Southampton vs West Ham Report

Scorers: Bowen 59’

A clinical close-range strike from Jarrod Bowen secured a 1-0 victory for West Ham United at St Mary’s, as Southampton’s struggles under new boss Ivan Jurić continued.

The defeat leaves the Saints rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, their survival hopes hanging by a thread.

First Half: Saints Start Strong, but Fabiański Shines

Jurić’s first game in charge saw Southampton play with renewed vigour, and they were unlucky not to open the scoring early on. Paul Onuachu came closest with two headed efforts – the second drawing a sensational fingertip save from Łukasz Fabiański.

West Ham’s Carlos Soler rattled the crossbar with a long-range strike in the opening minutes, but otherwise, the Hammers found themselves largely pinned back. Southampton’s aggressive pressing forced mistakes, but their profligacy in front of goal proved costly.

A lengthy stoppage for Fabiański’s head injury disrupted the rhythm of the game, with Alphonse Areola replacing the Polish keeper just before halftime. Despite the Saints’ pressure, the teams entered the break goalless.

Second Half: Bowen Breaks Saints’ Hearts

The second half began with controversy, as West Ham’s Guido Rodríguez saw his red card for a two-footed challenge on Kyle Walker-Peters downgraded to yellow after a VAR review. That decision seemed to galvanize the Hammers, who took the lead on the hour mark.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis twice failed to clear a corner, allowing Tomáš Souček to recycle possession and deliver a deft ball into the box. Niclas Füllkrug flicked it across goal, and Bowen pounced to fire home from close range – his fourth matchwinner of the season.

Late Pressure, but No Breakthrough for Southampton

Southampton threw everything forward in search of an equaliser. Mateus Fernandes and Walker-Peters both went close, with Fernandes’ low drive narrowly missing the post. However, the Saints failed to register a single shot on target in the second half, a telling statistic that underlined their struggles in front of goal.

Crysencio Summerville almost doubled West Ham’s lead with a late effort that fizzed past the far post, but the Hammers’ defense stood firm to preserve their narrow advantage.

What This Means

• Southampton: Another defeat leaves the Saints perilously adrift at the bottom of the table. Ivan Jurić has a mountain to climb to salvage their season, with Southampton potentially 11 points from safety depending on later results.
• West Ham: A gritty win helps Lopetegui’s side climb to 13th, with a more comfortable buffer above the relegation zone.

Next Fixtures

• Southampton: Travel to Fulham in desperate need of points.
• West Ham: Host Nottingham Forest, looking to build on this momentum.

Southampton’s attacking energy offered promise, but their inability to finish and defensive lapses proved their undoing. Meanwhile, West Ham will take confidence from a hard-fought victory that showcased their ability to grind out results when needed.

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Southampton v West Ham, 2024/25 | Premier League