From the Best Cafe Nigel and myself head to the London Stadium to meet Matt and Lisa, Fraser, Scott and returning foul-weather fan Alison. Jarrod Bowen is introduced to the crowd and the noise level is encouraging in a game WHU have to win.
Mooy heads a great chance wide after two minutes and I reflect that perhaps the breaks are finally going our way. "Says Dr Pangloss," quips the erudite Nigel, not believing that all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds.
Soucek is unlucky not to score when a header is well-saved by Ryan and looks busy in midfield. All seems to be going to plan as the Hammers go into a two-goal lead. Diop prods home Robert Snodgrass' free kick as the Brighton defence goes missing. Mystic Morris suggests that Snoddy hasn't been playing too well. Immediately Fredericks's cross is cleared to Snodgrass who fires home via a heavy deflection.
Brighton have passed it around nicely and had a one-on-one chance for Trossard saved by Fabianski, but at half time it looks like a resounding home win is on the way. Antonio is causing problems with his energy and another goal will surely seal it.
At the start of the second half Nigel starts to eat his lucky banana. Immediately Snodgrass gives away a needless free kick and WHU concede a corner. "The lucky banana has worked its magic," I suggest. From the corner Fabianski punches the ball into the back of Ogbonna and ball loops over the line. Matt berates me for invoking the curse of Nigel's unlucky banana. Though possibly we are investing half-time soft fruit with a little too much power. Match of the Day replays also show that sneaky Glenn Murray is holding on to Fabianski's arm as the ball comes in.
It's a worrying moment, but all seems well when a West Ham corner is headed out to Snodgrass who fires in a great volley that is again deflected into the net. He runs to our corner to celebrate what surely must be a home win.
But we have reckoned without the West Ham defence. There's a warning when Fabianski has to dive full-stretch to save a good effort from March. The side is starting to look tired after Wednesday. Fredericks has been out for ages and Soucek is tiring too. Antonio's hamstring can't be risked for 90 minutes and he's replaced by Arthur Masuaku.
COMEDY DEFENDING
In the 75th minute Arthur's first contribution is to whack a clearance into a Brighton player. The ball rebounds into the middle where surely Ogbonna and Diop will hoof it clear. But their indecision is final as both hesitate, the ball bounces, Diop attempts a weak back header and Gross pounces to roll home a comedy goal. It's too much for the Vicar's Son who rages at an unjust Deity, Arthur Masuaku, Diop and Ogbonna in the fashion of a latterday Captain Ahab.
Matt predicts that we'll now lose it, and we nearly do as Fabianski has to produce a great save from March's free-kick. At least we hold on for a point, but WHU are now in the bottom three. The crowd drift away discussing relegation and as we seek out Watford and Bournemouth's results Nigel reminisces about the good old days of struggling and always checking for Coventry City's score.
Michael the Whovian WhatsApps to say, "Sounds as though this was the game when relegation went from possibility to probability". In the Refreshment Rooms we reminisce about West Ham's greatest relegations, from Avram Grant to Glenn Roeder. We'd had three games in a week and three big disappointments.
It's not all over yet. Bowen and Soucek might make a difference and tiredness played a part in the collapse — though Liverpool seem to do ok with two games a week. We're only one point away from safety, but with a likely two away defeats coming up the side has to learn how to defend to have any chance of survival.
PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 6; Fredericks 5, Diop 5, Ogbonna 4, Cresswell 5; Snodgrass 7 (Lanzini 4), Rice 5, Noble 5, Soucek 6 (Fornals 4), Antonio 6 (Masuaku 4); Haller 4.
