Brighton's Neal Maupay makes bold Tomas Soucek declaration after West Ham draw

The below-par Hammers trailed twice at the London Stadium with a controversial Lewis Dunk strike looking set to hand Brighton only a second win in 13 matches.

But Soucek struck with eight minutes remaining to snatch a 2-2 draw for David Moyes’ side.

Nevertheless, the result extended Brighton’s hoodoo over the Hammers, who have still never managed to beat them in the Premier League.

“We are a bit disappointed," said Maupay who scored his fifth goal of the season with a clever first half strike.

"Obviously we were leading twice in this game and I thought we played well for most of the game.

“But West Ham are playing well, they have started the season really well, so credit to them. They came back twice. It’s a busy period, and you have to be happy with a point.

“I thought our plan was good but you know it’s small details and they came back.

“The first (equaliser) can happen, but that last one, with around 10 minutes to go – it’s frustrating for us. But it’s football you know. We can’t complain with a point, especially in our situation."

Brighton dominated the first half and took a deserved lead a minute before half-time when Dan Burn overlapped down the left and crossed low into the box.

Declan Rice attempted to intercept the ball but succeeded only in putting it on a plate for Maupay, who swivelled and tucked his shot past Fabianski.

The Hammers levelled when Andriy Yarmolenko crossed from the right and Lanzini touched the ball into the path of young full-back Ben Johnson, who calmly side-footed in his first goal for the club.

West Ham now looked in the ascendancy, but it was Brighton who struck next.

Soucek’s attempted clearance from a corner appeared to hit Dunk on the forearm before he fired home, but after a lengthy VAR check the goal was given.

But Soucek got his revenge with eight minutes remaining. Amazingly, this time it was Dunk’s clearing header which hit the Czech midfielder as he arrived at the far post to bundle in the equaliser.

"It is disappointing not to take three points, I felt it was there for us," said Albion head coach Graham Potter. "We didn't defend the corner well for the second goal and those details punish you at this level. That's on us, we have to be better. But overall I felt comfortable in the game.

"We didn't do much wrong, we could have managed the game better. I don't celebrate goals now until everything has been checked - you never know any more.

"We need to keep working to get three points. Tariq Lamptey won't be available for the next few games either."

Brighton, who are 16th in the table with 13 points from 15 matches, are next in action on December 29 as they welcome Arsenal to the Amex Stadium.