Premier League
West Ham United 2 – 2 Brighton & Hove Albion FT
Lucas Paqueta grew to become simply the second participant in Premier League historical past to each rating and concede a penalty within the first half of a match [Getty Images]
West Ham had been twice pegged again by Brighton because the relegation-threatened Hammers didn’t win for an eighth Premier League match in a row.
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A chaotic encounter featured three penalties being awarded within the first half of a Premier League recreation for under the second time – Danny Welbeck scored after which missed for Brighton earlier than Lucas Paqueta transformed for West Ham.
Joel Veltman bundled in Brighton’s second equaliser of the night earlier than either side spurned probabilities to win it.
Brighton began on high however Jarrod Bowen transformed West Ham’s first probability after operating on to Paqueta’s by way of ball within the tenth minute.
Welbeck equalised from the penalty spot 20 minutes later after Yankuba Minteh was tripped within the field by Max Kilman, however two minutes later hit the crossbar with a second spot-kick after Paqueta inexplicably rugby-tackled Lewis Dunk to the bottom.
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A video assistant referee (VAR) evaluation simply earlier than half-time resulted in West Ham being awarded their very own penalty after Dunk blocked Callum Wilson’s goalbound shot together with his arm.
Paqueta transformed within the fourth minute of stoppage time, changing into the second participant in Premier League historical past to each rating and concede a penalty within the first half of a match.
Brighton wished one other penalty early within the second half when substitute Kaoru Mitoma went down, however equalised from the next nook when Alphonse Areola palmed the ball into Veltman’s path.
Bart Verbruggen denied Bowen an on the spot response from a header, earlier than Areola was required to maintain out Mitoma and Georginio Rutter on the different finish.
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West Ham evaluation: Enchancment, however defensive errors pricey once more
After conceding a late winner to , West Ham supervisor Nuno Espirito Santo mentioned that all the things was going in opposition to his facet.
He would possibly nicely be feeling the identical three days later, even when the Hammers’ misfortune was self-inflicted.
Bowen’s cool end in opposition to the run of play may have been a launchpad – and drew him stage with Michail Antonio for probably the most mixed Premier League objectives and assists for the membership with 101 every.
As a substitute, Kilman conceded a penalty with a determined last-ditch lunge, earlier than Paqueta produced a deal with that may not look misplaced within the NFL.
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The Hammers had been lucky to solely be punished as soon as, however girl luck did take kindly to Areola flapping at a nook 16 minutes into the second half.
There are definitely positives to take – Wilson and Bowen linked up nicely in assault, whereas 20-year-old left-back Ollie Scarles seemed strong after his pricey mistake in opposition to Fulham three days in the past.
However with Seventeenth-placed Nottingham Forest , this was an opportunity missed to maneuver inside two factors of security.
West Ham should lower out their defensive lapses earlier than it’s too late.
Extra to observe.
What’s subsequent for these two groups?
Subsequent up for West Ham is a visit to the Midlands to face backside facet Wolves on Saturday, 3 January (15:00 GMT), whereas Brighton will host Burnley on the identical day (15:00).