The first game for Sunday served us a drop zone communion as West Ham United and Southampton who have been chronic relegation battlers this season took to the field to jostle for the available 3 points.
David Moyes lined-up his West Ham United side in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Fabianski in goal alongside Kehrer, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson, Soucek, Rice, Bowen, Paqueta, Benrahma and Ings.
For Ruben Selles’ Saints, they went with a 4-4-2 pattern with Bazunu in goal in addition to Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Caleta-car, Perraud, Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Lavia, Elyounoussi, Walcott and Mara.
Southampton kicked off proceedings and both sides went straight to the business of the day.
For most of the first 20 minutes of the encounter both teams were still trying to size each other up, not giving much space for the opposition to penetrate.
In the 17th minute, Theo Walcott took the ball in the box with his back to the post and he controlled it well before turning and taking a whack at it. However, his push found the side of the net.
8 minutes later, the Hammers struck the Saints as they went ahead via a header from Naif Aguerd who connected to a free-kick that was swung into the box from Thilo Kehrer.
The Video Assistant Referee conducted a lengthy check to ascertain if Aguerd was offside but after due findings the goal was awarded.
Southampton almost equalized against West Ham United
In the 30th minute, Southampton almost drew level as Perraud almost responded straight up for the side from Saint Mary’s.
But his effort was saved brilliantly by Fabianski. A massive chance was wasted by West Ham United as Kehrer was put through one-on-one with the goalkeeper by Benrahma but his first touch was poor and he allowed Bazunu recover for Southampton.
In the 43rd minute, Caleta-car got his name taken down by the referee after a dangerous sliding tackle on Bowen, Paul Tierney the center-referee on the day instantly brought out a yellow card and displayed it to him.
Southampton also posed one more question at West Ham United before the end of the first 45 minutes as Elyounoussi sent in a dangerous cross in the area but it was punched away by Fabianski.
The last big chance in the first half fell to West Ham and it resulted in the ball making contact with the Woodwork after a curling effort from Jarrod Bowen.
It ended 1-0 after the first half with West Ham United taking the lead into half time and they were arguably the better side in the first 45 minutes.
How the second half panned out
The 2nd half started with lots of intent as both sides knew the assignment at hand. In the 54th minute, Southampton made the first change of the game introducing Sulemana for Elyounoussi.
They also sent onto the field Alcaraz for Mara. Two minutes later, Bowen had a big chance but he could only fire his efforts over the bar and out.
9 minutes later, David Moyes also made his own substitutions as he brought on Michail Antonio for Danny Ings and Thomas Sucez was replaced by Flynn Downes in the 68th minute.
Minutes later, Ainsley Maitland-Niles was brought in for Stuart Armstrong alongside Paul Onuachu for Theo Walcott.
In the 81st minute, a caution was shown to Jan Bednarek for a foul on Emerson. In the 81st minute, Bazunu tipped a deflected shot from Bowen over the bar.
4 minutes later, Paul Onuachu got a big chance for Southampton as he rose highest in the box to connect to a cross from James Ward-Prowse.
The resultant header hit the crossbar and Walker-Peters who could have provided a glimpse of hope for Southampton fired his efforts over the bar.
West Ham United brought on Aaron Cresswell and Pablo Fornals to replace Emerson and Lucas Paqueta respectively.
After 90 minutes, it finished with the Hammers picking up the three points and the Saint marching out from a loss at the London Stadium.
West Ham United via that win moved up to 14th on the Premier League table but Southampton remained bottom and last with relegation in sight.
Match Highlights Below:
