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.

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📊 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.”

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🏆 Head-to-Head Record

• Total Matches: 13

• Brighton Wins: 8 | West Ham Wins: 4 | Draws: 1

• Recent 5 Meetings:

  1. 16 Nov 2024: Brighton 3–2 West Ham (xG: 1.1 – 2.5)

  2. 31 Mar 2024: West Ham 0–0 Brighton (xG: 0.5 – 0.5)

  3. 08 Oct 2023: Brighton 0–2 West Ham (xG: 0.8 – 1.3)

  4. 07 May 2023: Brighton 1–0 West Ham (xG: 1.0 – 0.2)

  5. 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.

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🌟 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.

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📈 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.

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📊 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.

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🔮 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.”

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📢 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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