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Football London
Football London
Sport
Michael Mutch

Former Chelsea striker expects West Ham to 'turn corner soon' amid Brighton prediction

Chris Sutton believes West Ham have "no reason to panic" after losing their opening two Premier League fixtures.

The Hammers have got off to a disappointing start to the season after a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City on the opening day and that result was followed up with a 1-0 loss at newly promoted Nottingham Forest last week. Injury woes have not helped their cause with Kurt Zouma the only outright centre-back available for both Premier League matches so far.

David Moyes’ side did manage to pick up their first goal and win of the campaign in Thursday night’s Europa Conference League clash with Danish side Viborg. Gianluca Scamacca, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio netted in the 3-1 victory.

READ MORE: West Ham re-enter talks with Chelsea's Emerson over £15m transfer deal

On Sunday, the Irons will be back in Premier League action when they welcome Brighton to the London Stadium. Albion have enjoyed an unbeaten start so far. A 2-1 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford preceded a goalless draw at home to Newcastle United, leaving Graham Potter’s side eighth in the table.

West Ham are currently second from bottom and are winless against Brighton in ten Premier League meetings so far. The Irons last defeated the Seagulls in the Championship in April 2012 when Ricardo Vaz Te scored a hat-trick in a 6-0 thrashing at the Boleyn Ground.

Although Sutton believes Moyes’ boys will “turn the corner soon”, the former Blackburn Rovers and Chelsea striker predicts Brighton’s unbeaten run against the Hammers will continue. Predicting a 1-1 draw, Sutton told BBC Sport: “West Ham have lost their first two matches but they had a difficult pre-season with injuries, and I certainly don’t think there is any reason to panic.

“The Hammers will turn the corner soon, but they haven’t beaten Brighton in ten attempts since the Seagulls return to the Premier League in 2017, and I don’t see that run ending here. Graham Potter’s team are superbly organised and I’d back them to get something from this game too.”

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