Lacklustre Southampton succumbed to their second successive 3-0 away defeat in the Premier League.
West Ham United thumped Saints at the London Stadium thanks to three first half goals including two from Marko Arnautovic. The win ends the Hammers string of three consecutive defeats but extends the Saints derisory run of form to just one win in 18 league games.
It was the Hammers first game since some unsavoury scenes at the London Stadium including pitch invasions during the 3-0 loss to Burnley, but the Irons produced a brilliant first half performance to lead Southampton 3-0 at half time.
David Moyes’ side got off to a flying start, scoring twice in the opening 17 minutes. January loan signing Joao Mario rifled home the opening goal from the edge of the box after Mario Lemina was dispossessed following a Saints short corner, not for the first time this season.
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It was another case of lessons not learnt for the visitors as the Portuguese found space to pick out Arnautovic for the second just four minutes later. The Austrian’s initial effort was saved well by Saints stopper Alex McCarthy but the ball was bundled home at the second attempt.
Saints failed to get a foothold in the game and were punished once again in first half stoppage time as Arnautovic claimed his second. Volleying home from another fine cross, this time supplied by Arthur Masuaku from the West Ham left.
Saints brought Shane Long on for Manolo Gabbiadini at half time, but things didn’t get any better in the second half as the game fizzled out, the Hammers, with a comfortable lead, controlled the game and frustrated the Saints. While Southampton had more possession, they did very little with it, and it did feel like damage limitation.
The Saints failed to test West Ham goalkeeper Joe Hart for the full 90 minutes offering little to no goal threat, and not registering a shot on target throughout the entire game.
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After a week of optimism, Mark Hughes first league game in charge couldn’t have gone any worse and it felt very much like a repeat performance of the Newcastle game before the international break, another 3-0 away defeat.
If Southampton are to survive they need to win games, and quickly. After loosing what many would describe as a crunch relegation six pointer and with an unfavourable run in are Saints now destined for the second tier? On that performance, I fear so.