Yahoo Finance West Ham’s forwards flounder and David Moyes needs a quick-fire improvement
West Ham were made to pay for their floundering forwards once more as Neal Maupay’s acrobatic late goal made it three games without a win for the Hammers.
David Moyes has been demanding more from his attacking quartet after two stodgy showings against Wolves and Manchester City, but did not get the response he wanted here.
One player was at least listening to their manager, with Tomas Soucek making good on Moyes’s show of faith this week by scoring his first goal since the opening day of the season.
Pablo Fornals whipped a devilish corner to the near post of Robert Sanchez’s goal where Soucek rose to flick on past the helpless goalkeeper.
After a flying start, the hosts should have kicked on and taken control. West Ham have been deadly on the break at times this season, their last game here the prime evidence when they ripped through Liverpool time and again here. Brighton dominated possession but left acres of space on the break which West Ham could not capitalise on.
Despite Brighton’s dominance, the hosts did think they had doubled the lead from an early second half corner but, after a lengthy delay VAR delay, the goal was chalked off.
"I don’t think we’re in the game to chalk goals off,” said Moyes. “My understanding is that it came off the back of Duffy’s leg which would constitute a goal. Whoever did it must have had a very, very clear picture. I found that decision very difficult."
Michail Antonio, who now has just one goal in his last ten West Ham games, transforms the way the Hammers play but is a hindrance when he is playing like this, too slow and unsure of himself.
The 31-year-old, West Ham’s only senior striker, was not helped by those behind him. Fornals, Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma were not clicking. Bowen found his way through on one occasion but a poor finish outside the far post let him down.
A run of three games without a win is disappointing for anyone, especially with Chelsea to visit on Sunday, though West Ham remain inside the Premier League’s top four even after that run.
If they want to remain there, though, the east Londoners will need to sharpen up.
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