We have this report from the game:

Victory in the library...!

The so called intimidating atmosphere of Upton Park was no where to be seen as Brighton pulled off one of their customary one nil wins at West Ham today.

The home fans hardly managed to sing a single song for the whole game while the 2,700 Albion fans in attendance sang their hearts out, and cheered the team on to an unexpected victory. 

Mark McGhee pulled off a surprise by including Steve Claridge in the team in place of Leon Knight. We played with five at the back, three in midfield and Adam Virgo as the other attacker. 

West Ham started off as you would expect, pushing us back with waves of attacks. They hit the post after three minutes, but that was the closest they would come all afternoon.

While it was fair to say that they had the majority of possession, Michel Kuipers didn't have a save to make throughout the game. The Albion didn't make many chances either, but you could see that the defence was holding out well, and when we went in at half time with a score of 0-0, it always seems possible we might score a breakaway goal and win.

As it turned out, when we got a free kick well into the second half, the ball was floated across and there was Guy Butters with a powerful header into the corner of the goal. The Albion faithful went wild and West Ham continued to huff and puff but without much being made of it. 

Both teams were reduced to 10 men after Virgo tackled Mullins who reacted badly and after a bit of pushing and shoving, the ref showed them both a straight red card. The yellow would have been a much more sensible punishment and now Virgo will miss the next three games meaning that Claridge and Knight will have to play upfront, which may be an interesting combination.

Steve Claridge, even at 38, showed that he's got true class, and the difference between him and some of the others in the team was easy to see. He had instant control each time the ball came to him and ran and ran for the whole game, only being substituted in injury time. With his class and Knights speed and opportunism, goals may be easier to come by.

Hot dogs were probably the most expensive in the country, at £2.80 each! 

Summary: Performance typical of the other wins this season, when we soaked up the pressure and hit them on the break.

Player Ratings:

Kuipers                 7

Reid                     7

Cullip                   8

Butters                   9    MOM

Hinshelwood           7

Harding                  5

Carpenter               8

Nicolas                  8

Oatway                 7

Virgo                    6

Claridge                8 

Subs:

Currie                   6

Managers Reactions (Brighton):

"We've lost three in a row with heavy defeats that we didn't always think we deserved so we're pleased to come here and get this result.

"We approached the game differently. Where as before we thought we could win today we did not, and played to make sure we didn't get beaten.

"We kept the ball up front more which is important. Steve Claridge was key to that. He is is one of the fittest players I've worked with and I have no doubt that after 18 months away from this level he would be able to perform."

Managers Reactions (West Ham):

"I felt like we were mugged today. We've had 17 efforts on goal but only three on target, perhaps that's why we haven't won it .

"Technically they were perfect and obviously came here to play deep and try and nick it on a set piece which is what they did.

"We missed Teddy Sheringham today but Don Hutchison created chances - we just have to convert them. At he end of it all it wasn't our day."