West Ham v Brighton: It hasn't happened in 34 years but it will tonight in the Premier League

West Ham United players celebrate

By MEGA SPORT247

Friday, October 20, 2017

West Ham and Brighton go into Friday night’s clash on the back of 1-1 draws that were very nearly victories. With that in mind, both sides will be eager to secure all three points at the London Stadium. But which team do the stats suggest will fare best?
This will be the first top-flight meeting between West Ham and Brighton since March 1983
West Ham have won just one of their four top-flight encounters with Brighton, drawing one and losing two. That solitary Hammers win came in the form of a 2-1 home victory in March 1983; Brighton won the reverse fixture 3-1. The season before, Brighton won 1-0 at home following a goalless draw at West Ham. Slaven Bilic’s side will be thankful for the TV scheduling this time around - United have won both of their previous Premier League matches played on a Friday, including the 1-0 win over Tottenham last season.
West Ham To Win Is 22/25
Brighton have won only one of their seven league trips to West Ham
The Seagulls’ league record at West Ham isn’t promising going into this one. They’ve lost four and drawn two of those visits, winning just one. Their most recent league trip to West Ham was disastrous, losing 6-0 at Upton Park in the 2011/12 Championship season. The Hammers were promoted to the Premier League via the playoffs that year, while Brighton finished tenth in the second tier. Both sides have made mixed starts to the current campaign, earning eight points each after eight fixtures.
Brighton To Win Is 19/5
West Ham have kept five clean sheets in their last seven home league games
It’s safe to say West Ham have been tough to break down at the London Stadium lately, but once a breakthrough is made the floodgates can open. They may have kept five clean sheets in their last seven Premier League matches at home, but they’ve shipped seven goals in the two games in which they’ve conceded; three against Spurs last month and four against Liverpool last season. The hosts must find a way to stay in games if they concede or they might find themselves slipping down the table.
Over 2.5 Away Goals Is 12/1
Brighton have scored just once in four away games in the Premier League this season
Fortunately for West Ham, they’re up against a Brighton side who’ve had trouble putting the ball in the net on the road so far this term. Solly March’s header in the 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth last month remains their only Premier League goal in four away matches this season. Chris Hughton’s side have lost three and drawn one of those four games, their only point coming in the 0-0 draw at ten-man Watford in August. Improved form on the road may be the key to Brighton’s survival come the end of the season.
West Ham To Win With A Clean Sheet Is 19/10
Pascal Gross has been directly involved in 83% of Brighton’s Premier League goals
With two goals and three assists, Pascal Gross has had a hand in five of Brighton five league goals this term. That’s 83%, the best ratio in the top flight. Since August 2015, Gross has created the same amount of goalscoring opportunities for teammates as Kevin de Bruyne (211); only five players in Europe’s top five leagues have created more than that in the same period, which shows just how important the German is to Albion.