EPL: West Ham v Brighton preview

West Ham v Brighton preview

West Ham will be without Diafra Sakho and Andy Carroll when they host Brighton on Friday

Carroll is suspended after being sent off in the Hammers' 1-1 draw at Burnley last weekend, while Sakho misses out with a back injury.

Javier Hernandez was also a doubt after pulling up in training with a hamstring problem, but Hammers boss Slaven Bilic hopes the summer signing will be available.

After starting the season with three straight Premier League defeats, West Ham have lost just one of their last five.

"We have improved results," said Bilic. "We have players back from injury and the players who missed a big part of pre-season have their match-fitness. We improved and we are on the right path, so it's much better."

 

West Ham and Brighton sit on eight points after eight games, with the Seagulls also suffering a late setback last weekend when Wayne Rooney's 90th-minute penalty grabbed Everton a 1-1 draw at the Amex Stadium.

Newly-promoted Brighton have won two of their four home games but have picked up just one point on the road.

"It's going to be about away form that's going to be the most challenging," said manager Chris Hughton. "It's a game away from home, in a big stadium, against a very talented team."

Carroll and Sakho are out for West Ham along with James Collins, who is continuing to recover from an ankle injury.

 

Hernandez hopes to shake off a hamstring niggle while back-up goalkeeper Adrian has been ruled out through illness.

Brighton hope to have defender Shane Duffy available after he was forced off with a groin problem during the second half of last weekend's draw with Everton.

Midfielder Beram Kayal (broken leg) and striker Sam Baldock (calf), who have not played this season, made their comebacks in an U23 fixture on Monday but will not feature against the Hammers. Steve Sidwell (back) is also out, along with suspended striker Tomer Hemed, who completes a three-game ban following his violent conduct charge.