Highlights - Brighton & HA 3-0 West Ham United PL2

 

Brighton and Hove Albion 3-0 West Ham United PL2

FT: That's it on the south coast, and it wasn't our afternoon. In the grand scheme of things, it's not a huge blow for the Hammers, who still qualify for the Cup knockout rounds, but it means it'll be an away tie to contend with at the next stage. Over and out from Brighton. Reaction to follow on our channels.

86: Spiegel's forced to tip a Hutchinson effort over the bar. Corner for Brighton, but it's claimed by the stopper.

85: Brighton are seeing these final minutes out in pretty comfortable fashion. Can West Ham grab a consolation goal late on here?

78: Final Hammers change sees Knoyle replaced by Akinola.

73: Parfitt-Williams now leaves the field for Jahmal Hector-Ingram. The sub will play alongside Fletcher, seeing fellow substitute Scully move to the left.

70: Much better attacking football from the Hammers as Knoyle gets in behind the Brighton full-back on the right hand side, crossing into the box but playing it just behind Fletcher. The balls falls to Quina who tries his luck from 25 yards but it's off target.

68: Another piece of vital defending from Pask as he cuts out a killer pass through the middle which would have seen Connolly one-on-one with Spiegel. 

62: Josh Pask saves a certain goal as Tilley's close range volley smashes him on the side and canons out for a corner. West Ham deal with that danger and look to build from the back once again.

59: First effort on goal for Djair Parfitt-Williams, who scored against the Seagulls at Dagenham earlier this season. His chipped shot sails over and wide, though. It hasn't been the Hammers' afternoon so far.

57: First sub of the afternoon as Neufville is replaced by Anthony Scully.

55: A half chance for the Hammers to cut the deficit as Quina swings in a free-kick. Fletcher gets up well but can't head the ball downwards and his attempt flies over.

50: Goal number three for Brighton. George Cox delivers a lovely cross into the area from the left and Connolly - who scored two here against the Hammers in the league - rises highest to head home.

46: We're off once again on the south coast. Can the Hammers get themselves back into this tie?

HT: And that's it for the half. We dominated the early proceedings but to be fair to Brighton, they've looked comfortable since taking the lead. There's plenty of work to do in the second period.

43: An immediate chance to equalise! Parfitt-Williams looks set to score from eight yards, but Ben White puts in an excellent last ditch sliding challenge to deny him. Great defending.

41: Goal. Tilley tucks home the penalty with his left foot, sending Spiegel the wrong way and putting it into the bottom right corner.

41: Penalty for the hosts. Knoyle pulls back Cox in the area and it's a chance for Brighton to double their lead from 12 yards.

37: Another Quina effort, another Sanchez save. The keeper was behind the Portuguese's effort the whole way, after he was teed up by Fletcher. 

34: Tyler Forbes is next to go inches away from a Brighton second. The winger races down the right and past Neufville, only to send a skimmer just wide of the right hand post.

30: Excellent stop from big Raphael Spiegel! The keeper does well to stay big and deny Connolly from point blank range.

29: Quina has the chance to swing in a lovely set piece from the left but it's marginally over the head of Fletcher and Sanchez can claim. West Ham, after conceding both a goal and the initiative here, are slowly starting to regain control.

26: Another chance for the hosts. James Tilley cuts in from the left hand side and slides one just wide of Spiegel's far post from 20 yards. Not far away, that one.

22: Close, but this time for West Ham! Fletcher tries to bulldoze his way past a few challenges and is tackled, but the ball breaks to Sylvestre who pulls the trigger from 25 yards. He connects well, but Sanchez is behind the drive.

18: Close. It's almost a second for Albion. Bjordal gets past Pask and Rice but just before he can pull the trigger, Neufville comes across to make a great challenge.

17: Goal. The hosts lead. Brighton go down the left hand side and a cross eventually squirms its way to Henrik Bjordal inside the box. He's allowed time to turn and slot past Spiegel to give Brighton the lead.

16: A superb passing move from the Hammers is eventually ended by Brighton keeper Sanchez. After around 25 or 30 passes, Knoyle's cross from the right is cut out. Superb football.

12: Brighton of course are happy to let West Ham have the ball as they would be content with a draw today. That's exactly what they're doing, and it's inviting West Ham pressure. Fletcher has another go at goal but his deflected effort is easily saved.

8: The bright start continues. Quina drives forward and smashes one at goal from 25 yards, but it flies well over. Positive stuff though from the Hammers.

4: Rice tries a flick at the front post but it's cleared. The Hammers regain possession and begin to build from the back again...

3: West Ham are knocking it around really well early on and Ashley Fletcher was almost in. In the end his attempt was blocked at the last minute. Corner for the visitors with Domingos Quina to take.

1: We're underway at Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League Cup.

12:45pm: It's a chilly one on the south coast with plenty of wind and rain driving into the hosts' Amex Elite Performance Centre base. We'll be underway in 15 minutes or so.

12:30pm: Brighton are the other club vying for top spot in Group E, and a draw for them would do today. The Seagulls have 12 points while the Hammers have ten, however today's hosts have a superior goal difference. A win is most certainly the aim this afternoon.

Brighton & HA: Sanchez, Rosenior, Cox, Hutchinson, Dallison, White, Forbes (Davies 76), Molumby, Connolly, Bjordal (Collar 81), Tilley.

Subs: Barclay, Collings, Hall.

Goals: Bjordal 17, Tilley (pen) 41, Connolly 50

PL2: Spiegel, Knoyle (Akinola 78), Pask, Rice, Neufville (Scully 57), Coventry, Sylvestre, Kemp, Quina, Parfitt-Williams (Hector-Ingram 73), Fletcher.

Subs: Trott, Powell.

12pm: Good afternoon! It's an early one for the young Hammers today as they take on Brighton and Hove Albion in their final Group E game in the Premier League Cup. They've already qualified for the knockout rounds but a win would see them finish top ahead of today's opponents, and therefore draw a home tie in the next round. So, there's plenty to play for! Team news to follow shortly.