Andy Carroll returned to help West Ham to their first win in nine games after overturning a match which Southampton had dominated for long periods.
Ronald Koeman’s side had controlled the first half, creating a string of chances but an improved second half display from the Hammers ended their run of five draws and lifted them to seventh.
The unpredictability of this season’s Premier League has left the middle of the table particularly congested.
Just six points separated sixth to thirteenth prior to kick-off and the result of this match would, perhaps, provide some indication as to whether these sides would be contesting a European position or mid-table obscurity.
Dusan Tadic gives Southampton the lead
The latter had looked more likely for the Saints before they thumped Arsenal on Boxing Day and the confidence with which they finished that game was in evidence as they took an early lead against a West Ham side without a win in eight.
Shane Long was the Gunners’ chief tormentor and he had a decisive role in Dusan Tadic’s goal as he beat James Collins to a header before linking up with Steven Davis later in the move to cross low for the Serbian to prod home from close range.
Long’s direct running and physical urgency was posing the same problems for Collins as it had for Per Mertesacker 46 hours earlier.
The Irishman almost had Ronald Koeman’s side two up on 20 minutes as he collected Jose Fonte’s looped pass and cut inside Collins before firing just wide of the far post.
Michail Antonio levels the score for West Ham as he is brought down in the penalty area
Five minutes later Collins redeemed himself with an excellent block to take Davis’ shot over the bar after the irrepressible Long raced to the byline and pulled back for the Northern Ireland captain.
Frustration echoed around Upton Park as the Saints were dominant early on. Tadic played in the overlapping Fonte and his whipped cross narrowly evaded Sadio Mane as they went in search of a second.
They came close again as Davis intercepted a careless pass from James Tomkins before arrowing a shot inches wide of the far post with the remonstrations increasing from the Hammers’ faithful.
Fonte scored with a near-post header from a corner against Arsenal and almost did so here just before half time as he glanced on Davis’ delivery and was only prevented by an excellent reflex stop from Adrian.
West Ham had created nothing in the first half and Alex Song, Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate were not proving the shield that Slaven Bilic will have hoped for with Southampton dominating the midfield.
Under pressure: West Ham manager Slaven Bilic
It was no surprise then that Bilic introduced both Carroll and Manuel Lanzini at the break.
It had an immediate effect. Carroll forced a corner from which Collins saw his header cleared off the line by Cuco Martina. West Ham worked the ball back into the area where it found Carroll who blazed over from close range. Frustration changed to approval amongst the home support.
Carl Jenkinson had not been comfortable as a makeshift left-back and switched to his preferred right side after the break.
That provided West Ham with a further attacking outlet and their direct approach was much more effective in the second half.
Andy Carroll celebrates heading the winner for West Ham
But with the Hammers struggling to score, Southampton did it for them. Michail Antonio capitalised on hesitancy from Martina before Fonte looked to have brought him down in the penalty area.
Before Michael Oliver had to make that decision, Victor Wanyama hit the ball into Antonio, who was lying on the floor, and the ball looped over Maarten Stekelenburg.
Ten minutes later, they were in front. Enner Valencia’s cross evaded Fonte and Antonio rattled an unchallenged header against the crossbar with Carroll on hand to nod-in the rebound.
It was a victory they scarcely deserved but desperately needed.
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