West Ham hold on to beat Southampton to ease pressure on Manuel Pellegrini

Manuel Pellegrini congratulated each of his players as they left the pitch before glancing up to the directors’ box and following them down the tunnel.

Such has been the speculation surrounding the Chilean’s supposedly imminent sacking that even this crucial victory at lowly Southampton is unlikely to see the rumours fade away.

“You never know,” said Pellegrini when asked whether he thought his job was safe. “It depends on the trust of the owners of the club. It’s a question which I always answer in the same way. We have to try to win the next game, we have to play better and win or lose, you have to analyse what you do.”

West Ham face a 12 day break before they next play at Crystal Palace on Boxing Day, but Pellegrini may at least be able to enjoy some of the festivities after his side deservedly left the South Coast with three points.

Before this, seven defeats in nine games had seen West Ham plummet and the withdrawal of the influential Felipe Anderson on Friday due to illness only added to Pellegrini’s problems.  Though they only had Sebastien Haller’s first half strike to show for it, this was an impressive and largely dominant performance from the Londoners who caused Southampton problems all evening.

“I’m happy with the performance because I thought that was similar to what we had against Chelsea and from the first minute of the game we tried to win, always going for the second goal.”

West Ham had the ball in the net in the second minute as Declan Rice headed in Robert Snodgrass’s free-kick, but the England midfielder had strayed a few centimetres offside.  It was all West Ham and they went close again when Michail Antonio crossed low for Pablo Fornals and Cedric did well to deflect his shot just wide.

The St Mary’s atmosphere was fairly flat with the home support being given little to cheer. The Saints survived a VAR penalty appeal when Jan Bednarek tangled with Antonio and Martin Atkinson’s initial decision not to give a foul was upheld.  But an away goal seemed inevitable and West Ham deservedly took the lead when Antonio broke free down the right and found Snodgrass. His cross was knocked down by Fornals and Haller converted in off the post.

Home wins over Watford and Norwich had done a little to dampen the memories of the Saints’ humiliating 0-9 defeat to Leicester but the St Mary’s faithful were fractious again here, booing their team from the field at half-time.

“We know that the rally goes until May and, like last season, it’s about battling to stay in,” said Ralph Hasenhuttl of his club’s position in the relegation zone.

“We were fighting, we were investing a lot but in the end today, not able to take something.”  Moments into the second half Southampton needed a superb save from Alex McCarthy to prevent Fornals from making it 2-0 with a rising half-volley.

They then had an even more fortuitous escape when Antonio cruelly had a goal disallowed by VAR after the ball had brushed against his forearm en route to a powerful run and finish that looked to have put the away side two up.

“I think I’m going to cut my hands off,” joked the West Ham player afterwards.  There could be absolutely no suggestion that the West Ham players had stopped playing for the manager, superior as they were in every department to Southampton.

Finally though the Saints did threaten as Moussa Djenepo’s run and cross was controlled and then thumped against the crossbar with Long unable to convert the rebound from a tight angle.

Ings then finished brilliantly into the top corner from the edge of the area, though Atkinson had halted the game seconds earlier because of a foul from Djenepo.

Back came West Ham and Antonio and Haller combined for the latter to angle a header low to the corner, forcing another fine save from McCarthy.

In the 90th minute, Southampton won a free-kick deep in James Ward-Prowse territory but his effort was easily gathered by Martin and Pellegrini breathed a sigh of relief.

7:32PM

Michail Antonio was incredible today

Antonio was the star of the day doing everything apart from scoring - and that is only because VAR ruled out his goal.

He played like a man possessed today and West Ham will need him to continue this form.

7:27PM

Huge win for Manuel Pellegrini

Those three points were well deserved even if Southampton were better in the second half. West Ham have found something with Antonio and Haller playing together. They should stick with the partnership and they could get moving up the table.

Big problems for Southampton remain who struggled to play as a collective today.

7:24PM

FULL TIME! Southampton 0 West Ham 1

There is some time still left due to the injury even though we are into the 95th minute.

