Maupay has class answer to boo boys
NEAL GIVES SEAGULLS LIFT
NEVER mind the quantity, look at the quality.
Clearly that was the message as Neal Maupay cupped his ears to his own fans after his stunning overhead kick rescued a late point at the London Stadium.
A moment of flair that was greeted by a flare, blue smoke billowing behind the goal in place of the anticipated West Ham bubbles.
But even then it was nearly not enough, with Marc Cucurella clearing off the line in injury time.
It was a perfect cure for the hangover that seemed to follow the boos as for 88 minutes Graham Potter’s “history lesson” repeated itself. The Brighton boss had been equally perplexed when his players were booed off the pitch following the goalless draw with Leeds.
The real reason, though, is the fans are getting increasingly frustrated by nights like this, when again the Seagulls dominated without looking like scoring.
West Ham have never beaten Brighton in the Premier League but with their opposition’s reputation for firing blanks, they knew a first goal could be crucial.
It took them just five minutes. Pablo Fornals whipped a fierce corner to the near post, Tomas Soucek got a faint flick and Robert Sanchez was horribly embarrassed. Then a Fornals thunderbolt against the crossbar was indication West Ham had more goals in them.
Indeed, another flap early in the second half from Sanchez and the ball was in the net a second time.
VAR looked long and hard to try to find a foul. No. Then there was a case for offside. The ball brushed Michail Antonio as it entered the goal, but because somewhere in the melee Craig Dawson had also got a faint touch, the goal was disallowed.
Brighton continued to press, but still without real threat.
Sanchez redeemed himself slightly by clawing away Declan Rice’s 20 yard drive and it was a save that proved vital even with Adam Lallana’s injury reducing the visitors to 10 men.
Lamptey broke to cross for Maupay and inevitably there was a VAR check for offside.
But the goal stood – as, to a man, did the Brighton following when the final whistle was blown.
WEST HAM (4-2-3-1): Fabianski 6; Johnson 6, Dawson 6, Zouma 6, Coufal 7; Soucek 8, Rice 7; Bowen 6, Benrahma 6 (Lanzini 76), Fornals 7 (Masuaku 76); Antonio 6. Goal: Soucek 5.
BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1): Sanchez 4; Veltman 6 (Lamptey 70), Webster 5 (Duffy 36, 5), Dunk 6, Cucurella 6; Bissouma 7, Moder 6; Sarmiento 5 (March 12), Lallana 7, Trossard
6; Maupay 8. Goal: Maupay 89.