WHICHEVER Sky Sports bigwig opted to whack the darts on ahead of this deserves a raise.
The Premier League would not have been happy to see their greatest cheerleader opt for the Ally Pally action on their Main Event channel last night, but no one could blame them as West Ham and Brighton served up a display which suggested they were all thoroughly fed up with festive football.
It was a night where, with illness, injury and suspension abound, both managers would have shaken on a draw beforehand and moved on – the point taking Brighton above Manchester United into seventh.
Both David Moyes and Roberto De Zerbi had to shuffle things somewhat, with 16 first team players absent between the two clubs.
For the Hammers it was their first test without the threat of Mohammed Kudus, who has a hamstring injury but will join Ghana for the Africa Cup of Nations shortly. Moyes was also missing playmaker Lucas Paqueta with a knee injury and both were sorely missed as Alphonse Areola starred for the hosts making eight crucial stops.
West Ham being the first team who failed to score against the Seagulls in 23 Prem games does not bode well for their chances without Kudus.
De Zerbi was without nine players himself, the Italian was at least able to welcome Adam Webster back from injury, making his first appearance since November.
The Seagulls did, however, have to start veteran James Milner at left-wing, the ex-Liverpool man making his 632nd Prem appearance, joining Ryan Giggs at second in the all-time list behind Gareth Barry, on the day before his 38th birthday.
It took the Hammers almost half an hour to shake off the January blues and start making something happen.
Jason Steele then had to stop well from James Ward-Prowse’s close range effort before Konstantinos Mavropanos headed over.
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Brighton were struggling to break the Hammers down, but Alphonse Areola almost handed Jack Hinshelwood a goal when he flapped a cross straight to the Seagulls youngster.
The Frenchman recovered well to save his effort and also did well to stop Pascal Gross from heading in Milner’s cross from close range.
Despite West Ham being the more enterprising, Brighton were crafting the better chances and Areola again did well to deny Danny Welbeck and Joao Pedro shortly after the restart.
Brighton were coming back into it but West Ham continued to threaten at the other end.
Pablo Fornals, given his chance with Paqueta injured, fired a low shot at Steele before Tomas Soucek missed a sitter moments later – prodding wide from just eight yards out with the goal at his mercy.
The cutting edge was still lacking for the Hammers in the absence of Kudus.
Moyes had called on his fringe players, Fornals and Said Benrahma, to step up and show what they could do when given a chance – but neither grabbed the moment.
Benrahma could be leaving the club this month with Lyon and clubs in Saudi Arabia chasing a deal.
West Ham want up to £20million for the former Brentford winger, but his valuation would have taken a dip with almost every touch against the Seagulls.
While Moyes had little to turn to on his bench to sharpen things up, De Zerbi could send on teenager Evan Ferguson, who flashed one just wide moments after coming on.
Moyes sent on his own teenage striker, Divin Mubama, though as Brighton pushed for a winner he had far more work to do off the ball than on it.
But West Ham held firm, just – Jakub Moder blasting a late chance over at the far post before Areola again saved from Adam Lallana.
De Zerbi dropped to his knees in response, looking like someone ready for a short break after a hectic few weeks.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
