Jonathan Pearce aghast at Konstantinos Mavropanos moment in Brighton vs West Ham – ‘Awful’
Jonathan Pearce certainly did not hold back after an “awful” moment involving Konstantinos Mavropanos in the first half of West Ham’s clash with Brighton.
The sides went into half-time of Sunday’s Premier League clash all square at 0-0 in what was a low-quality first half at the Amex Stadium.
Lucas Paqueta was recalled by Nuno Espirito Santo on the South Coast after serving a one-match ban in West Ham’s 1-1 draw at Manchester United.
West Ham were by no means bad in the first half, but they never truly got going and nor did their opponents.
And one moment in particular got commentator Pearce irate in the commentary box.
Konstantinos Mavropanos sums up low-quality first half vs Brighton
Pearce spent much of the first half bemoaning the quality on show for a Premier League match – and he had a point.
West Ham have a poor record against Brighton and would consider a point a positive, even if that leaves them two points from safety.
Mavropanos was named in United’s five-man defence, with Jean-Clair Todibo and Max Kilman alongside him.
The centre-back was guilty of a terrible moment in the first half when taking a free-kick just outside the West Ham box and passing it straight to a Brighton player a few yards away.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Pearce said: “What a wasteful free-kick from Mavropanos – that’s awful. If Brighton score from this…”
Pearce went on to say later in the half: “I can’t remember such an error-strewn opening 24 minutes of a game, not in a long time.”
Brighton vs West Ham: The story so far
Brighton did not score from that aforementioned attack, and nor did they really look like scoring for most of the half – Mats Wieffer missing their best chance when failing to convert from close range.
Paqueta and Crysencio Summerville went closest for the visitors, meanwhile, with the latter failing to get his shot on target when played in.
- West Ham had five shots to Brighton’s nine in the first half
- One of those was on target from the Hammers, while Brighton failed to find the target
- Brighton had more of the ball, 57% to West Ham’s 43%
Georginio Rutter had a brilliant volley blocked in front of goal late in the half, which did liven up as it went on.
West Ham have yet to keep a clean sheet under Nuno, so it will likely mean a goal will need to be scored if West Ham are indeed going to return home with at least a point.
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