Aaron Wan-Bissaka fell to the ground in shock, Lucas Paqueta shook his head in frustration, exasperation gripped Tomas Soucek and Maximilian Kilman, while Graham Potter stood motionless on the touchline.
West Ham had been leading 2-1 in the 83rd minute against Brighton & Hove Albion, courtesy of Soucek’s header.
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But they capitulated, conceding goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Carlos Baleba in the 89th minute and stoppage time. It is the fifth time since March that West Ham have struggled to see out games.
Against Everton on March 15, Jake O’Brien equalised in the 91st minute. On April 5, Bournemouth’s Evanilson made it 2-2 in the 79th minute. On April 13, Virgil van Dijk’s late header gave Liverpool a 2-1 win at Anfield. Last week, Lesley Ugochukwu scored a 93rd-minute leveller in the 1-1 draw with Southampton.
Post-match, Paqueta was helped off the turf by a member of Potter’s backroom staff. While the home fans sang along to ‘Freed From Desire’, those in the away enclosure just wanted to be freed from the Amex Stadium.
Captain Jarrod Bowen and Soucek were crestfallen as they stood in the penalty area looking into the distance. The duo later gave their shirts to supporters but it was little comfort given the manner of the loss.
Soucek gave West Ham a late lead… but it was short-lived (Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
“We were happy with how we played for 85 minutes,” Soucek told West Ham’s website after the game. “I think we were on it, showed how we wanted to play and what we wanted to show our fans, but obviously, we cannot just switch off and think we have won the game already.
“We have to be focused for 100 minutes, even if there’s a bit of extra time. It just shouldn’t happen. Some people think it’s bad luck, some think it’s a coincidence (that we have lost too many late goals), and some have said other things, but I think it’s all (those things) together.”
West Ham are winless in their last seven Premier League games, their longest such run since January 2023. Their last victory was against Leicester City on February 27. Since replacing Julen Lopetegui as head coach in January, Potter has won only three of his 14 league games, losing seven and drawing four. They remain 17th following the defeat by Brighton ahead of upcoming games against Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town.
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Discontent is brewing among fans, who expressed their annoyance at Niclas Fullkrug’s non-inclusion in the starting XI. The Germany international was dropped after launching a diatribe against his team-mates following the draw to Southampton.
The 32-year-old, who replaced James Ward-Prowse at half-time, criticised his colleagues for playing negatively as they let two points slip and accused them of having a mindset problem. “Big f****** German, he says what he wants”, “The German’s right, we’re f****** shite” and, “Get the German on the pitch” were among the chants.
Post-match, Potter said the fanbase are entitled to sing what they want.
(Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
Disgruntlement has also heightened because of the team’s frequent lapses in concentration. It is their weakness in the latter stages of games, so much so that it was part of Brighton’s gameplan.
“We mentioned how we wanted to play the last 10 minutes if we needed a goal,” said manager Fabian Hurzeler. “That was impressive because it was an emotional end to the game. We had the belief and we responded well to the two setbacks.”
Before Mitoma’s equaliser, Brajan Gruda is in acres of space before he assists his team-mate.
Kilman is marking Mitoma but loses the forward as he drifts forward in the hope that the assistant referee flags for offside.
But the error from Kilman allowed Brighton to restore parity. Soucek looks towards his team-mate in bemusement, while Bowen slams the turf in anger.
Three minutes later, Diego Gomez plays a short corner to Yankuba Minteh. But there is no immediate urgency from West Ham to close down the attack. It is why Pervis Estupinan urges his colleague to cross the ball into the box. Minteh advances and Alphonse Areola repels the danger.
For Brighton’s winner, Baleba is in possession — but, again, there is no immediate urgency to prevent the midfielder from shooting.
Bowen attempts to block the shot but it is too little, too late.
Against Southampton, Ugochukwu was unmarked before scoring the equaliser. As he advances into the box, he is positioned between Carlos Soler and Evan Ferguson.
But neither anticipates the ball falling to the midfielder…
Before Evanilson’s equaliser in the draw with Bournemouth, Kilman plays their attackers onside during a set piece. This is the clearest example yet of the breakdown in communication between West Ham’s defenders.
Dean Huijsen wins the contesting header and assists an unmarked Evanilson…
Potter suggested his players should be held accountable following their loss against Brighton, his former club.
“There’s a requirement in this league to be physically and mentally strong to see out winning situations in difficult places like Goodison Park, Anfield and here,” said the head coach. “We weren’t able to do so, everything is focused on that, which is a shame because there were lots of good things in the game. But I can’t take solace from that because we’ve lost.
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“Honestly, I don’t want to speak about anything positive because I’m in too much pain to talk about positives. No one wants to hear that now, although there were some.
“We’ve lost, two goals have gone in from 35 metres, congratulations to Brighton, we’re suffering. I’m not a robot, I’m a human being as well. I give everything to what I’m doing. Of course I’m going to be upset and frustrated. I have to come here and speak calmly to you guys, but that’s not how I’m feeling inside. If you want me to swear, I can swear.”
It would not be the first time someone associated with West Ham has felt the need to use an expletive.
(Header photo: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
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