Southampton lose the ball in their own half and West Ham come up the field slowly to take the throw-in.

Antonio is - rightly - named man of the match.

7:22PM

90+4 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

The corner is dealt with. West Ham look like they have secured the win after some frantic defending and some missed chances from Southampton.

Martin is booked for wasting time before he takes the goal kick.

Martin is now down injured, as if he pulled something kicking the ball. He looks in real pain. 'Real pain'. The physios are on.

7:20PM

90+2 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

There are four minutes of added time. West Ham has every player behind the ball as they seek to cling on to a vital three points.

Romeu puts in a superb ball over the top but the trigger is not pulled by Adams. The Stephens goes through but he squares it instead of shooting. Two superb chances.

Southampton have the corner at least.

7:18PM

90 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Can Ward-Prowse produce something special?

Nope, straight at the keeper.

7:17PM

89 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Noble is coming off, not particularly quickly. Diop is coming on.

Ward-Prowse crosses in a long free kick but again a West Ham players wins the ball.

Djenepo goes down theatrically as Balbuena kicks at the ball. He has bought a free kick there in shooting range.

7:14PM

87 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Southampton are creeping forward and eventually a ball is crossed in. Cedric puts in a dangerous cross but Hojbjerg half-volleys the ball well wide. Che Adams is on for Cedric.

7:13PM

86 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Armstrong is on for Long.

Southampton have a free kick but the cross is dealt with. Southampton attack again but Balbuena rises highest to head away.

And again come the home side. West Ham are camped in their own half well and truly at this point.

7:11PM

83 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Yarmolenko winds a corner. West Ham will take their time here.

The corner is headed away but West Ham secure possession. They give the ball away and Ings powers forward but he takes one touch too many and loses it. He should have pulled the trigger, especially in this form.

7:09PM

81 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

The game has really opened up with Southampton looking to score.

Hojbjerg drives forward and lays the ball back to Stephens who's effort is frankly terrible. He rolls it way, way wide of the right hand post. Needed Ings in that position.

7:06PM

79 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Haller wins a header at the other end, directing low toward the corner but McCarthy somehow gets down to push it out for a corner. Some save! He then claims the ball that is bouncing around after the corner.

Great two minutes for the keeper.

Another chance for West Ham. Some lovely interplay ends with Antonio laying the ball off to Yarmolenko who puts the ball over the bar.

Haller is off for Sanchez.

7:04PM

77 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Southampton counter, Djenepo drives past his defender but Ward-Prowse fails to find him with the return pass.

Yarmolenko is fouled just before Ings whips it into the top corner. What a goal that would have been. A soft free kick saves the Hammers.

7:02PM

75 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Djenepo goes round Fredericks but fouls him in the process. West Ham need to get their foot on the ball and establish some control. It has been all Southampton in the last 10 minutes or so.

7:00PM

73 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Ings is played through and he hits the post with a curving shot - he is ruled offside! That was so close.

Yarmolenko is on for Snodgrass.

6:58PM

71 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Fredericks halts a promising attack with a strong challenge.

Southampton come again and Ings hits the bar! The ball falls to him in the box and he hammers a half-volley into the bar. Superb strike that was so close. The ball rebounded to Long who put it wide from a tight angle.

6:55PM

67 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

West Ham break through Fonrals. He plays in Snodgrass but his cross is headed away. West Ham have a throw-in deep in the home side's half.

Haller is knocked to ground again as a cross comes in - that looked a little soft but could have been a foul. No penalty given.

6:52PM

65 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Ings is played in down the right, he finds Long who crosses the ball in towards the back post. Balbuena heads the ball out for another Saints' corner.

Martin unconvincingly punches away the corner but Southampton regain the ball. Djenepo drives forward and sends a curling shot over the bar. The space opened up in front of him nicely there.

6:50PM

63 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Southampton attack but Creswell hammers the ball up the field as Cedric attempts step-over after step-over. The rain has started to pour down at St Mary's.

