West Ham put in a shocking performance away at Brighton yesterday and it proved just how much we miss Said Benrahma.

The Hammers actually led 1-0 at half-time following a Michail Antonio thunderbolt.

The goal from the 32-year-old Hammers forward papered over the cracks though.

West Ham had some decent possession inside the first-half. We had 52% of the ball after 45 minutes – unheard of away at Brighton.

The problem was that we didn’t do anything meaningful with that possession though. Our play inside the final third was completely toothless.

Things then went from bad to worse in the second-half as we threw away the chance to finish sixth and eventually lost 3-1 to Brighton.

The good thing is that yesterday’s performance would have shone a light on just how much work David Moyes needs to do in the transfer market this summer. The Scot desperately needs to bring at least six, seven or even eight truly top-class players to the London Stadium.

Yesterday’s display also highlighted just how much West Ham miss Said Benrahma when he doesn’t play.

The 26-year-old winger has been missing from action since scoring a brace against Norwich City two weeks ago.

Benrahma suffered an ankle injury then, and he hasn’t returned to action.

He has been somewhat of a pariah figure at times during his stint at the London Stadium.

He often gets singled out for criticism and Moyes’s treatment of the Algerian has been questionable to say the least.

Let’s have it right though. Benrahma has bagged 11 goals and six assists in 48 games for the Hammers this season (Transfermarkt). Only Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen have more and Benrahma has played more than 1,000 minutes less than both of those players.

Benrahma provides this Hammers team with an outlet that we do not otherwise possess what with his ability on the ball.

Sure, he tries things that don’t always come off but at least he has a go.

The Algerian winger is our most direct attacking player and is the best dribbler at the club. Without him we lack any kind of potency when we drive towards goal.

Next season will be a big one for Benrahma.

After our capitulation against Brighton, David Moyes must now be thinking just how much the Algerian improves his West Ham team in the final third when he plays. The addition of another attacking wide player wouldn’t go a miss this summer either!

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