On 2 January, one of the matches of the 20th round of the English football championship took place. West Ham (London) and Brighton (England) met.
English Championship, 20th round
West Ham (London) - Brighton (England) - 0:0 (0:0)
Warnings: B. Johnson (31)
In a much-anticipated Premier League encounter, West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion played out a goalless draw at the legendary London Stadium. Despite the lack of goals, the match was filled with excitement and intriguing moments, keeping fans of both teams on edge. The first half started with West Ham dominating the pitch and raring to go in search of a breakthrough. However, Brighton's defence stood firm and repelled all attacks. The 0-0 score at half-time was a testament to the resilience and organisation of both teams. In the second half the game became more active, with both sides creating opportunities to take the lead. The first notable incident occurred in the 31st minute, when West Ham player B. Johnson was shown a yellow card. This caution served as a stark reminder to both teams that aggression must be restrained in order to maintain composure. As the game progressed, both managers decided to make substitutions in an attempt to change the dynamic of the game. In the 67th minute, Brighton's D. Welbeck came into the game in place of E. Ferguson. Fresh legs gave the Brighton attacking line the much needed energy, forcing the West Ham defence to remain vigilant.
In the 73rd minute, West Ham responded with a substitution of their own, bringing on S. Benrahma in place of D. Mubama. This tactical substitution should have given the Hammers some creativity in the final third, but Brighton's defence continued to repel their attacks. In the 74th minute Brighton made two substitutions to further strengthen their defensive line. A. Webster came on in place of J. Moder and F. Buonanotte replaced A. Lallana. These changes were aimed at preserving Brighton's defence and securing a precious point away from home. The final whistle sounded and both teams got a point for their efforts. It was a hard fought game in which neither side could break the deadlock. While West Ham United may have been disappointed that they could not get a win on their home pitch, Brighton were pleased with their strong defence and ability to neutralise their opponents. The match ended in a 0-0 draw and fans are looking forward to the next instalment of this exciting Premier League campaign. Both teams showed their strengths and highlighted areas that need improvement as the season progresses. With many more matches to come, West Ham and Brighton will have to convert missed chances into goals and earn valuable points in the standings.
In the next round of matches, the rivals are waiting for such matches: Sheffield United - West Ham, Brighton - Wolverhampton.
| West Ham | Brighton | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Kicks to the goal | 7 |
| 6 | Kicks | 20 |
| 0 | Blocked shots | 4 |
| 4 | Penalty kicks | 16 |
| 2 | Kicks from outside the penalty box | 4 |
| 4 | Offences | 6 |
| 2 | Corner | 0 |
| 3 | Offsides | 1 |
| 32% | Ball possession | 68% |
| 1 | Yellow cards | 0 |
| 0 | Red cards | 0 |
| 7 | Keeper saves | 2 |
| 378 | Total assists | 843 |
| 308 | Accurate assists | 779 |
| 81% | Accuracy of passes | 92% |