Brighton & Hove Albion

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Brighton midfielder Mats Wieffer has been looking back on the frustrating result at the London Stadium on BBC Radio Sussex: "You do it for the win and I think we deserved the win, not based on the first-half but more on the second-half. I think we have to work on playing consistently for 90 minutes, and not only for one half.

"In our recent games, we have played one half really well and one half not that good - so we have to be a bit more consistent in that I think.

"I think we had a couple of good chances, we had one that hit the post and one with [Yasin] Ayari. With a bit more luck, you make it 2-1 and then you win the game.

"Overall, we have to look at ourselves and improve.

"In this moment, it's not coming easy for us but we have to keep working, be consistent and work hard."

On getting on the scoresheet: "I was in the right place so I'm really happy with the goal, but unfortunately it's not the three points.

"It's really nice to get the start and I feel much better than I did before, with a bit more confidence as well, so that's a good thing."

Listen to the full post-match podcast on BBC Sounds

Timothy Abraham
BBC Sport Journalist

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Brighton have no problems against the big boys, it seems.

Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham are all among the teams that Fabian Hurzeler has masterminded victories over this season.

However, presented with a comfortable run of games since a 2-1 win over Pep Guardiola's side and the Seagulls have largely stumbled.

Yes, there was a win over Bournemouth but that has been followed by draws against Leicester, Southampton and West Ham alongside defeats to Crystal Palace and Fulham.

Have Brighton reached the stage where they are struggling to rouse themselves for fixtures against some of the Premier League's lesser lights?

That they have failed to win in five of their six games this season against teams that currently occupy the bottom six (drawn four, lost one) must be something of a concern.

At least there were signs from Hurzeler's side at the London Stadium that they were back to something like the team which flew out of the blocks at the start of the season.

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Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day following the draw: "I think it is two points lost in the end, because there were plenty of big chances.

"We weren't able to score and we weren't able to keep a clean sheet, then we got punished for that one mistake.

"In the end, it was our fault that we didn't leave the pitch as winners.

"There were positives things, but we also need to get a result to get out of this circle of bad experiences. It is the business to get results, if you want to achieve something.

"We have to get our higher standards back. We can defend better. We have to keep going and we have to trust the process."

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Brighton are now unbeaten across their eight Premier League matches at the London Stadium (W2 D6). It is the stadium they have played at the most in the competition without losing and only Manchester City have played there more often without suffering a defeat in the competition.

Mats Wieffer was the 13th player to score a Premier League goal for Brighton this season, the most of any side this term excluding own goals.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on West Ham's performance

What did you make of Brighton's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

There are 10 Premier League teams in action on Saturday:

• Aston Villa v Manchester City (12:30)

• Brentford v Nottingham Forest

• Ipswich v Newcastle

• West Ham v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Crystal Palace v Arsenal (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 17, he takes on Reverend & the Makers singer Jon McClure.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

I genuinely believe these predictions have been harder than ever this season because so many teams are closely matched. It's either that or I am becoming really stupid, so take your pick.

This game is another example of one that is very difficult to call.

Other than Jarred Bowen's performances, I don't feel like West Ham have given me any reason to back them under Julen Lopetegui, while Brighton are on their worst run of the season and winless in four.

Of course the Hammers are missing Michail Antonio, and I hope he recovers soon. In his absence, Niclas Fullkrug might finally get his chance up front. In the summer, I picked him as being one to watch - but West Ham fans have barely seen him at all so far.

Brighton got walloped by Crystal Palace last weekend, and also showed their soft side in their previous game when they let a two-goal lead slip against Leicester, but I do feel they have the capacity to bounce back.

Again, I see some goals in this one and I am going with Brighton to sneak it. Kaoru Mitoma is in my Fantasy Premier League team and I reckon he will get the winner.

McClure's prediction: 1-3

Brighton have got another great manager in Fabian Hurzeler.

When I go on about what Sheffield Wednesday (who McClure supports) do wrong and you look at an example of how they should do it, then I look at the way Brighton go about their business.

They are just a well-run club, while our hot taps don't run in our toilets at Hillsborough, and haven't done for three years. That tells you everything you need to know about us. It's like, come on, we can do much better than this.

Read the full predictions and have your say

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Footballer reporter for The Sun Jack Rosser previews Brighton's match against West Ham on the most recent episode of BBC Radio Sussex's, Albion Unlimited: "It's a game that West Ham dread every season because they have a bad record against Brighton. It should be entertaining.

