Effervescent and keen to go wide where both Marc Cucurella and Veltman were struggling, West Ham came closer still to a second just before the half-hour when Coufal crossed and Fornals volleyed first time against the underside of the bar and to safety.

Fornals and Bowen were too quick of mind and body for unusually ponderous Brighton, for whom Yves Bissouma never quite engaged and Leandro Trossard was a peripheral presence. They had to readjust again when Adam Webster limped off clutching his calf.

With nothing to lose, one substitution remaining and an hour to play, Brighton’s renaissance began. Excellent work from Solly March and Maupay allowed Jakub Moder to break through alone. The Pole’s low shot was destined for goal until it hit Fabianski’s trailing leg.

When West Ham won another corner, Sanchez fluffed his punch horribly and the ball bobbled into the net off Michail Antonio, via Craig Dawson and Duffy. After three torturous minutes, Var first dismissed the suggestion that Bowen had fouled Lallana as the corner sailed over, but upheld the notion that Antonio was offside.

“I’d really like someone to explain that to me,” sighed Moyes. “And to identify a reason why that goal did not stand. I can’t see one.”

“It was marginal,” Potter said. “But that’s the world we’re living in. I can see why David’s upset.”

After Bowen had gone close following majestic Benrahma trickery in the zone Cucurella might have been expected to police, Brighton continued to press. March ran Ben Johnson ragged, Lallana scuffed a simple chance wide and West Ham began to think about other things than extending their lead.

Brighton would have redemption, but there was still time for Cucurella to chest Kurt Zouma’s header off the line.