West Ham flop with 13% passing allow them to down

West Ham United dropped extra factors at dwelling after a 1-1 dwelling draw with high-flying Brighton and Hove Albion. The Hammers could look again on the sport with disappointment at merely getting some extent towards the Seagulls, after giving Fabian Hurzeler’s aspect a troublesome check.

After the primary 45 minutes noticed no targets, it was the guests who took the lead on the London Stadium. Hammers goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski didn’t precisely cowl himself in glory, tamely punching a Brighton freekick so far as Mats Wieffer. With the goalkeeper stranded in no-mans-land, the Dutchman volleyed dwelling first time from 10 yards out.

It took the house aspect simply moments to equalise. Six minutes after the Seagulls went 1-0 up, Mohammed Kudus scored together with his head. He transformed a rebound that fell to him after Bart Verbruggen may solely parry a viciously struck Jarrod Bowen shot. The Ghanaian attacker reacted properly to nod dwelling a bouncing ball and equalise for the Hammers.

West Ham may properly be disillusioned to get only one level from the sport. As per Sofascore, they’d a greater Anticipated Objectives tally than Brighton, with 1.6xG to 0.91xG. The probabilities have been actually there to win it. There have been some good performers for Julen Lopetegui’s aspect right this moment, with Kudus a standout.

Kudus’ efficiency vs Brighton

24-year-old attacker Kudus has not fairly had the begin to the 2024/25 season he could have hoped for. Earlier than Saturday afternoon’s conflict with Brighton, he had simply two targets and one help in 11 top-flight video games this time period.

Nonetheless, he was much better towards the Seagulls, working onerous out and in of possession earlier than finally getting a reward with the aim. It was not a basic Kudus strike, missing the aptitude that’s on present when the Ghanaian usually finds the again of the web. Nonetheless, it an was efficient end and obtained the Hammers a key level. He even pulled out his iconic celebration.

It’s actually price remembering that Kudus was not taking part in in his regular function on Saturday. By commerce, he’s a right-winger or a quantity 10, though he operated on the left towards Brighton, and carried out his function properly.

His stats from the sport confirmed simply how good he was towards the Seagulls. The 24-year-old had 49 touches and accomplished 83% of his passes. He labored impressively onerous off the ball, profitable 11 duels and 4 out of 4 tackles.

Kudus’ aim was important for the Hammers on Saturday and helped them to a hard-fought draw. His aim should have been to the reduction of considered one of his fellow attackers, Niclas Fullkrug, who struggled towards the Seagulls.

Fullkrug’s performances vs Brighton

It has not been a very good begin to life on the London Stadium for Fullkrug. The striker made the transfer from Borussia Dortmund for a reported charge of £27.5m, and the flop has not lived as much as that price ticket to this point.

The 31-year-old striker has performed simply eight occasions in all competitions, with seven of these video games, together with Saturday’s conflict with Brighton, coming within the Premier League. Frustratingly, he has missed 11 video games with an Achilles tendon damage.

In opposition to the South Coast aspect, the striker had no affect on the sport by any means, because the stats present. He barely obtained a kick regardless of main the road for the Hammers, having simply 13 touches in the complete recreation. The German accomplished only one go out of eight, leaving him with a go accuracy of 13%, and misplaced the ball eight occasions.

It’s honest to say that the centre-forward put in a particularly disappointing efficiency towards Brighton. The actual fact he struggled to get into the sport to that extent may be a priority for Lopetegui, given Michail Antonio can be out for the season.

Fullkrug was absolutely relieved to see Kudus discover the again of the web, incomes a vital level however he could properly have to look at on from the sidelines subsequent day out with Lopetegui absolutely reverting to Bowen because the main striker as an alternative.