West Ham’s trip to the Amex should have ended in a statement victory, especially with the Hammers coming off a dramatic late draw at Old Trafford where they equalised deep into stoppage time to steal a point from Manchester United, Softfootball reports.
Instead, what followed on the South Coast was another whirlwind of frustration, controversial officiating, and a stoppage-time sucker punch that left West Ham fans fuming and Brighton supporters relieved but still unimpressed with their own team’s performance.
The match ended 1-1 after Geogino Rutter struck late, but the reactions online painted a much wider emotional picture. West Ham fans felt robbed, questioning the handball rule, the dangerous-play decision, and Nuno Espírito Santo’s late-game approach. Brighton fans, on the other hand, admitted they were lucky, openly criticising their own players and questioning Fabian Hurzeler’s tactical direction despite the dramatic equaliser.
WEST HAM FANS FUME OVER CONTROVERSIAL GOAL
Booby Seagull captured the overall mood of balance and frustration:
Most Hammers fans would have taken 1-1 before the game, especially against our bogey team Brighton. But gutted to have conceded in stoppage time. Big picture: Two points away at Old Trafford and the Amex is not a bad few days.
Andrew Kane was furious with the officiating:
Cannot understand the decision to allow the goal. 100% dangerous play with the high boot on Dinos and then the Brighton player traps the ball with his arm. It may have been accidental, but he gained a huge advantage from the touch!
Richard B praised the performance but was heartbroken by the ending:
Heartbreaking – the boys played so well. Brilliant 2nd half and for once we were the best team. So much to like about that performance – well done boys ⚒️ proud of you.
LP Collins echoed the confusion over the allowed goal:
Take a point any day of the week but I don’t get how their goal can stand?! Handball is still handball even if it’s accidental 🤷🏻♂️ Good performance overall. Good to see Bowen back with a goal. Really could do with beating Villa next week who play away in Basel on Thurs. #COYI ⚒️
Chris slammed both the refereeing and Nuno’s late-game strategy:
Disgusting refereeing TWO separate incidents to disallow the goal (hope Mavropanos has a spare skull) but sorry this park it when we’re leading no matter the minute is boiling my brain, IT NEVER WORKS.
Westham captain and goalscorer of the day, Jarrod Bowen spoke to the press via the team’s X handle, the Englishman reflected on his goal and the overall performance of the team, citing the need to improve their performances. Watch video below
Freddie added:
Questionable decisions from Nuno again, but their goal should’ve been handball. Whatever the rules say though, his hand controlling it perfectly into his path in the buildup to scoring has to be disallowed.
Bobert Barr found positives but still felt the blow:
Gutted conceding so late but from the doom of 6 weeks back there are positives. Outside of Liverpool it’s been good. Staying up is a priority. But hoping for a good FA Cup run. See what business we do in Jan but Nuno’s doing a decent job so far.
West ham United after the game, via its official X handle, shared an exclusive angle of Jarrod Bowen’s goal that put the hammers in front during the game. Watch video below
Adsjo focused on missed chances and the inconsistency of handball calls:
Should have won, had 3 excellent chances and need to start putting them away, but the dubious hand ball cost us. It’s like a 50/50 every time there’s a hand ball now. Absolutely ridiculous!
Mary highlighted both the disappointment and individual performances:
So sad two points lost and still in the bottom three. In terms of effort they gave a good account of themselves. Happy for Bowen to get his goal, good assist from Wilson and his runs were a surprise as well as a few silky moves. Praying Cry gets his goal soon for all his efforts ⚒️.
Cockneyboys delivered a sarcastic jab at VAR:
Just a message to the other teams in the prem when you play against West Ham… You can now pick the ball up with your hands and chuck it into the goal if you want, VAR will give it!
Stvs felt the refereeing simply ignored the laws:
Wonderful effort by the team. Can’t critique a thing except that awful decision to allow that second goal. That high foot prevented Mav from heading through fear of impact. Letter of the law disallows that goal. Arm was in an unnatural position as well.
After the game, Westham via its official X handle, shared the players reactions, thanking the fans for their outstanding support before heading into the dressing room. They posted:
BRIGHTON FANS: RELIEF, CRITICISM, AND ZERO PATIENCE
While West Ham fans fumed at VAR, Brighton supporters didn’t mask their disappointment with their own team’s overall display.
Steve Ross didn’t hold back:
No shot on target until 85th minute. Totally abysmal all over the pitch. Still no idea what Hurtzeler is trying to achieve, looks an absolute mess on the pitch. Players look lost, especially in final third. Just sideways, sideways, backwards all the time.
Jayeofsussex said the equaliser meant nothing:
Georgi’s goal just papers over the cracks of a truly unacceptable performance. Don’t blame Hurzeler for that one, players have absolutely let him down with a frankly lazy performance.
After the game, Brighton shared via its official X handle, coach Fabian’s thoughts and reflections from the draw today, the coach expressed his disappointment with the overall performance. They posted:
C0luk added his frustration about set pieces:
Another underperforming game and lucky to get a draw, and what’s going on with the set piece coaches as they’ve made no difference so far.
Gareth admitted Brighton were poor but lucky:
If I was a West Ham fan I’d be livid. But the overhead kick wasn’t that dangerous and the ball to arm was unintentional. We weren’t great today, West Ham played well, but we deserved that point.
Seagulls Salone summed up the emotional mood:
Pure nasty. This is so sad 😞 Carelessness. Lack of patience. Lack of pass accuracy. We can’t handle a team with a low block system.
Both sets of fans walked away from this match with wildly different frustrations,West Ham furious with refereeing and Brighton upset with their own team’s performance. But one thing was clear: for a match that ended level, the emotions it triggered were anything but balanced.
