The Seagulls won't be flying high
It’s Friday night football to kick off the Premier League this weekend as a stuttering Brighton side entertain a rejuvenated West Ham. Will the visitors maintain their recent good form and continue to climb the table?
Brighton
The Seagulls aren’t exactly flying at the moment. 5 games without a win in the Premier League and an early exit from the Carabao cup is the most Brighton have managed since putting Man United to the sword in their first home game.
In their defence, the fixture list hasn’t been overly kind to them so far; they’ve played Liverpool, Spurs and both Manchester sides in their first seven games and have far from disgraced themselves in any of these. Narrow losses to Liverpool and Spurs could’ve have gone either way on any other day, while Chris Hughton won’t be losing too much sleep at being beaten 2-0 at the Etihad.
Having said this, he would’ve been disappointed with the two draws against Southampton and Fulham, sides likely to be in and around them this year, though, they have to be applauded for the courage they showed in coming from two goals down in both to take a share of the spoils.
Star of the show on each occasion was the evergreen Glenn Murray who has 4 already this term. Brighton need him to continue blossoming, especially with the other main goal threat, Pascal Gross, still sidelined.
West Ham
As for West Ham, they begun the season in typical West Ham fashion which amounts to somewhere between shocking and abysmal. Constant chopping and changing of players and formation contributed to four straight defeats and left them deservedly bottom with seemingly little hope.
The only way is up for the Hammers now
Yet, Manuel Pellergrini appears to have struck gold with the right personnel and shape to see the Bubbles flying high again. Central to the revival has been, who else, but Marco Arnautovic, flanked by new signings Andriy Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson, who is now off the mark in the goalscoring stakes following Saturday’s impressive victory over Man United.
Preceding that was also a resolute showing against Chelsea to earn a draw and a clinical away display at Everton, which ultimately proved the turning point for West Ham who still have big names in the shape of Wilshere, Hernandez, Carroll, Reid and Lanzini to come back from injury at some point. Surely, the only way is up for the Hammers now?
Match Tip
I don’t view this match the same way the bookies do. They have Brighton down as favourites which is hard to believe given current form.
I’ve managed to find great value in backing West Ham +0 Asian Handicap, which also covers the likelihood of a draw. The chance to more than double your money with odds of 21/20 (2.05) is a no brainer for me!
