EPL: West Ham's Slump Continues with Late Loss to Brighton

West Ham's woes deepened with another late defeat, this time to Brighton. Read more about Potter's struggles and the team's future.

Carlos Baleba celebrated in style after scoring the equalizing goal, with a dramatic backflip and somersault that delighted the Brighton fans. The goal came courtesy of a beautifully curled shot that flew into the top corner, sparking jubilation among his teammates.

The goal was a crucial one for Brighton, as it denied West Ham a comeback victory. Mohammed Kudus and Tomas Soucek had given the Hammers hope with their goals, but Kaoru Mitoma's late header salvaged a point for the Seagulls, extending the drama to the final whistle.

Brighton's Carlos Baleba scored a stunning 30-yard goal to secure a thrilling win, whipping the ball past Alphonse Areola with incredible precision. The goal sparked wild celebrations among his teammates and sent the Amex Stadium into raptures, marking Brighton's first win in six league games.

Manager Fabian Hurzeler praised Baleba's special ability, saying, “We knew he has a special ability to score goals, but I'm impressed by the players' belief in themselves and how they reacted to setbacks.” The match was an emotional rollercoaster, especially in the final 10 minutes.

The game was a frantic and intense affair, with Brighton dominating large periods. Yasin Ayari had earlier given Brighton a deserved lead with a beautifully curled long-range effort. The match's dramatic twists kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Incredible. 😮@OfficialBHAFC score twice in the final few minutes to win against West Ham!#BHAWHU pic.twitter.com/94WogN4YDM

— Premier League (@premierleague) April 26, 2025

West Ham's struggles continued as they let another late lead slip, this time against Brighton. Similar to their match against Southampton last weekend, where they conceded in the 93rd minute, West Ham led until the 89th minute but lost it in the 92nd. This pattern follows recent games where they conceded late against Liverpool and Everton.

Manager Graham Potter's woes deepened, with the team now going seven games without a win. Potter has taken just 13 points from 14 league games, leaving West Ham in 17th place. The pressure mounts on Potter after his own fans criticized him with derogatory chants over his decision to leave out Niclas Fullkrug.

West Ham fans didn't hold back in their criticism of manager Julen Potter, directing chants about striker Niclas Fullkrug's comments towards him. The fans sang “Our big f****** German, he says what he wants” and later shifted to “Our German's right, we're f****** sh*te” after Soucek's missed chance.

Potter remained calm, saying, “They are entitled to sing whatever they want.” He insisted that Fullkrug's omission wasn't about the striker's comments but about tactical decisions. Potter acknowledged the team's pain and devastation, admitting they struggled to sustain performances and needed to work on supporting players and making effective substitutions to secure wins.