Paul Merson predicts West Ham United vs Brighton result, warns Roberto De Zerbi to avoid same trap David Moyes landed in
Paul Merson has predicted Brighton to record a comfortable victory over West Ham and has warned the Seagulls to avoid the Europa Conference League.
Despite the morale-boosting 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend (25 February) it is tipped to be another struggle this Saturday (4 March) for the Hammers with a trip to the Amex.
Roberto De Zerbi has his side in a very similar position to the one David Moyes was in with the Irons last season, with all three European competitions feasibly still on the table, and Merson has backed the Italian for a 2-0 win as the aims for at least the Europa League.
In Merson’s Sportskeeda predictions column he said: “Brighton were very unlucky against Fulham last weekend. I don’t know how they lost that game.
“They were all over the Cottagers and had 21 shots and seven shots on target. Fulham mustered just two on target. It’s rather unfortunate that they didn’t even get a point out of that game.
“Brighton will need to aim for a Europa League spot as the Conference League would just be a drain on their time and resources next season.
“Meanwhile, West Ham United dominated Nottingham Forest and earned a big 4-0 win. But they will have their work cut out against the Seagulls this weekend.”
Proof?
The Hammers’ season has been a slog from the start in the Premier League, but their progress through the Europa Conference League has been comparatively serene.
That perhaps proves Merson right in his assessment of qualifying for the third-tier competition, if it is that which has had a negative effect on everything else at the London Stadium.
It was certainly a major disappointment to miss out on Europa League qualification at the end of last season, especially having just reached the semi-final of the competition itself, but there is an argument that it was that European run that affected the league finish as well.
The memorable nights on the continent and in Stratford were a special experience for many fans, and it is impossible to definitively say whether Moyes could have maintained an assault on the Champions League places without that run, or whether the miserable domestic form this season was triggered by Conference League involvement.
To be successful at a level where this club sees itself competing, it is part of the job description to be able to juggle multiple commitments, and that hasn’t happened over the past 12-months.
Brighton might find that out next season but they will certainly be a tough proposition at the weekend.
The attacking explosion against Forest last week has raised some hopes but Steve Cooper’s side away from home are terrible, and the late collapse at Manchester United in the FA Cup on Wednesday (1 March) has somewhat dampened the mood again.