murray glanced home. Free header.
The Hammers poured forward in search of a reply. Brighton had little trouble keeping them at arm’s length.
Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy at centre-half were superb, heading balls clear for fun.
Bruno at rightback left the hugely disappointing Marko Arnautovic chasing shadows midway through the first half. West Ham’s home fans cheered his substitution.
Obiang’s drive from distance in the 29th minute was easily held by Mat Ryan, who must surely have expected a busier night than this.
Duffy blocked Javier Hernandez, who looked lost without suspended Andy Carroll to win the ball in the air for him. Can’t West Ham find another way to make the most of their proven, £17million marksman?
Seven minutes before the break, Duffy blocked an effort from Hernandez and the Mexican then tried to make his own luck, shooting wide in first-half injury time.
Then came the Seagulls’ second. Jose Izquierdo received the ball on the left, easing past powder-puff challenges from Pablo Zabaleta and Obiang.
He then let fly with a superb curling effort, which Joe Hart couldn’t keep out.
The England keeper will get the flak for it. But, in truth, his team-mates had let him down long before. In fact, it was Hart who saved West Ham before the third goal, closing out Murray after Anthony Knockaert’s pass.
The Seagulls’ third came from the spot with 15 minutes left. Zabaleta upended Murray in the box and the striker got up to do the honours. The London Stadium emptied almost immediately.
Bilic predicted on Thursday there was a “hurricane around the corner”, a reference to his team finally finding their form.
But it’s Bilic who should batten down the hatches.