Djenepo wins a corner down the left. Ward-Prowse whips the ball in but it is dealt with.

6:48PM

Here is the VAR no-goal intervention - harsh or not?

6:48PM

61 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Snodgrass' corner is not dealt with properly by Southampton who eventually clear through McCarthy.

6:46PM

59 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Yellow card to Fredericks for a challenge on Djenepo. Not a great tackle that.

Rice loses control of the ball in his own half handing possession to Southampton. Stephens drives forward but then loses the ball.

Antonio flies past Cedric and his cross is put out for a corner.

6:43PM

55 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

So it is still 1-0 to the away side. VAR has helped Southampton twice in this match now. Can they capitalise on their good fortune?

Cedric puts in another dangerous ball but it is headed away.

6:41PM

VAR CHECK!

NO GOAL! He hand balled it on the way through. A little harsh, it was accidental but that is the law. The ball bounced up, hit his arm then rolled into his path as he burst through.

Shame, Antonio deserved a goal.

6:40PM

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAL! Antonio Southampton 0 West Ham 2

Antonio is played through and he powers past two defenders before hammering it home. What a strike! What power!

6:39PM

52 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Hjobjerg drives forward but cannot find Long. There is real energy in the home side now. West Ham firmly on the back foot.

6:37PM

50 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Ings picks the ball up on the right but his pass towards Long rolls out for a goal kick. Ward-Prowse has moved to the right as Redmond was the man to be taken off.

Long chases the ball down the right, he lays it back to Cedric who whips a cross in. Corner to the home side.

Balbuena heads the corner away but this already much better from Southampton.

6:34PM

47 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Fornals nearly scores at the start of the half. The ball falls to him on the half volley and he hammers it at McCarthy who tips it over the bar.

The keeper comes to claim the resulting corner.

6:33PM

The second half is underway!

Romeu is on at half time - they needed something in the middle of the park.

6:30PM

The players are back out onto the pitch

Southampton need a big half here. West Ham just need to carry on as they were before the break.

6:24PM

The first half has been all about one man

Michail Antonio has been a man possessed in the first half. He has been all over the pitch - left, right, middle - causing havoc. He is too strong, too fast and too intelligent for the Southampton defence so far.

6:20PM

Timely goal for Manuel Pellegrini's West Ham career

6:19PM

HALF TIME! Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Southampton have been dominated by West Ham who look like the side from early in the season. Southampton have got the rub of the green on a few decisions which has kept them in the game.

Big team talk needed for the home side.

6:17PM

45 min+2: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

There are two minutes of added time at the end of the half.

West Ham have a throw-in in Southampton's half but they are in no rush to take it.

Fredericks gives the ball to Bertrand who is flying forward and Snodgrass takes him down. Yellow card! He needed to make that foul there, Bertrand was away.

The free kick comes to nothing  and that is the half.

6:15PM

45 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Haller drives forward but he is knocked off the ball - important challenge that.

Djenepo attacks down the right but loses the ball. There is a lack of quality in Southampton's midfield today. Ings has not had a look in yet.

6:13PM

Here is Haller's goal

6:13PM

43 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Noble drives forward but the ball runs away from him. Southampton look to work their way up the pitch. They need some energy and drive against this powerful West Ham side.

Chance! Cedric crosses in from the right but Hojbjerg heads it well over the bar. Great ball, great chance, not a great effort from the Southampton midfielder.

6:10PM

Here is the VAR no-penalty decision

6:09PM

40 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Antonio is released down the right and he finds Haller who could score again - the ball ran out of play in the build-up which spares Haller's blushes.

Antonio is bossing this game.

6:08PM

GOOOOOOAAAAAAL! Haller Southampton 0 West Ham 1

Antonio is played down the right and passes to Snodgrass who then crosses the ball in - the ball is nodded down to Haller who rolls it into the bottom right corner, off the post and in. Great goal, well deserved.

