2020-2021-Season

West Ham manager David Moyes believes Albion will be tough to break down at the Amex tonight (8pm), but believes the absence of the “exceptional” Lewis Dunk could play into their hands. Graham Potter’s side have an impressive defensive record this season, despite being 17th in the table. Only Arsenal (38), Chelsea (33) and Manchester City (29) have conceded fewer goals in the Premier League this season than Albion (41). Despite that impressive record the Seagulls will be without Dunk, after he was shown a straight red in the 2-1 defeat to Wolves on Sunday. Moyes believes the 29-year-old will be sorely missed. He told The Argus: “It will be very tough, but I also think they go into the game without Lewis Dunk, who I think has been exceptional for them this season and has been for them in other seasons. “We have had to play the last six or more games without Declan Rice. “I would think if Brighton were playing a lot of the games without Lewis Dunk they might find it more difficult. “So who knows what will happen? “But Brighton are a hard team to beat. I went down and watched them a few weeks ago against Everton at the Amex and they played very well and I have been impressed by them so far this season.” Potter’s side have already secured their top flight status for next season, with three games to go after Fulham were beaten by Burnley on Monday and were relegated. But with the Seagulls being able to go into their final three matches with no pressure on them to get anything, will that make them a more dangerous opponent? Moyes told The Argus: “It can do, it is a difficult thing to weigh up in football. “We had a situation last season where we had the last game against Aston Villa, when we were already staying up and we could not raise ourselves. “So it can happen for no reason, so sometimes you are never sure with football. “But I think with Brighton they will know they have had a good season, but will be hoping they might have done better and not be floating around the bottom where we were last season. “They have got a really good, young and upcoming manager with a lot of good ideas in Graham. “But he will start to get some wrinkles really quick, like we all do when we have been in the game a long while. “But when you have too many years down the bottom it starts to grind you down a bit. “But it will be a really tough game against them.” Former Albion midfielder Jesse Lingard returns to the Amex tonight in fine form. The 28-year-old has impressed since joining West Ham, on loan from Manchester United in January. He has scored nine goals and got three assists in his 13 appearances for the Hammers. Last month he scored four goals in his just four games for Moyes’ side. That form saw Lingard named as the Premier League’s player of the month for April and his solo goal against Wolves won him the goal of the month as well. But Moyes believes he has thoroughly deserved the accolades he has got. He said: “His performances have been really good. “I have to say he has excelled and probably done better than we hoped when we first brought him in. “But you mustn’t forget Jesse has joined a good team, that was playing well when he came in and were near the top of the league. “So hopefully we have helped Jesse as well. Declan Rice, Aaron Cresswell, Mark Noble and Manuel Lanzini are all doubts for the trip to the Amex, but Moyes is hopeful some of them may be available tonight. He said: “Some of them are doing well, some of them aren’t doing so well, but I’m hoping to get some of them back for the game. “I’d rate Dec’s chances the same as Cresswell, Ogbonna and the rest of them. I wouldn’t want to give anything away.”