Hello and welcome to
Sports Mole's live coverage of the Premier League encounter between
Brighton & Hove Albion and
West Ham United. Both clubs came away with draws from their matches in midweek, but the threat of relegation continues to hang over their heads. Let's see who
Chris Hughton and
David Moyes have selected in their respective starting lineups...
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION XI: Ryan; Schelotto, Duffy, Dunk, Bong; Knockaert, Stephens, Propper, Gross, Izquierdo; Murray
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION SUBSTITUTES: Krul, Goldson, Bruno, Kayal, March, Ulloa, Baldock
WEST HAM UNITED XI: Adrian; Byram, Collins, Ogbonna, Rice, Cresswell; Zabaleta, Noble, Kouyate, Mario; Hernandez
WEST HAM UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Hart, Reid, Fonte, Cullen, Haksabanovic, Antonio, Hugill
Let's start by taking a look at the Brighton side, with Hughton, somewhat surprisingly, choosing to leave
Leonardo Ulloa on the bench. I had expected the Argentine to be handed a start on his return to the Amex Stadium.
Glenn Murray remains in the side.
There is also a return to the bench for cult hero Bruno, who has missed the last three games through injury. Ezequiel Schelotto keeps his place at right-back, with the defence remaining the same from the 1-1 draw at Southampton.
However, there is a change further forward with Anthony Knockaert being given the nod over Jamie March. It's a sign of a more adventurous starting lineup from Hughton. That said, Knockaert only has two goals and one assist from his 22 top-flight outings this season.
Pascal Gross remains in the team, despite failing to have much of an impact in recent weeks, even months. The playmaker has not contributed an assist since October 29, while just one goal has come from his last 14 appearances.
LATEST! Before we get onto the West Ham team news, we shall bring you news of a goal at Turf Moor, where Burnley have just equalised against Manchester City!
Click here to follow the closing stages of that game.
Right then - West Ham. Moyes has opted to select an unchanged starting lineup for the trip to the Amex Stadium. Their extra 24 hours rest will have certainly aided his decision for this match. It means that we will probably get to see the East Londoners play in a 3-4-2-1 formation again.
If that's the case, Pablo Zabaleta is going to be used in central midfield. The Argentine has spent much of his time in English football at right-back but with Sam Byram having returned to the first team, it has given Moyes the chance to make use Zabaleta's experience in the middle of the park.
There are significant changes among the replacements, however, with
Jordan Hugill being brought straight into the squad after a deadline day move from Preston North End. Expect to see him during the second half if the Hammers need to find a breakthrough.
Michail Antonio also returns to the squad. Earlier in the week, Moyes made a point of announcing that the attacker has been late to a number of team meetings and that was the reason why he did not feature against Crystal Palace on Tuesday night. Antonio is a big player for Moyes and the Scot will be hoping that his stance gets a positive reaction.
RESULT! The full-time whistle has gone at Turf Moor and Burnley have earned an excellent point from their fixture with Manchester City. Sean Dyche will be delighted with that.
That result means that Man City now sit 16 points clear at the top of the standings, although Manchester United can reduce that with a win over Huddersfield Town this afternoon.
As far as Burnley are concerned, they strengthen their hold of seventh position, despite the fact that Leicester City can move ahead of them with success over Swansea City.
Brighton head into this match looking to record their first win in the Premier League during 2018. They have registered draws with fellow South-coast clubs Bournemouth and Southampton, but defeats to West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea have left the Seagulls just one point above the relegation zone.
It looks even worse for last season's Championship runners-up over the last 14 games, with just one win - at home to struggling Watford - and nine points coming during that period. Their bright start is long forgotten.
Goals have also been hard to come by. Just five have been scored during 13 games, and that includes two being netted in the same match against Bournemouth on New Year's Day. It's no surprise that a new striker was brought in before the end of January.
That man was
Leonardo Ulloa, who is no stranger to the club. During his first period at Brighton between January 2013 and July 2014, 26 goals were scored in 58 appearances in all competitions. We expect to see the Argentine during the second half.
However, it hasn't all been bad for Hughton's side. Victories have been recorded over Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough in the FA Cup, and Brighton will reach the last eight of the competition if they can come through a home tie against Coventry City.
We are all about different perspectives at Sports Mole and while, on the face of it, Brighton have a poor recent record, they have actually only lost three of their last 10 games, with two of those defeats coming against Chelsea.
However, the issue remains home wins in front of their home supporters, and it's something which Hughton has decided to highlight this week.
Click here to see what he has to say.
Let's turn our attention to West Ham, with the Hammers bringing a six-match unbeaten streak into this contest. It's a run which has included four wins and two draws and for all those people who criticised the appointment of Moyes, it's fair to say that the Scot has started to prove a point.
Moyes is also trying to achieve something which West Ham haven't done since 1974, which is to start a calendar year with six games without defeat. That can happen this afternoon but more importantly, it would be at least another point towards retaining their top-flight status.
West Ham sit in 12th place in the table and are seemingly out of trouble for now, but it should not be lost that they are just four points above the relegation zone. Brighton will also move level on points with the East London outfit with a win this afternoon so things can change quickly in the bottom half of the standings.
