How West Ham could have done without this, especially given what has gone before and what is to come.
A four game winless run, an FA Cup home humbling against West Brom and rising fan fury towards the club’s board had washed away the feel-good factor that followed David Moyes’ debut win against Bournemouth.
Meanwhile their upcoming run of fixtures – six of their next seven games against teams in the top seven – underlined how little room for error West Ham now have in their bid to stay up.
Victory, therefore, was the only option against Brighton.