West Ham 2-2 Brighton: Player ratings as Hammers fight back to earn point

West Ham came back from behind twice to salvage a point against Brighton on Sunday, with the visitors recording their seventh draw of the season.

The Hammers started with an unusually conservative lineup and immediately looked the second best team as a result. Brighton dominated possession against a lethargic Irons, who struggled for any real creativity or desire to attack in a lifeless first half.

Despite a few moments from Solly March, the visitors could barely create a clear chance for themselves, however, and looked to have wasted their dominance in the opening 45 minutes. That was until Neil Maupay struck from point blank range just before the end of the half.

As expected, David Moyes changed his side ahead of the second half and it brought results. West Ham looked more urgent and possessed a cutting edge, with Brighton defending well until 20-year-old Ben Johnson finished smartly on the hour.

Brighton woke up after the equaliser, however, and restored their lead from a corner when Lewis Dunk was quickest to react in the box and fire home. The game opened up somewhat in the final 15 minutes and the hosts pulled it back again from a corner, when Tomas Soucek caught Ben White on his heels to finish.

With the game all square heading into the closing stages, there was a realisation that a point wasn't a bad result for either side. Both West Ham and Brighton pushed tentatively for a winner, but a largely dull affair finished a stalemate.

Here's how the players fared.

WEST HAM

1. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Lukasz Fabianski (GK) - 5/10 - Could do nothing to stop either of Brighton's two goals and was confident in between. Frustrating afternoon for the goalkeeper.

Vladimir Coufal (RWB) - 5/10 - Decent enough defensive display and tried to move forward, but lacked any creative support - which was the story for most West Ham players in the first half.

Fabian Balbuena (CB) - 5/10 - Made a few solid clearances and used his body well at times, winning four tackles. Was also dominant in the air, winning five aerial duels.

Angelo Ogbonna (CB) - 6/10 - Led the charge for West Ham at the back and was their best performer in a poor half. Made life difficult for Danny Welbeck and couldn't be blamed for the goal.

Aaron Cresswell (CB) - 6/10 - Kept Leandro Trossard somewhat quiet and looked comfortable in a back three. Reliable pair of hands for the Hammers as always, allowing Johnson to roam forward with freedom.

Ben Johnson (LWB) - 7/10 - Could've been hooked at half time for attacking options but was kept on and repaid the faith shown by bagging the equaliser; his first goal for West Ham.

2. Midfielders

Tomas Soucek (CM) - 6/10 - Struggled to make an impact in the first half but looked much improved as the game went on. Linked up well with his attacking colleagues and moved well to grab his side's second goal.

Declan Rice (CM) - 4/10 - Rice suffered in a negative XI that looked clueless from the off, and failed to clear his lines which resulted in Maupay pouncing to score in the 44th minute.

Mark Noble (CM) - 3/10 - Looked completely lost yet again in an advanced role and was hooked at half time for more exciting options.

3. Forwards

Sebastien Haller (ST) - 6/10 - Barely saw the ball in the first half but used his body well whenever it came near him. Improved after the break with flair players around to play off.

Jarrod Bowen (ST) -3/10 - Bad day at the office for Bowen who struggled to get involved and looked off the pace when he did. Pulled at half time along with Noble as a result.

4. Substitutes

Manuel Lanzini - 6/10 - Injected some much-needed urgency upon his introduction in the second half and laid it off smartly to Johnson for the equaliser. Thrived in the role that Bowen suffered in.

Andriy Yarmolenko - 6/10 - Similar impact to Lanzini; Yarmolenko was a nuisance out wide and used his physicality to get at Brighton's defence, which resulted in their goal.

BRIGHTON

5. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Robert Sanchez (GK) - 5/10 - Rather quiet game for Sanchez who wasn't getting near Johnson's strike, but he did flap at a cross which didn't help his defenders.

Lewis Dunk (CB) - 7/10 - Comfortable in possession as always and could do little to stop West Ham's equaliser. Was sharp from the short corner to restore his side's lead.

Adam Webster (CB) - 6/10 - Barely challenged by West Ham's attackers in the first half but made good on the possession, bringing the ball out for Brighton and spraying some crisp passes.

Dan Burn (CB) - 5/10 - Didn't offend upon his return to the XI but did struggle to contain Yarmolenko in the second half.

6. Wing Backs & Midfielders

Ben White (RWB) - 5/10 - Brighton's utility man was deployed in a wide role but did look somewhat uncomfortable at times when trying to move forward, and was at fault for West Ham's second by not going with Soucek.

Yves Bissouma (CM) - 7/10 - Easy going performance in the first half which went up a gear after the break. Key in winning the ball back for Brighton and re-distributing it to move his team forward.

Adam Lallana (CM) - 5/10 - Lallana didn't quite grab a hold of the game as much as he would've liked and was substituted after 45 minutes, meaning he couldn't kick it up a notch. Frustrating.

Solly March (LWB) - 7/10 - Tireless performance from March who was lively throughout. The 26-year-old was up and down the left flank and provided accurate crosses but also vital tackles in his own half, stretching the game from the left with Tariq Lamptey missing on the right flank.

7. Forwards

Leandro Trossard (RW) - 5/10 - Disappointing afternoon for Trossard who was unusually quiet and barely saw the ball, which wasn't helped by Brighton slowing the pace after the break. Lacked a sharp touch and gave the ball away cheaply.

Danny Welbeck (ST) - 6/10 - Linked up well with Maupay and used his body well at times, but lacked urgency and didn't cause defenders enough of a headache.

Neil Maupay (LW) - 7/10 - Perhaps too passive at times in the first half but popped up just before the break to give his side the lead, making good on a period of complete dominance.

8. Substitutes

Steven Alzate - 6/10 - Was keen to get on the ball and chased down West Ham's attackers, but wasn't a significant improvement on Lallana, truthfully.

Pascal Gross - 5/10

Alireza Jahanbakhsh - N/A