The latter stages of that encounter this afternoon could have seen goals at both ends and should have seen a sending off. [West Ham](https://www.claretandhugh.info/exclusive-west-ham-source-lifts-lid-on-brazilian-wonderkid-guilherme/) and Brighton played a far from dull draw as Lopetegui’s team took a point from the game.
Many will be disappointed: Paul Parker on BBC Radio London got it just right for the summary of the first half: ‘_West Ham are just chugging along waiting for something to happen”._
Brighton were far from their old selves for big chunks of the game but, after the Seagulls took the lead following a poor Fabianski error, the relief of a draw will be felt by many Hammers supporters who were, if nothing else, entertained with drama if not quality in the second half this afternoon.
Lucas Paqueta’s now customary silly yellow card means he will be missing from the encounter but I doubt whether many will notice, he was that invisible this afternoon.
More concerning, if West Ham escape with no injuries for the Boxing Day encounter with Southampton, they will be fortunate indeed.
Max Kilman was the subject of a disgraceful challenge which could easily have been a leg-breaker and which was punished by ‘just’ a yellow card. I wonder how bad it needed to be for the perpetrator, Estupiñan, to have warranted a red. That tackle could have had career ending consequences.
Vlad Coufal was shoved whilst in the air and landed badly on his knee – he’ll be lucky if there is no reaction to that tomorrow. And Aaron Wan-Bissaka miraculously walked away from a nasty collision as he headed clear on the goal line deep into added time: Again if he reports for training tomorrow West Ham can consider themselves very fortunate.
The ramifications of losing those three could be huge for West Ham: The paucity of talent ready to step in if any of the trio aren’t fit for Boxing Day is alarming. It is the time of year when injuries mount up and the Hammers have very little cover.
Fingers crossed the age old remedies of ice baths and a good physio can put them back into serviceable condition for the trip to St Marys.