Hammers record fifth straight win over their favourite opponents

West Ham recorded their fifth straight win over Southampton with a comfortable 3-1 win at the London Stadium.

The Hammers have won more Premier League matches (18) and more home fixtures (13) against Southampton than they have versus any other side.

Jarrod Bowen opened the scoring with his first goal for the club before Sebastien Haller and Michail Antonio nullified Michael Obafemi’s equaliser.

Haller’s goal was controversial as Saints keeper Alex McCarthy dropped the ball under his challenge but the other two were created by superb asses from Pablo Fornals.

The result completes the double for West Ham over their south coast opponents, six points that may be crucial to their hope of survival.

The Hammers were the better side throughout. William Smallbone kept his place and Kyle Walker-Peters made it to the bench, despite speculation he was ready for a start.

Jan Bednarek was alert and agile to stop the first Hammers foray with a timely interception, before keeping pace with Haller to deny a second breakaway. Jack Stephens was the defensive hero next denying a breakaway after Stuart Armstrong was overpowered in midfield.

On the quarter-hour, Bowen made a superb darting run into the box, controlled with one foot, finished with the other. It was his first goal for the Irons. Fornals supplied the pass, which was one of vision and quality.

Haller passed up a perfect chance to double the lead seconds later but headed straight into McCarthy’s arms. That looked like it may cost West Ham dear as the next goal was a Southampton equaliser.

James Ward-Prowse crossed from the right and Michael Obafemi seemed to direct the ball upwards and beyond Fabianski with his shin as much as his boot.

Issa Diop made a complete egg of a great headed opportunity on 37, and that did cost the visitors dearly.

Three minutes later, it was 2-1. Haller challenged McCarthy for an Antonio high cross, the keeper dropped it but Haller netted the loose ball, his second of the year against Southampton.

Nine minutes after the interval, West Ham bathed in glory. Antonio timed his run to Fornals’ pass perfectly, out paced Bednarek and slotted past McCarthy.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg did hit the woodwork with a header from the centre of the box following a corner, conceded by a brave Angelo Ogbonna header but that was as close as a fairly uncreative Southampton side came.

West Ham end a run of seven games without a win. With Arsenal, Wolves, Spurs and Chelsea to come, West Ham’ will have tougher games to come, even though they don’t have to leave London in that period.

Only Aston Villa  have conceded more goals than the leaky Saints and it is only by one goal. They have Newcastle and Norwich to come and a win in either should be enough to secure survival, given Brighton and Bournemouth’s recent results.

Preview: Form favours Southampton, history favours West Ham

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Teams:

West Ham United: Fabianski; Bowen (Snodgrass 78′), Haller, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Noble (c), Rice;  Fornals (Anderson 90′),  Antonio, Ngakia

Substitutes Randolph, Anderson, Zabaleta, Balbuena, Lanzini, Masuaku

Southampton: McCarthy; Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand; Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg, Long, Boufal (Ings 53′), Obafemi (Vestergard 68′), Smallbone (Romeu 80′),

Substitutes: Gunn, Adams, Walker-Peters, Valery

Attendance: 59,962