West Ham United vs. Brighton | Match Preview | WSL Week 14
In this in-depth preview, we break down the key stats, tactical trends, and data-driven insights to reveal how West Ham United and Brighton match up in this week's WSL showdown.
📅 Date: Sunday, 16 February 2025
⏰ Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
📍 Venue: Chigwell Construction Stadium
🔍 Match Context & Overview
Both teams lie in mid-table but for different reasons:
West Ham (9th, 11 pts) want to climb away from the lower end of the table. Their strong home form is their best hope for a result.
Brighton (5th, 18 pts) started the season brightly but have stalled lately, especially away from home, losing five consecutive matches on the road.
Expect a tightly contested game, with Brighton favouring controlled possession and West Ham looking for quick transitions and set-piece opportunities.
📊 Current Form
West Ham United
League Position: 9th
Points: 11 (from 13 matches)
Goals Scored / Conceded 14 scored | 25 conceded
Last 5 WSL Matches: 2W – 0D – 3L
Home Record: 3W – 1D – 2L (9 GF, 10 GA)
Away Record: 0W – 1D – 6L (5 GF, 15 GA)
Key Trend:
All wins have come at home, where they also score more consistently.
Defensive frailties persist, highlighted by conceding 1.92 goals per match.
“West Ham’s unpredictable defense could be their undoing, but their home advantage and attack-minded approach keep them in contention.”
Brighton
League Position: 5th
Points: 18 (from 13 matches)
Last 5 WSL Matches: 0W – 2D – 3L
Goals Scored / Conceded : 19 scored | 22 conceded
Home Record: 4W – 3D – 0L (15 GF, 7 GA)
Away Record: 1W – 0D – 5L (4 GF, 15 GA)
Key Trend:
Unbeaten at home, but five straight away defeats underscore their struggles on the road.
Concede an average of 1.69 goals per match overall.
“Brighton’s possession-based style has thrived at home but often falters away, where they concede at a higher rate.”
🏆 Head-to-Head Record
Total Matches: 13
Brighton Wins: 8 | West Ham Wins: 4 | Draws: 1
Recent 5 Meetings:
16 Nov 2024: Brighton 3–2 West Ham (xG: 1.1 – 2.5)
31 Mar 2024: West Ham 0–0 Brighton (xG: 0.5 – 0.5)
08 Oct 2023: Brighton 0–2 West Ham (xG: 0.8 – 1.3)
07 May 2023: Brighton 1–0 West Ham (xG: 1.0 – 0.2)
06 Nov 2022: West Ham 4–5 Brighton (xG: 1.1 – 3.5)
Key Observations:
Matches often produce goals (averaging 2.6 per game in the last five).
Brighton lead the overall series, but West Ham have pulled off notable upsets, particularly at home.
xG suggests many tight encounters, with Brighton often outperforming their underlying numbers.
🌟 Key Players to Watch
West Ham United
Viviane Asseyi (Forward)
4 goals, 4 Assists | 5 goal involvement in her last 5 WSL matches
Why She Matters: Asseyi has been a key player in West Ham's attack, leading the team with 4 goals this season. Her experience and goal-scoring ability have been crucial in providing the team with an offensive edge.
Riko Ueki (Forward)
2 goals, 1 assist, known for a high shot volume (14 in the last 5 WSL games)
Why She Matters: Ueki has been a consistent offensive threat. Always active in attacking positions.
Katrina Gorry (Midfielder)
3 goals, 2 assists | Strong progressive passing numbers.
Why She Matters: Gorry has been instrumental in midfield, contributing 3 goals this season. 3 goals from 1.3 xG suggests she has been clinical, converting chances from deeper positions and adding a valuable goal-scoring dimension to the team's midfield.
Brighton
Nikita Parris (Forward)
4 Goals | 2 Assists | Expected Goals (xG) of 4.4
Why She Matters: Parris has been a consistent offensive threat for Brighton. Her experience and goal-scoring ability have been pivotal in Brighton's attacking play.
Kiko Seike (Forward)
5 Goals | 2 Assists | 4 Goal involvement in last 5 WSL games
Why She Matters: Seike has demonstrated exceptional efficiency in front of goal, scoring 5 times in the WSL with an xG of 2.5, indicating her knack for converting chances. Her dynamic play has been instrumental in Brighton's attacking success.
Fran Kirby (Midfielder/Forward)
3 Goals | 2 Assists | Expected Goals (xG) of 3.0
Why She Matters: Kirby's versatility allows her to contribute both in midfield and attack. With 3 goals and an xG of 3.0, she has been effective in creating and finishing opportunities, adding depth to Brighton's offensive options.
📈 Statistical Comparison
📊 Possession: West Ham: 41.8% | Brighton: 53.2%
🎯 Passing Accuracy: West Ham: 75.2% | Brighton: 80.9%
⚽ Expected Goals (xG): West Ham: 15.3 | Brighton: 16.9
🔥 Goals Scored per Match: West Ham: 1.08 | Brighton: 1.38
🛑 Goals Conceded per Match: West Ham: 1.92 | Brighton: 1.69
🥅 Shots on Target per Match: West Ham: 3.77 | Brighton: 4.00Key Insights:
Brighton’s higher possession and passing accuracy reflect their more measured buildup.
Both teams concede more than they score, suggesting defensive vulnerabilities on each side.
West Ham’s counterattacks could exploit Brighton’s high line, but the Seagulls typically create higher-quality chances overall.
📊 Tactical Breakdown
West Ham United
Likely Formation: 4–2–3–1
Style:
Direct attacking transitions (41.8% average possession).
Compact mid-block defensive shape, looking to quickly break forward.
Set-piece threat via Gorry’s deliveries and Asseyi’s aerial prowess.
Potential Weaknesses:
Can be overrun in midfield if pressed aggressively.
Defensive shape becomes stretched when fullbacks push high.
Brighton
Likely Formation: 4–3–3
Style:
Patient, possession-based approach (53.2% average possession).
Attempt to build from the back through creative midfielders.
High defensive line that can leave them exposed on counters.
Potential Weaknesses:
Struggle away from home; less comfortable dictating tempo on unfamiliar pitches.
Vulnerable to direct long balls behind their high line.
🔮 Prediction
Predicted Scoreline: West Ham 1–2 Brighton
Why?
Brighton’s controlled buildup and slightly superior attacking quality (1.38 goals per match) may wear down West Ham’s fragile defense.
West Ham’s strong home record keeps them competitive, likely grabbing a goal via set piece or counter.
Ultimately, Brighton’s front three—especially Seike’s finishing—could edge a close contest.
“Look for a back-and-forth affair with goals for both sides, but Brighton may just have enough composure in possession to squeak out a win.”
📢 Final Thoughts
This mid-table showdown offers two contrasting styles: West Ham’s direct, counterattacking approach against Brighton’s possession-heavy, high-pressing system.
West Ham’s success hinges on converting set-piece opportunities and staying compact defensively.
Brighton will aim to dominate the ball, exploit spaces between the lines, and break their away-day jinx.
If the Hammers’ home advantage prevails, it could spark a run of form to lift them up the WSL table. But if Brighton stay composed, their fluid attack could prove decisive—despite their shaky away record.
What’s your prediction? Share it in the comments!
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