"I think Brighton are probably looking better going forward, but both teams are struggling at the back this season. Both teams can be cut open, so there's definitely a chance for a good game.

"West Ham, a lot of people arrive going in thinking, there's no way we can win, the midfield is rubbish, everything is going wrong, we all hate the manager and then Tomas Soucek scores and cheers everyone up. Soucek is another player, who similar to Michail Antonio shouldn't still be playing in the Premier League, but is a great survivor in that team and makes a great impact at times. West Ham are definitely there to be got at if Brighton are at it going forwards."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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For the first time since his arrival at Brighton in the summer, Fabian Hurzeler is under scrutiny.

The 3-1 home defeat by rivals Crystal Palace on Sunday was a blow to Brighton's pride, but the bigger consequence is that it extended the Seagulls' run without a win to four games.

It is now two wins in nine in all competitions for Hurzeler's men. After hanging around the top four, suddenly Brighton find themselves ninth. Manchester United in 13th are only two points behind.

Brighton go to West Ham on Saturday and Hurzeler needs to come up with a few answers. His side has conceded 18 goals in nine games since their most recent clean sheet at Newcastle on 19 October. Only Brentford and West Ham of the clubs below them, outside of the bottom four, have conceded more than their 25 goals so far this season - and only two of them came in their first four games. That is not the type of record that will result in winning form.

The returns of Joel Veltman and Adam Webster from injuries would help but, as most coaches would say, it is work on the training ground that should provide the answers.

Remarkably, Brighton have never lost in seven visits to London Stadium. Their previous trips have yielded five draws and two wins. This weekend would not be a good time to surrender that record.

West Ham are leading the race with Leicester City and Southampton to sign 20-year-old Republic of Ireland forward Evan Ferguson from Brighton. (Givemesport), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Jan Paul Van Hecke says Brighton 'needs more consistency this season' after losing to Crystal Palace.

Albion were stunned by struggling Palace at Amex Stadium and have dropped points to a number of teams in the lower echelons of the Premier League this season.

"We need to look at ourselves," he told BBC Radio Sussex. "We need more consistency this season. We can be incredible, but also sometimes a bit below average, which isn't good enough.

"It's small margins in football. It's a really young group - we can beat everybody and then lose against everybody. It's tough because we are young, but we need to be more consistent in these games especially."

"Of course we miss players. [There are] injured players, really good players for us and important players. We miss them, but still if you look at our team today, we've shown already that we are good enough. It's so frustrating that it is not coming out."

"We need to have our head up, chest out and just play. We have nothing to lose and we need to have this [mindset]."

Listen to Albion Unlimited on BBC Sounds

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Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has said he "can learn a lot" from his side's recent dip in form, conceding that a poor run of results is a "new experience" in his managerial career.

The Seagulls were on the brink of the Premier League's top four after beating Bournemouth on 23 November.

But they have since failed to win any of their four league games and are ninth going into Saturday's fixture at West Ham.

"I can deal with this situation, I can handle this because I love to have the responsibility and I also know it's part of it to have this pressure and to be judged by the results," said the 31-year-old, who led his previous club St Pauli into the top flight in Germany before joining Brighton in the summer.

"It's a new experience, for sure. I have had a lot of great success so far in my career but I knew that this phase would come and now it's here I can learn a lot.

"I'm in the right club to experience this phase because it's a club that's well structured. We have great characters in the team. The team know what to do. The team work hard. They're not pointing the fingers at each other.

"They try to see the mistakes on their own and then they try to improve. In the end, the values of the club - this community, this togetherness - will help bring us out of this period."

Meanwhile, AFC Wimbledon say, external Brighton have paid a "substantial six-figure fee" to sign their under-15 goalkeeper Charlie Wilson-Papps.

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If Brighton had beaten Crystal Palace on Sunday, their points at this stage would have been their highest in any Premier League season.

It has been a hugely successful start. However, when they have shown how good they can be and then suddenly, there is a downturn in form and they drop points against teams they would hope to beat, then it will affect them.

Conceding those goals against their rivals Palace at home when they are already on a slight skid - that is tough.

This is the way that seasons go though. You cannot be on top for the entirety, especially when you are not a team that traditionally does that.

