Hurzeler rues ´two points lost´ after Brighton held by West Ham

Fabian Hurzeler conceded “it’s two points lost” for Brighton after they surrendered the lead in their 1-1 draw with West Ham.

The spoils were shared at the London Stadium, where Mohammed Kudus’ 58th-minute strike cancelled out Mats Wieffer’s opener just seven minutes earlier.

The Seagulls are now without a win in their last five matches, having squandered opportunities to snatch all three points later on.

Kaoru Mitoma hit the post from inside the six-yard box, while Lukasz Fabianski twice denied Yasin Ayari, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s vital intervention prevented Tariq Lamptey from scoring a last-gasp winner.

Brighton have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine games, and have not won any of their last 11 league matches in London.

FT: We pushed so hard for a winner but have to settle for a point.

[1-1]#WHUBHA // #BHAFCpic.twitter.com/X6uIlvzVZ4

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) December 21, 2024

“I think it’s two points lost in the end, because there were plenty of big chances,” Hurzeler told BBC MOTD. “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 positive things, but we also need to get the result to get out of this circle of bad experiences. It’s 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.”

Meanwhile, West Ham picked up a point after conceding the first goal at the London Stadium for the first time this season, having lost each of their first four home leagues in which they have conceded the opener this term.

Although the Hammers are still yet to beat Brighton on home soil in the Premier League, Julen Lopetegui saluted his side’s character after they came from behind to earn a point.

“We have to highlight the commitment and the behaviour of the players,” he told the club’s official website. “[They showed those characteristics] until the end. We achieved one point – we wanted three – but we have to look forward to the next challenge.

“I think that we were better in the first half, then maybe, in the second half, they were better in some moments.

“We showed a good reaction to their goal. Not only to get the equaliser, but afterwards, we kept this reaction. We had 15 very good minutes after we levelled the match. We could have scored the second goal, but they recovered, and they had chances, too.”