Brighton 3 West Ham 1: Hammers consigned to Europa Conference League after goals from Veltman and Gross
NO MATTER what he says, this was not the European competition David Moyes wanted.
West Ham arrived on the South Coast knowing they were already guaranteed a place in Europe next season.
Seventh spot was theirs, the Europa Conference League the prize, but a favourable final-day switcheroo would have seen them leap into sixth and return to the Europa League.
All the Hammers needed was to beat Brighton at the Amex and hope Crystal Palace denied Manchester United from all three points.
Palace did their jobs. Moyes’ men floundered at the last hurdle.
Sure, European football for a second successive season is nothing to be sniffed at, especially considering West Ham were battling relegation a few years ago.
But the Europa League – where they made so many great memories this year in reaching the semi-finals – was in their grasp after Michail Antonio fired in a first-half opener.
Yet second half strikes from Joel Veltman, Pascal Gross and Danny Welbeck crushed those dreams of going one better next campaign.
An impressive home win meanwhile handed Graham Potter’s men their highest ever Prem finish of ninth, just five points off West Ham.
Unsurprisingly, Moyes kept the same starting XI from his side’s impressive 2-2 draw with Manchester City at the London Stadium last time out.
Retiring skipper Mark Noble was on the bench hoping to make his 550th and final appearance for the club while the injured Said Benrahma was left out altogether.
Brighton made just the one change with Leandro Trossard dropping out after picking up a knock against Leeds with Adam Webster coming into a back three.
In need of a victory to end their season on a high, history was against West Ham who had failed to win any of their nine Prem meetings with Brighton before this one.
Six of those were draws, and the early stages of their 10th top-flight clash had all the makings of another in the seaside sunshine.
The Hammers may have still been playing for something, but their relaxed start said otherwise with just 31 per cent possession in the opening 15 minutes.
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Moises Caicedo was in the thick of things – fresh off his stunning goal here against Man United – as he tested Fabianski’s palms with a low effort.
The Ecuadorian was then gifted yet more space on the edge of West Ham’s box before teeing up Marc Cucurella for a blocked attempt.
Moyes was spitting feathers at his team’s lack of enthusiasm to get on the ball and impact the game without it.
The atmosphere was in need of some spicing up too, and that came from the away end as news filtered through in the 37th minute of Palace taking the lead at Selhurst Park.
And three minutes later, they were cheering for their own team as Antonio shrugged off Lewis Dunk just outside the box from a Vladimir Coufal throw-in.
The 32-year-old smacked it with his laces into Robert Sanchez’ top corner for West Ham’s first shot on target.
Astonishingly, the strike was Antonio’s FIRST Prem goal from outside the box at the 56th attempt, while it also took his season tally to 10.
The goal sparked wild complaints from the hosts for a foul on Dunk in the build-up.
Replays showed the Gulls centre back – all 6ft4 of him – went down in a heap from very little contact.
An undeserving lead perhaps, and Brighton came out in the second half a completely different animal thanks to a half time switch of Neal Maupay for Yves Bissouma.
The French striker caused the West Ham backline mayhem instantly and Potter was rewarded with a 50th minute equaliser.
Solly March controlled the ball brilliantly in the box only to set up Veltman, whose shot squirmed under the body of Fabianski.
One to forget for the Polish keeper, and one that inspired Brighton to go for the kill.
Cucurella slipped in Maupay in the six-yard box but was eventually cleared by Aaron Cresswell, while Danny Welbeck went close after a 1-2 with Pascal Gross.
West Ham were living life dangerously, clinging to any counter attack they could spring with little success or potency down the other end.
Moyes was preparing to react by making a trio of changes with 10 minutes left, including Noble, but Gross scuppered his plans by finding the net.
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Fed by Welbeck with his back to goal, Gross turned Tomas Soucek with ease and this time left Fabianski with no chance from 18 yards.
Noble, Andriy Yarmolenko and Ben Johnson trotted on regardless, only to see Welbeck head home an injury-time third in stoppage time.