West Ham 3-1 Southampton: Saints have a day to forget in the capital

Southampton put in a performance that combined poor defending and a lack of bite in attack to ultimately lose 3-1 to West Ham on Saturday afternoon.

Saints found themselves 2-1 down at half-time after strikes from Jarrod Bowen and Sebastian Haller either side of Michael Obafemi’s equaliser.

Ralph Hasenhuttl made changes in the second-half to try and change his side’s fortunes, but a third goal arrived for the Hammers courtesy of Michail Antonio to leave Saints with an insurmountable deficit.

Hasenhuttl’s selection was partly hampered by a slight injury issue for Danny Ings during the previous week. The striker was replaced by Michael Obafemi in the starting line-up and Sofiane Boufal replaced Moussa Djenepo, whilst James Ward-Prowse continued at right-back – meaning a second consecutive start for Will Smallbone.

Saints started the game on the front foot and won two early corners after advancing forward, but they were soon on the back foot after a spell of sloppy defensive play.

Jarrod Bowen was making his first West Ham start and saw one chance saved by Alex McCarthy, but soon proved his finishing ability when he coolly lifted the ball over the Saints keeper after the Hammers had seized upon loose play from the visiting defence.

Despite both Yan Valery and Kyle Walker-Peters being fit enough for the bench, James Ward-Prowse was still playing as a makeshift right-back and clearly struggling up against Michail Antonio.

This was clear again as the hosts attacked down the left and created an ideal opportunity for Sebastian Haller to double the lead, but the big striker’s header was thankfully straight at McCarthy.

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Missing that chance gave Saints a chance to break down the other end to get themselves back into the contest and that’s duly what they did.

Stuart Armstrong spread the play to Ward-Prowse, who had broken forward from full-back, and the England man’s cutback towards the penalty spot was swept home by Michael Obafemi. Could Saints now take control before half-time?

No, was the answer to that question as West Ham regained the lead after a moment to forget for Alex McCarthy.

The Hammers again looked to their left flank to create an opening and Antonio lofted a cross that looked inviting for Haller at the back post. McCarthy looked strong favourite to claim the ball, but instead allowed the striker to win the ball and subsequently stab home from a narrow angle.

When the situation hasn’t changed eight minutes into the second period, Hasenhuttl made his move by bringing on Danny Ings for Sofiane Boufal, who had been unable to influence proceedings at all.

However, no sooner had their talisman come onto the pitch than Saints were 3-1 behind. And again, it was too easy for West Ham.

Pablo Fornals slid the ball through to Michail Antonio and put him through on goal simply before seeing the striker finish with ease inside the near post.

This gave West Ham a comfortable cushion to hold onto for the rest of the game and Saints were unable to work their way back in other than to create a couple of half chances for Ings late on.

Ralph Hasenhuttl changed his side’s shape by bringing Jannik Vestergaard and Oriol Romeu on – unpopular decisions with the Saints fans, with other players being shifted around to form a 3-4-1-2 system which ultimately didn’t pay off.

After failing to follow up their good win over Aston Villa with a performance here, Saints must now respond in upcoming meetings with both Newcastle and Norwich City that could take them to the magic 40-point mark.

West Ham line-up

Fabianski, Ngakia, Ogbonna, Diop, Cresswell, Rice, Noble, Fornals (Anderson 90+1), Bowen (Snodgrass 78), Antonio, Haller

Subs not used: Randolph, Balbuena, Zabaleta, Masuaku, Lanzini

Saints line-up

McCarthy, Ward-Prowse, Bednarek, Stephens, Bertrand, Hojbjerg, Smallbone (Romeu 77), Armstrong, Boufal (Ings 53), Long, Obafemi (Vestergaard 68)

Subs not used: Gunn, Valery, Walker-Peters, Adams