However, it should not come as a huge surprise if West Ham do lose this afternoon. In five games against newly-promoted sides this season, they have lost three times. Completing a double over Huddersfield Town has saved face on that front.
Jordan Hugill was brought in from Preston North End on deadline day and Moyes has taken a calculated risk with the signing of the 25-year-old. Hugill has scored just eight goals in 27 Championship games this season, but the striker has the potential to be a hit in the Premier League.
PREDICTION! This surely has to be a low-scoring game, doesn't it? Brighton will take the positives from avoiding defeat in this last two games in all competitions, but West Ham have been good on the road, aside from the defeat to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup. We are predicting a 1-1 draw.
HEAD TO HEAD! Today's meeting represents the 49th competitive meeting between the two sides, with West Ham claiming 18 wins in comparison to 16 victories for Brighton. Matches have been few and far between since the start of the millennium. Just six contests have taken place, with West Ham winning three and drawing once in half-a-dozen games.
However, the reverse fixture in October was one-way traffic in the favour of Brighton, who stormed to a 3-0 triumph at the London Stadium.
Click here to refresh your memories as the two teams make their way out onto the pitch.
A reminder of the two teams...
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION XI: Ryan; Schelotto, Duffy, Dunk, Bong; Knockaert, Stephens, Propper, Gross, Izquierdo; Murray
WEST HAM UNITED XI: Adrian; Byram, Collins, Ogbonna, Rice, Cresswell; Zabaleta, Noble, Kouyate, Mario; Hernandez
KICKOFF! Brighton get us underway at the Amex.
Ouch! In the first minute of this game, Bong challenges with Byram for a high ball and lands really awkwardly. That was a sore one. Bong has been down for a while receiving treatment.
Bong is back on his feet and looks ok to continue. From the resulting free kick, Duffy glanced a header a few yards wide of the target.
Brighton have started really brightly. A cross from Knockaert is an inviting one but Gross cannot get on the end of it.
West Ham's first attack of the match comes through Noble, who is given space to move forward before trying to tee up Cresswell for the cross. However, two Brighton men get back to make the interception.
GOAL! Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 West Ham United (Glenn Murray)
Brighton take the lead! The referee plays an excellent advantage after Knockaert is taken out by Cresswell - who eventually receives a yellow - but the fall fell to Gross, who played in Murray to beat Adrian from 10 yards out with a neat finish into the bottom corner.
SHOT! Murray is getting a little carried away. The veteran forward has just attempted an overhead kick from 16 yards but it goes off target.
Brighton have been excellent in these opening 12 minutes. West Ham are struggling to live with them. Hughton has gambled to a certain extent by including three attacking midfielders, but it is working so far.
This 3-4-2-1 formation is not working for West Ham in this match. Brighton are finding spaces all over the pitch and it is resulting in the Hammers having to chase everything. Moyes needs to consider a change.
West Ham finally come close to getting the ball into the penalty area but Brighton soon get men back in defence. Hernandez is already looking isolated.
Another period of possession in the final third for Brighton leads to a shot being taken from distance, but it was never threatening the target. A second goal at this stage would put West Ham completely onto the back foot.
In fairness to West Ham, they have improved over the past few minutes but they still look desperately short of options in the final third. Hernandez is going to struggle to keep hold of the ball when it comes his way.
Izquierdo scored a stunner against West Ham at the London Stadium and he has just attempted something similar. However, he slipped when striking the ball and his effort didn't even make the penalty area.
LATEST! There have been plenty of goals elsewhere. Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion both lead Bournemouth and Southampton respectively. Leicester City are also ahead against Swansea City.
CHANCE! West Ham should be level. Cresswell whips in a delightful cross from the left and Byram is free to power a header on goal. However, from eight yards out, his attempt is cleared off the line by a defender.
Brighton appeal for a penalty after Knockaert's shot strikes the hand or arm of Ogbonna but there is very little distance between the player and the ball. It would have been very harsh.
GOAL! Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 West Ham United (Javier Hernandez)
Now West Ham are level! It's a brilliant goal as well, started and finished by Hernandez. The Mexican benefits from a flick from Mario before taking over inside the penalty area, deceiving two defenders before finding the top corner from 14 yards. Stunning finish.
Brighton almost retake the lead! This is developing into an excellent game. Noble miscontrols inside the penalty area and the ball falls to Knockaert, but a Hammers player gets the block in when the winger shoots from 10 yards.
I predicted that this would be a low-scoring match but I'm expecting more goals in this one. Brighton remain the better side but West Ham are having more and more success in the final third.
We are going to have a break in play while Hernandez receives treatment on what appears to be a nose injury. The ball was volleyed into his face from close range by Propper.
Play has restarted and Brighton are back onto the offensive through Bong, who looks much more assured when attacking than he is when defending. The home side win a corner.
The set piece comes to nothing, with Schelotto helping the ball behind for a goal kick. Just six minutes left in this first half.
CHANCE! Almost a second for West Ham. Cresswell, again, sends a beautiful cross in from the left but Mario fails to make good contact with the ball, which goes well wide of the target.
