West Ham and Brighton serve up stalemate
Brighton and West Ham cancelled each other out (Mike Egerton/PA)
Weary West Ham and burned-out Brighton served up a lifeless goalless draw to dent both sides’ top-five ambitions.
Two makeshift teams were missing 16 first-team players between them through injury, illness or suspension, and in West Ham’s case also due to the Africa Cup of Nations which has cost them the services of in-form forward Mohammed Kudus for a month.
Given that it was West Ham’s ninth game in a month, and Brighton’s eighth, managers David Moyes and Roberto De Zerbi would probably have shaken hands on a draw before kick-off and gone to watch the darts instead.
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As it was, 60,000 people had to battle a storm to get to the London Stadium before sitting through a match played at a snail’s pace.
It was Brighton’s first goalless draw in 48 Premier League games, their last coming against Nottingham Forest in October 2022.
There was at least something to celebrate for midfielder James Milner, whose 632nd Premier League appearance moved him level with former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs for second on the all-time list.
During an opening half an hour of new year lethargy, West Ham had a half-hearted penalty appeal waved away when Edson Alvarez tripped over Billy Gilmour’s leg. Emerson Palmieri then scuffed a shot wide.
James Ward-Prowse saw a volley well saved by Jason Steele before Jarrod Bowen’s cross was headed over the crossbar by Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Said Benrahma was back in the West Ham line-up (Adam Davy/PA)
Said Benrahma, left out of
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