Jarrod Bowen pounced to score in the second half as West Ham battled to a 1-0 victory at Southampton.
MORE — Watch full replay
Ivan Juric tasted defeat in his first game in charge but Southampton were the better team for most of the first half, despite Carlos Soler hitting the bar early. Lukasz Fabianski denied Mateus Fernandes and Paul Onuachu, who went close on several occasions, before the Polish goalkeeper was carried off with injury.
With the win West Ham move on to 23 points and are well clear of the relegation zone. Southampton remain bottom of the table on six points but will be hopeful of picking up more points in the coming weeks as Juric’s tactics clearly worked and created more chances.
Saints lose again but there is hope under Juric
Southampton are still bottom of the Premier League table and they lost again, but there’s hope under new manager Ivan Juric. They created several golden opportunities, especially in the first half, and a mixture of poor finishing, bad luck and good goalkeeping from the opposition saw them come up short. But the lowest goalscorers in the Premier League are creating chances. How? Juric told them to get it wide early, whip in crosses and Onuachu was a constant threat even though he probably should have scored a couple and Fernandes should have finished off another fine cross. The reason there is hope is that Saints didn’t look like chucking the game away and they looked more organized, they were able to press well in moments and they created so many good chances. That’s after a few days of Juric being in charge. Imagine what he could do with more time. There’s still an almighty uphill battle ahead but the signs are positive that Saints can get themselves back within touching distance of safety in the coming weeks and months.
Southampton vs West Ham player ratings (via FotMob.com)
What’s next?
Southampton head to Crystal Palace on Sunday, December 29. West Ham host Liverpool on the same day.
How to watch Southampton vs West Ham live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Thursday (December 26)
Venue: St Mary’s Stadium — Southampton
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Watch live on Peacock
Southampton vs West Ham score: 0-1
Bowen 59'
Southampton vs West Ham live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Dibling curls way over
Brilliant chance for Southampton to grab a point as Dibling is clean through but he curls his shot way over the bar. He knows that was a huge chance. The teenager just rushed it.
Fernandes scuffs it wide
Brilliant play by Walker-Peters and he plays in Fernandes but he scuffs his shot just wide from a good position. Just over 20 minutes to go. Southampton need to get something going. That goal has knocked the stuffing out of them a little.
Bowen pounces to put West Ham ahead — Southampton 0-1 West Ham
Saints give away a cheap corner and West Ham pounce. A ball to the back is nodded down by Fullkrug and Bowen pounces to tap home. Ramsdale should have come probably come for that.
Guido Rodriguez sent off... but VAR tells the ref to check it and he stays on
Rodriguez lunges in with two feet but stops just before he makes contact with Walker-Peters. The ref shows a red card and it was reckless, but VAR asks referee Lewis Smith to take a look at the monitor. He does and overturns his decision. Southampton aren’t happy but that was probably the right decision. Just. It was still wild from Rodriguez though.
Half time: Southampton 0-0 West Ham
Well, that was very entertaining. Both teams had big chances with Soler hitting the bar when he should score. Southampton’s Paul ONuachu has gone close three times but sent a header wide, was denied by Fabianski and then by Areola. That is because Fabianski was carried off with what looked like a serious injury, while West Ham also lost Kilman to injury. All to play for in the second half at St Mary’s and the hosts are looking much better in attack under their new manager.
Onuachu heads straight at Areola
Southampton should be ahead. A cross from the right finds Onuachu unmarked but he heads straight at Areola. The home fans at St Mary’s were ready to go wild. So many crosses are flying in from Southampton’s right side today. Onuachu has to bury one of these soon. Surely!?
Todibo deflects a cross wide with Onuachu lurking
Brilliant cross from Fernandes and Onuachu is a real handful. He is lurking but Todibo does really well to deflect a cross wide.
10 minutes of stoppage time
After two injuries for West Ham, including that lengthy delay for Fabianski to get treatment, we have a minimum of 10 minutes of stopage time at the end of the first half.
Wan-Bissaka smashes wide on the counter
A counter is led by Kudus after good play from Fullkrug. The Ghanian crosses for Wan-Bissaka at the back post but his volley flies off target. Great chance for West Ham.
Fabianski stretchered off the pitch
A lengthy delay after Lukasz Fabianski is carried off the pitch. The Polish goalkeeper was caught by Nathan Wood as they challenged for a cross into the box. Fabianski is applauded by the home and away fans as he’s carried away. Areola is on as West Ham have been forced into two defensive subs early due to injuries.
Onuachu denied by Fabianski’s superb save
Really good save from Fabianski to deny Onuachu! Walker-Peters with a good cross into the box and Onuachu did really well to power a header towards the far top corner. That is good save by Fabianski.
Kilman off and Todibo on
Early sub for West Ham as Kilman is forced off after what looked like a shoulder injury. Todibo is on at center back for West Ham.
Fernandes heads straight at Fabianski
A cross from the left finds Mateus Fernandes totally free in the box but he heads straight at Fabianski. He has to put Southampton 1-0 up there.
Onuachu heads inches wide
A cross into the back post is kept in brilliantly by Walker-Peters and Onuachu reacts well but his header flies inches wide of the post. Ivan Juric thought that was in. Really close to an opener for Southampton.
Soler smashes the bar from close range
Oh my, that is an unbelievable miss. Wan-Bissaka flies down the right flank and crosses superbly for Soler but his shot from eight yards out smashes the bar and flies out. West Ham should be ahead.
Southampton lineup
Ramsdale; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Wood; Sugawara, Downes, Ugochukwu, Walker-Peters; Armstrong, Fernandes; Onuachu
West Ham lineup
Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson; Rodriguez, Soucek, Soler; Bowen, Fullkrug, Kudus
Southampton team news, focus
Saints will set up in a 3-4-2-1 formation and the duo of Cameron Archer and Paul Onuachu could come in up top, with Tyler Dibling perhaps missing out.
OUT: Gavin Bazunu (Achilles), Ross Stewart (muscular), William Smallbone (thigh)
West Ham team news, focus
The main question for Lopetegui is whether to start with Niclas Fullkrug up top as the German international gets back up to speed after a calf injury. West Ham have so many attacking options but are still figuring out the best combination in the final third.
OUT: Michail Antonio (DETAILS), Lucas Paqueta (suspension) | QUESTIONABLE: Konstantinos Mavropanos (knock)
Southampton vs West Ham prediction
This feels like it will be a really cagey game and although Southampton need to go for the win to help them in their current situation, where will the goals come from? Southampton 1-1 West Ham.
Southampton vs West Ham preview
Juric watched on from the stands as Saints drew 0-0 at Fulham on Sunday, with Aaron Ramsdale back from injury and starring in a rare shutout. Southampton will be tougher to break down and defensively solid under Juric, so Sunday’s draw at Fulham was a sign of things to come. They have to score more goals though, with just 11 through their first 17 game of the season as they sit bottom of the table and eight points from safety. Juric’s mentor is Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini, so we could expect some intriguing tactical tweaks from the Croatian coach in the coming months as he tries to pull off a great escape.
West Ham are becoming more sturdy too, as they drew 1-1 at home to Brighton on Saturday and that’s now two draws and a narrow win against Wolves in their last three games. That has eased some of the pressure on Julen Lopetegui but the Hammers are still hovering just above the relegation scrap and know they have to win games like this if they’re going to push for a top 10 finish, at the very least, this season.