CHANCE! Byram wastes another free header! Cresswell is the provider again but Byram - a little further out this time - sends his attempt high over the bar.
West Ham are finishing this half really strongly. They win a free kick on the right flank and Cresswell's set piece is headed behind for a corner. However, it comes to nothing.
There will be three minutes of added-on time.
Both teams have eased off in the last couple of minutes. I think they are both content to reach the break on level terms.
HALF TIME: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 West Ham United
The half-time whistle goes at the Amex Stadium and we remain on level terms. Brighton dominated the opening stages but West Ham deserve to be level for their response. I think that there will be more goals in this one.
Brighton needed just eight minutes to go ahead. Knockaert and Gross combined to play in Murray behind the West Ham defence and the veteran forward made no mistake with a cool finish from 10 yards out. It's his eighth goal of the Premier League this season.
West Ham's equaliser was also well made. Hernandez doesn't see a lot of the ball but he made full use of it, starting and ending a move which also included a neat flick from
Joao Mario by drilling a shot into the top corner from 14 yards out. The Mexican has now scored six goals in 20 top-flight outings during the current campaign.
Both managers will probably hold fire with their changes, but it probably won't be too long before we get to see one or both of Ulloa and Hugill. Neither team will want to lose but three points are up for grabs here.
The two teams are finally making their way back out. It's going to be a relatively late finish at the Amex.
KICKOFF! West Ham get us back underway.
No early chances for either side in the second half but it remains competitive in the middle of the park. West Ham will be the much happier with how things are going.
BOOKING! Dunk goes into the referee's notebook for a late challenge on Hernandez.
We have not seen much of Brighton in this second half but Murray is able to get in behind the West Ham defence and almost set up a teammate on the penalty spot. However, West Ham clear the ball for a corner, which doesn't come to anything.
I think that it may take the introduction of a substitute to change the course of this game. Neither team seems prepared to make all of the running or commit too many men forward.
On a related note, we are still awaiting our first shot of the second half. Defences are very much on top now.
LATEST! Over at The Hawthorns, Southampton now lead West Bromwich Albion by a 3-1 scoreline. What a turnaround. Swansea City have also equalised at Leicester City, so both teams will know that they cannot really afford a defeat in this game, especially Brighton.
GOAL! Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 West Ham United (Jose Izquierdo)
Wow. Izquierdo has just scored one of the goals of the season. The winger picked up the ball on the angle of the penalty area and curled a delightful effort into the far top corner. It's perfection. He scored a similar goal against West Ham at the London Stadium too.
West Ham are trying to mount an immediate response but I think Moyes needs to make a change. They are very much chasing the game now and they only have one recognised attacker on the pitch.
The Amex is rocking now. The home supporters are already beginning to anticipate just a fourth league win on the South coast this season. There is still 27 minutes to go!
SUBSTITUTION! Moyes makes his first change, which sees Antonio introduced for Rice.
CHANCE! West Ham's change in formation will probably lead to more space at the back for Brighton to exploit. Schelotto goes rampaging down the right before crossing for Gross, but the midfielder's header goes over.
West Ham are still to have a shot on goal during this second half. Moyes needs to take more of a gamble. Brighton haven't always looked assured at the back this afternoon.
You get the impression that Brighton are not prepared to settle for 2-1. It comes after they barely showed any ambition to get a second at 1-1! This game is ever changing and it's turning into an end-to-end encounter.
SUBSTITUTION! It's time for Ulloa. The returning forward comes on to a huge ovation. Murray is the man to make way.
Gross sees a shot deflected wide and Knockaert is unlucky not to get an effort away inside the penalty area after picking up the ball from distance. Brighton look the more likely here.
GOAL! Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 West Ham United (Pascal Gross)
Game over, surely. After a poor clearance from Collins, Brighton work the ball to Gross, who turns on the edge of the box before drilling a shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
SUBSTITUTION! A second switch for Brighton sees March come on for Knockaert.
SUBSTITUTION! Moyes makes another switch to his system, with Byram coming off and Zabaleta going to right-back. Hugill is on for his debut. Ten minutes to go. This is a big ask for the visitors.
BOOKING! Stephens goes into the book for a late lunge on Mario.
SUBSTITUTION! Brighton's next alteration sees Kayal brought on to replace Gross, who gets a standing ovation.
I don't think Hugill has touched the ball since his introduction. This game feels over. Much to ponder for Moyes, who is witnessing his team lose in the league for the first time in seven matches.
Each West Ham attack which comes to nothing is being greeted by cheers by Brighton. Their supporters appreciate that this is a significant victory in the context of their campaign.
There will be four minutes of added-on time.
CHANCE! It should be four! Brighton have men over inside the penalty area but after Kayal's shot is blocked by Adrian, March sends the rebound high over the crossbar.
We are all but done here. West Ham are having some possession but Brighton are content to see out this game.
FULL TIME: Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 West Ham United
The full-time whistle goes at the Amex Stadium and Brighton have comfortably held on to secure a 3-1 over West Ham. The game was even for just over an hour, but Izquierdo's stunning effort changed things. Brighton are now level on points with today's opponents.
That will be all from
Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon.
If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.