This is going to be part of the process. They need to find the spark of a few weeks ago, score some more goals, but also be a little bit more defensively solid.

The run Brighton are on now is not too dissimilar to the run Aston Villa are on who are also around the same position. It is a hugely competitive section of the league, especially at this time of year.

The start they had was going to propel them to their best Premier League finish. The quality is still there, but they are missing a few players. When they return they will be stronger.

It is a reminder to take a step back sometimes and appreciate how good things actually are, but also how good things could be if they find some form again.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward

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Brighton are unbeaten in all seven of their Premier League away games against West Ham, winning two and drawing five. Both of those facts are the most times they have faced an opponent on the road without ever losing.

Brighton are also the opponent West Ham have faced the most at home without ever winning in the competition.

Brighton have won five of their nine Premier League games against sides starting the day in the top half of the table this season, drawing two and losing two. By contrast, they have won just one of their seven games against teams in the bottom half of the table, drawing four and losing two.

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game away against West Ham (15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Hurzeler confirmed Joel Veltman and Matt O'Riley are available for the trip to London while Adam Webster will train today. However, Danny Welbeck is "not in the best shape" and is being assessed week to week.

• Similarly, James Milner is still in a rehabilitation process and does not have a return date while Ferdi Kadioglu and Jack Hinshelwood both remain absent.

• On Brighton's response to Sunday's 3-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace: "The reaction was disappointment. I think it's normal, but there was also an honest reflection and analysis of what we have to improve. The basics went wrong but we have also studied things we did well in the second half."

• On the ambitions of the supporters during a difficult run: "I think it is the right thing that the supporters have these expectations because it shows we are ambitious and that is exactly what I want from the club – to create this winning culture and to be ambitious."

• Hurzeler said the current run of no wins in four "teaches me a lot": "If you try to act with courage and say that's our goal, then it is also part of it to fail at one time and to be criticised at one time. It is part of the business. It is not a nice business - it is a very honest business. You have to deal with it."

• He has been pleased with Julio Encisco's attitude and believes he has "changed his mindset": "The player who trains the best and deserves to play will get the chance. I was impressed with him in training and against Crystal Palace."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Manchester City are considering a move for 20-year-old Brighton and Republic of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson, who has fallen out of favour at Amex Stadium, after scoring just one goal this season. (GiveMeSport via Caught Offside), external

Fulham are also interested in Ferguson and want to sign him on a loan deal until the end of the season. (Independent), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

A new episode of Albion Unlimited has landed.

Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke discusses the Seagulls' lack of consistency after their 3-1 defeat by Crystal Palace.

And Sun journalist Jack Rosser joins the pod to chat Evan Ferguson and preview Saturday's game at West Ham.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Scott McCarthy
Fan writer

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I need to deep clean my oven before Christmas. I am wishing I had spent Sunday afternoon doing so as it would have been more enjoyable than Brighton losing 3-1 to Crystal Palace.

A so-called 'easy' run of games for the Albion against Southampton, Fulham, Leicester and Palace has returned a grand total of two points.

Why is this? Read the opinions of Seagulls supporters online and you have almost as many theories as what happened to Lord Lucan.

Here is mine. Brighton's early season form put them in a false position, which raised expectations about how good this squad is.

Bart Verbruggen and Danny Welbeck are to blame. At one end of the pitch, Welbeck smashed in six goals. It made 2024-25 his most prolific season in over a decade before the campaign was a quarter of the way through.

Down the other end and Verbruggen was making save after save, helping Brighton be one of the best teams in the division for outperforming their expected goals against.

Welbeck and Verbruggen maintaining such high levels of performance over an entire 38 game season would have been extraordinary. And so it has proven.

Verbruggen is no longer making world-class stops of everything which comes his way. Welbeck is struggling for fitness. The Albion's form has tailed off as a result.

Being over-reliant on two players was never going to be a sustainable way to challenge for a European spot.

What Fabian Hurzeler needs to do is help more players become regular points earners. The likes of Kaoru Mitoma, Joao Pedro and Julio Enciso have shown they can do that in the past.

Something for the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history to think about this week while I am cleaning my oven.

Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external

Brighton have had a £20.7m offer for Brazilian 18-year-old Vitor Reis rejected, with Palmeiras only willing to negotiate on the defender's future after the Club World Cup. (ESPN Brazil - in Portuguese), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column