Three first-half penalties were awarded, and despite Brighton twice coming from behind, West Ham closed the gap to 17th-placed Nottingham Forest to four points.

Against the run of play, Jarrod Bowen slotted Nuno Espirito Santo's side into a 10th-minute lead while one-on-one with Bart Verbruggen.

However, that advantage was short-lived as Danny Welbeck sent Alphonse Areola the wrong way with a clinical penalty in the 32nd minute after Maximilian Kilman had brought down Yankuba Minteh in the box.

Just three minutes later, the referee pointed to the spot again after Lucas Paqueta wrestled Lewis Dunk, but Welbeck chipped an audacious effort onto the bar this time.

That miss was punished in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time, as Paqueta converted from 12 yards after a Dunk handball.

In the 61st minute, Areola failed to deal with a corner and gifted Joel Veltman an equaliser when he pounced from close range, and despite late Brighton pressure, the Seagulls could not find a winner and extended its winless run to six games.