Daily WHUFC News - 21st October 2017

Hammers bested by Brighton at London Stadium
WHUFC.com

Two goals from Glenn Murray and a strike by Jose Izquierdo condemned West
Ham United to a 3-0 defeat at home to Brighton and Hove Albion. In a
disappointing evening at London Stadium the Irons, despite controlling the
possession, were made to pay for mistakes that Chris Hughton's Seagulls
pounced on. Murray headed home after just 10 minutes and Izquierdo fired
home from distance to put Brighton 2-0 up at half-time, and a penalty in the
second period secured the points for the away team. The first real
meaningful chance of the game provided the first goal. A well-placed ball in
from a free-kick by Brighton's Pascal Gross evaded the West Ham defence,
finding Murray, who was able to head into the ground and past Joe Hart after
just ten minutes. With a goal to their name Brighton seemed comfortable
sitting back, protecting their lead, and inviting pressure from the Hammers.
Arthur Masuaku saw a shot from distance blocked while a well-timed tackle on
Manuel Lanzini stopped the Argentinian from shooting in a dangerous area.
Two efforts from outside the area by Pedro Obiang were also dealt with by
the Seagulls before Chicharito had a half-volleyed shot deflected away and
then a low effort skid just wide of the far post. These missed chances came
back to haunt the home side however and Izquierdo doubled the away team's
tally just before half-time with a long-ranged effort that Hart could not
keep out, despite getting a hand to the ball.
The second half, much like the first, started with West Ham controlling
possession but struggled to get through a resolute Brighton team. Lanzini
saw two free-kicks miss the target as one went over the bar and the other
deflected wide of the near post. West Ham's miserable evening was compounded
15 minutes before the end as Brighton were awarded a penalty, which Murray
comfortably dispatched for his second and his side's third of the game.

West Ham United: Hart; Zabaleta, Reid (c), Fonte, Masuaku; Obiang, Kouyate
(Ayew 46'), Antonio, Lanzini, Arnautovic (Fernandes 73'); Chicharito
Subs not used: Adrian, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Byram, Noble

Brighton: Ryan, Bruno (c), Bong, Dunk, Stephens, Knockaert (Schelotto 84'),
Gross (Brown 77'), Murray, Izquierdo (March 69'), Duffy, Propper
Subs not used: Krul, Goldson, Suttner, Molumby
Goals: Murray 10 75' (p)', Izquierdo 45 +1'

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Fonte: We are all frustrated and we apologise
WHUFC.com

Jose Fonte apologised to supporters after West Ham United were beaten 3-0 by
Brighton and Hove Albion on Friday. Two Glenn Murray strikes either side of
Jose Izquierdo's long-range curler sealed the points for Chris Hughton's men
during a disappointing night for the Hammers. Manuel Lanzini and Chicharito
had the hosts' best opportunities in the first half, but the visitors
defended well to grab their first ever Premier League win on the road.
Portugal international Fonte was left gutted at the full time whistle and
assured fans the side will do everything they can to turn things around. "We
are all disappointed, we are all frustrated and we apologise," the
centre-back said. "It was not the performance we wanted to produce and it
wasn't the performance the fans deserve. "We need to look at ourselves in
the mirror because this cannot happen. It happened a few times last season,
and we have to put this right. This is West Ham and it's just not possible
[to let this happen]. "We have got to move on. We have a game Wednesday and
we need to go and beat Spurs because we have to react, we have to bounce
back."

The Hammers' night began in the worst possible fashion when Murray nodded
Pascal Gross' set-piece into the ground and past Joe Hart with just ten
minutes on the clock to give his side the lead. And with Slaven Bilic's side
pushing for an equaliser for the majority of the remainder of the opening
period, Brighton hit them on the break and doubled their lead spectacularly
with Izquierdo's strike. Murray grabbed his second from the penalty spot
after Pablo Zabaleta had fouled the forward and Fonte admitted all three
goals were hard to accept. "The first goal, from the set piece, when we
didn't do anything was difficult to take," he continued. "We had a lot of
possession but we couldn't create and it's disappointing. "I'm not going to
say it is unacceptable because the players, we tried hard. We tried the best
we could. It just didn't go our way. The second goal was a great shot from
outside the box and we go into the break 2-0 down. "Second half, we came
with the mentality of getting the goal back and trying to get back into the
game and the only occasion they came [forward] in the second half, they got
a penalty. "The fans don't like to lose 3-0 at home, we don't like to
either. We are going to work very hard on the training ground to not let
them down again like this. "Of course we have to look at ourselves in the
mirror. Everyone needs to work hard and we need to bounce back."

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Bilic: I take full responsibility for Brighton defeat
WHUFC.com

Slaven Bilic admitted West Ham United had not risen to the occasion in
losing a 'very important' game 3-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion. The Hammers
went into Friday night's fixture with the Seagulls at London Stadium knowing
a victory would take them into the Premier League's top ten, but slumped to
a frustrating and disappointing defeat to Chris Hughton's newly-promoted
team. Glenn Murray's double and a long-range strike from José Izquierdo on
the stroke of half-time condemned Bilic's side to a loss that the manager
was at a loss to explain. "It's a bad performance from us," he said. "The
goals killed us. The first one was very quick and between the first and
second goal we were dominating the game and we were there and put a lot of
balls in the box, but they defended the balls really well and then in those
moments at the end of the first half, we conceded the second one from a good
bit of individual skill from their player. "We tried to come back, but it's
very difficult for me to say anything clever now. All I can say is that it
was very disappointing and frustrating and as manager I take full
responsibility for that. "We all wanted to win. It happened to us a few
times last season at a time when we thought we were in a good situation, in
good form and all that and we had a home game like this, with the greatest
respect to them, when we thought we would get three points and climb up the
table and play with less negative pressure and we don't do it. "You start
the game with good shape and good confidence, but then they score and it's
1-0 for them and it gives them a boost. In the first half we played good
football, then they scored a second one, and it's affected the way we played
the game. "We were playing good football, but we were very sterile. On the
contrary, they were there in the situations when they could expose the
situations when we left space because we were losing and we wanted to take
risks. They were lethal and used it in the best possible way for them. "Why
did it happen? To be fair, I don't know. It looked very good on the training
ground and in the last few games we were getting players back in shape, but
we didn't look good enough."

When asked what effect West Ham's defeat would have on his own role, the
manager was typically honest, but insisted he would not give up his own
ambitions to forge a successful Hammers side in the future. "It is
definitely not a good situation and the Board will do what they're going to
do. It is their decision, but all I am saying is that we have been in this
situation before and got out of that. "As a manager, you are taking the
credit but on the other hand you are taking full responsibility for that and
I don't want to hide or get away from that. "I am not worried at all about
that, to be fair. I am doing my best, but when you lose 3-0 at home to
Brighton in a game that it's not must, must-win as it's not that stage of
the sason, but it was a very important game for us and we didn't make it. I
am a fighter, but it's not my decision."

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