West Ham 2-2 Brighton: Danny Welbeck scores penalty then misses Panenka spot-kick as Hammers and Seagulls end 2025 on winless runs
Report and free match highlights as West Ham and Brighton drew 2-2; Jarrod Bowen gave West Ham an early lead but Danny Welbeck equalised from the spot - then missed a Panenka effort minutes later; Lucas Paqueta's penalty put West Ham ahead but Joel Veltman equalised for Brighton
Tuesday 30 December 2025 23:03, UK
West Ham and Brighton could not snap their winless runs by the end of 2025 as both sides settled for a breathless 2-2 draw - in a game which contained three penalties.
All three spot-kicks came within a 15-minute period at the end of the first half, following Jarrod Bowen's 10th-minute opener, slotting home after Lucas Paqueta's slick through ball.
Danny Welbeck converted the first of those penalties after Yankuba Minteh was tripped by Max Kilman - but the Brighton striker would have his head in his hands five minutes later.
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Brighton were given a second spot-kick when Paqueta rugby tackled Lewis Dunk to the ground, but a Panenka effort from Welbeck came back off the bar - leading to a scuffle as West Ham seemingly accused the forward of a lack of respect.
Then West Ham were awarded a penalty themselves, adding to Welbeck's woes. Callum Wilson's strike struck Dunk on the arm which was not spotted on-field - but VAR Stuart Attwell sent referee Michael Salisbury to the monitor, which irked Fabian Hurzeler.
"No one can say it's a clear handball," said Hurzeler after the game. "The VAR footage is not clear enough, so therefore it's just a guess. We are the best league in the world and to make a decision just because of a guess, I think that's not possible."
Paqueta converted to end his own topsy-turvy half on a high and there was even more controversy after half-time, in a game which never let up.
Brighton thought they should have had a third penalty of the match when substitute Kaoru Mitoma was felled by Bowen - but VAR opted not to award it after looking at it.
From the resulting corner, Brighton equalised anyway as the ball was palmed out by Alphonse Areola, leaving Joel Veltman to tap in from close range. West Ham wanted a foul given on their goalkeeper but there was nothing clear to suggest he had been impeded.
Both sides had chances to claim a winner. Bowen saw an effort well saved by Bart Verbruggen, while Areola was equal to smart efforts from Mitoma and fellow substitute Georginio Rutter - both subs changing the game after coming on.
The result leaves West Ham on a winless run of eight games - although now six points from safety after Nottingham Forest lost to Everton. Brighton have also not won in six, so both sides certainly have new year resolutions to make.
WATCH all three first-half penalties - including Welbeck's Panenka MISS!
Hurzeler defends Welbeck after Panenka miss
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler:
"Danny made his decision and if he executes it well, everyone says: 'what a penalty, what a great decision in a situation with a lot of pressure'.
"So therefore he has our support. I think as a penalty taker you have to make decisions and therefore he already helped us so much this season. We keep pushing together, we help him, we support him and therefore there's no criticism."
Nuno praises spirit after tough couple of days
West Ham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo:
"It's been a tough couple of days, difficult. We felt [the defeat to Fulham] and we wanted to play so we can put things right.
"Because we can discuss about the performance but we are chasing our improvement. We are chasing a win - desperately - to give back to our fans, so we can feel everybody.
"The reaction, we cannot say anything about the team spirit of these boys, the way they help each other.
"That [fighting spirit] is non-negotiable. It should be every game like this. You cannot talk and be surprised by this. It has to be something that is part of us."
Analysis: Mistakes still costing hurting Hammers
Sky Sports' Sam Blitz at the London Stadium:
The Hammers are still hurting after their draw with Brighton. An eight-game winless run has done nothing to shake off their relegation fears as they enter the new year.
Mistakes are still being made - there were a couple of early misplaced passes out from the back that created unnecessary pressure. And lessons were not learned - it was no surprise West Ham conceded two first-half penalties via sloppy challenges.
It was Ollie Scarles' costly error on Saturday against Fulham, then it was Kilman's lazy leg and Paqueta's needless rugby tackle against Brighton. All basic errors.
Nuno has praised West Ham's spirit but that only takes you so far. Barring a few Bowen and Paqueta moments, there needs to be more quality in this Hammers team, or 2026 is the year they go down.
