"The first 35 minutes we were not at the pace needed, especially to fight for the second balls. I am frustrated because I think we did the things to win the game."
Those were the words of Manuel Pellegrini after West Ham were downed 1-0 by Brighton and Hove Albion on a balmy Friday night last October in the Premier League and they return to the AMEX on Saturday looking to put things right.
Not only off the back of the 5-0 trouncing by Man City last time out but attempting to finally get one over on the Seagulls, who the Hammers have failed to beat in four attempts since Albion returned to the top flight.
In that game back in October 2018, the Hammers had 65% possession, 17 shots to Brighton's nine (four of them on target) and nine corners to Brighton's two.
But it was Glenn Murray's goal in the 25th minute that condemned the visitors to defeat that day.
Pellegrini played three narrow central midfielders that day - Mark Noble, Declan Rice and Pedro Obiang. The latter has since departed the club and skipper Noble is losing his race to be fit for the game this weekend.
David Moyes also deployed three narrow central midfielders when he saw the Hammers beaten 3-1 by Albion in February 2018 - Joao Mario, Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate.
Pellegrini won't be doing that this weekend at the AMEX. Signs are pointing to the boss recalling Arthur Masuaku at left back and Pablo Fornals to the starting eleven and going very much on the offensive with his midfield quartet.
A lot depends on the fitness of Felipe Anderson this weekend. The Brazilian limped off against City midway through the second half and tried to come back on though Pellegrini took the executive decision to substitute the winger, replacing him with Javier Hernandez.
The manager has the chance to unleash his attacking midfield quartet of Anderson, Fornals, Manuel Lanzini and Jack Wilshere this weekend. That comes with its benefits but also has drawbacks, as we saw in pre-season when Declan Rice was left tremendously exposed.
Brighton too will be a different proposition. Last time out, then Seagulls manager Chris Hughton saw his side take the lead and simply sat back thereafter with Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy heading away anything that came their way.
Under Graham Potter though, the Seagulls won't do that. They will attack the Hammers as much as the Hammers will attack them and are bouncing after beating Watford 3-0 on opening weekend in Potter's first game in charge,
That is despite them playing five at the back last weekend, with three centre backs of Dunk and Duffy joined by new recruit Dan Burn, who joined the Seagulls in2018 only to be loaned back to the side he came from, Wigan Athletic.
It all points to an intriguing contest on the south coast but the Hammers will need to learn from their previous mistakes on their last visits to the AMEX. It's the first home game of the season for Brighton, their vociferous home crowd in tow, and early doors will be crucial.
Don't leave Sebastien Haller isolated, attack down the flanks rather than through the middle with Burn, Dunk and Duffy in the way and one of the midfielders needs to get up alongside the Frenchman in attack with the five-man Brighton defence on the pitch.
Also, hit the target more than last time. Simple enough, really.
