Brighton vs West Ham Prediction

🔊 Can Brighton break back into the top five with their upcoming clash against West Ham? Under the guidance of Nuno Espirito Santo, the Hammers have finally put a string of points together, although they haven't tasted victory in their last three outings. However, they've only suffered one defeat in their last five matches. Meanwhile, the Seagulls faced their first home defeat of the season in the previous round. Can the Londoners hand Brighton a second consecutive loss at the Amex? Let's evaluate the odds for both teams in our editorial prediction.

Head-to-Head

📊 The dynamics in the last ten matches between these teams show a tendency towards draws, with five of the games ending in a stalemate. Brighton have claimed victory four times, while West Ham have managed to come out on top just once. In 7 out of these 10 encounters, both teams found the back of the net.

Brighton & Hove Albion Team Overview

Heading into the 14th round, Brighton were on a four-game unbeaten streak. During that stretch, the Seagulls secured three wins and one draw, climbing into the Premier League's top five, despite recently hovering around the mid-table. Their latest defeat to Aston Villa (3-4) didn't significantly impact their league position. Currently, Fabian Hurzeler's side sit in seventh place, just a point shy of the coveted European qualification spots.

In Brighton's home clash against Aston Villa, physical battles took center stage, often occurring near both goals. A series of deflections from both sides in the first half resulted in a 2-1 lead for the Seagulls. However, right before halftime, the Villans managed to level the score. In the second half, the hosts continued to struggle defensively and conceded twice more. By the end of the match, they managed to pull one back, finishing 3-4.

West Ham United Team Overview

The arrival of Nuno Espírito Santo hasn't significantly altered West Ham's position in the Premier League table. Under the Portuguese manager, the Hammers have climbed just two spots—from 19th to 17th. However, their recent form over the past five matches has brought them closer to escaping the relegation zone. They are now just two points shy of the crucial 16th place.

West Ham are winless in their last three matches, but their fixture list hasn't been kind. They've faced teams all vying for European competition spots this season. Their matches against Bournemouth, Liverpool, and Manchester United were statistically disappointing. Nevertheless, the Hammers only lost to the Reds (0-2), while they managed draws with the Cherries (2-2) and the Red Devils (1-1).

Latest news

Brighton & Hove Albion

💰 Tony Bloom, the billionaire owner of Brighton, finds himself embroiled in a scandal over allegations that he was the anonymous gambler who won $70 million, reportedly placing bets on his own football teams. Bloom, one of the world's most successful professional gamblers, is allegedly the "John Doe" mentioned in a U.S. court case investigating who benefited from a series of winnings. In a conversation with The Guardian, Bloom refused to confirm whether he is indeed "John Doe." However, he denied placing bets on his teams or competitions involving them, and a source close to him described the allegations as completely false.

❌ Brighton have been hit with a double blow in their last two Premier League fixtures, losing two key players. Jorginho Rutter suffered a concussion in the match against Nottingham, while Stefan Tsimas's three-game scoring streak was halted due to a knee injury in their recent clash with Aston Villa. Additionally, Kaoru Mitoma, James Milner, Solly March, and Adam Webster remain sidelined in the team's injury list.

West Ham United

🎙 West Ham's head coach praised team captain Jarrod Bowen. "Jarrod is an outstanding leader, and without him, the team would be in disarray. It's challenging to lead a team as a forward. Our former leaders over the years, like Mark Noble or Declan Rice, were midfielders. They could see everything on the pitch and be at the heart of the action. If Bowen wants to give any instructions, he might be on the other half of the field, which complicates things. But it doesn't matter. Just his presence instills confidence in his teammates," noted Nuno Espírito Santo.

❌ In the 15th round, Lucas Paquetá will return to the field after serving a suspension following a red card. The participation of Crysencio Summerville is doubtful as he recovers from a calf injury. Oliver Scarles will definitely miss out due to shoulder issues, and Igor Julio, on loan from Brighton, will not feature for West Ham.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The match will be officiated by the head referee Simon Hooper. He has the highest average of yellow cards in the last 20 Premier League matches, with a rate of 4.8. Matches involving either team rarely approach this figure, as in their last five games, they averaged 3.4 yellow cards. The same goes for their head-to-head encounters: in the previous eight meetings, the total number of bookings did not exceed 3.5. Given Hooper's officiating style, there might be more stoppages in the game. However, tactical fouls remain part of the game and should not influence the total yellow cards under 3.5.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

Despite their lackluster attacking stats, West Ham consistently find the back of the net. In 6 out of their last 7 matches, the Hammers have managed to score. Brighton, on the other hand, struggle with defensive reliability, conceding 20 goals—a stat that ranks them in the top 12 of the league. Additionally, the Seagulls have failed to keep a clean sheet in 9 of their last 10 matches at the Amex. Our prediction: West Ham will score a goal.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Nuno Espírito Santo is a highly adaptable manager. Depending on the level of opposition, his West Ham side can shift from a 3-4-3 formation to a 4-2-3-1 when they need to sit back and play on the counter. In the first setup, dynamic wings come into play, with Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paquetá excelling, supported by Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Malik Diouf from midfield flanks. In the second setup, the same players are involved, but Paquetá often assumes a playmaker role, with Tomáš Souček occasionally joining him in that capacity.

With such flexibility, the Hammers can execute both positional attacks and threats from the wings, frequently leading to set pieces near the opponent's goal. In 6 of their last 7 Premier League matches, the Londoners have delivered at least four corners. We expect the bet on West Ham's total corners over 3.5 to come through at the Amex.

Bookmakers aren't giving West Ham much of a chance, labeling them solid underdogs. However, we suggest considering some less obvious insights about these two teams. The Seagulls are known for their strong performances against top sides, but they often struggle against lower-tier clubs. Additionally, Fabian Hurzeler's team isn't particularly organized defensively. Even at the Amex, Brighton have failed to keep a clean sheet in 9 of their last 10 outings, though they have consistently found the net in those matches.

Head-to-head clashes with the Hammers have frequently ended with both teams scoring (7 out of the last 10 encounters). Given these dynamics, betting on both teams to score (yes) seems logical. We give a slight edge to the hosts, who appear stronger over the long haul (2-1).