6:06PM

37 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 0

Southampton press Martin who sends the ball long towards Haller. Southampton win the ball and spread it around the back before sending it long. Hojbjerg wins it and finds Long.

West Ham intercept the ball and Hojbjerg chops down Haller to stop the counter. Textbook yellow card awarded.

6:04PM

34 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 0

'Oh when the Saints' rings around St Mary's as Long is unleashed down the right. Nothing comes off it.

Antonio is once again disappointed with the Mark Atkinson's decision as he is taken to ground. He should have had a free kick there...

6:02PM

32 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 0

Redmond drives into the penalty box but loses control and the ball runs away for a goal kick.

West Ham have been the better side in the opening 30 minutes or so.

6:00PM

30 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 0

Antonio - who really is everywhere - wins a corner. McCarthy punches the ball away and Cedric eventually clears.

Ings then attacks down the left before Noble wins the ball.

5:58PM

28 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 0

Antonio loses control of the ball and it runs out for a goal kick. Antonio is furious that they did not get a penalty.

5:57PM

VAR REVIEW!

No penalty given! That is very fortunate for Southampton.

5:56PM

26 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 0

Haller is knocked down as he goes to head in a cross. No penalty given but VAR is looking. Bertrand definitely took out Haller.

5:54PM

24 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 0

West Ham win a free kick deep in Southampton's half. Cresswell gets around Cedric before being knocked down.

Snodgrass has put in a couple of good balls already - can he deliver again?

The Scot lays up Noble for a volley on the edge of the box but his strike is lacking power, placement, precision and any other P's. He's not quite Paul Scholes.

Ings counters but loses the ball.

5:52PM

21 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 0

A cross is overcooked by Southampton and goes out for a throw-in. The home side look a little nervy and could do with some control in the middle of the park.

Long is ruled offside as he looks to get in behind the West Ham defence.

5:49PM

19 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 0

Antonio goes through but he hand balls it in the process.

The game has not established a tempo yet, it is frantic and scrappy so far.

5:48PM

Which manager looks more nervy?

5:46PM

16 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 0

Ogbonna eases Long off the ball who is very upset a free kick is not awarded. Good defending I say.

Southampton started off very cagey but have improved - although West Ham look the better side.

Snodgrass runs at the Southampton defence but is tackled on the edge of the box.

5:43PM

13 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 0

Long wins a header in the box but he cannot get any power on it and Martin claims with ease.

5:42PM

11 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 0

The Saints finally get a chance to sustain some possession. Bertrand throws the ball in toward the box and the ball is sent out for a corner.

Ward-Prowse whips the ball in but the ball is well headed away. Bertrand regains the ball but his cross is way overcooked.

West Ham break through Antonio who is unleashed down the right. He knocks the ball past the defender but apparently he knocked the defender down. Very harsh! That was a great chance stopped by the ref.

5:39PM

9 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 0

Another West Ham corner is headed away from Stephens. Snodgrass is then dispossessed and the home side counter.

It has been all West Ham so far!

5:38PM

7 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 0

Southampton attack through Redmond but his cross is blocked with ease.

Antonio then powers down the left, winning a corner. Antonio has been everywhere in the opening minutes.

Snodgrass' corner is headed away but West Ham attack again. Antonio plays a lovely ball across to Fornals but his shot goes just wide. There was a little deflection - corner!

5:34PM

4 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 0

Dramatic start. Southampton need to switch on here, West Ham look up for it.

Antonio dribbles the ball off this pitch. Goal kick.

5:32PM

2 min: Southampton 0 West Ham 0

West Ham get an early free kick as Redmond backs into his marker. There are plenty of empty seats in St Mary's.

Another free kick to West Ham but this time in a very dangerous area. Antonio sucked in the defender there, smart play.

Snodgrass whips it in and the ball is headed home! It is given offside immediately. Correct decision as Rice was clearly off.

5:29PM

Kick-off!

Here we go! Southampton get us underway.

5:28PM

Danny Ings has scored five games in a row

If he scores today, he would break a club record as no Southampton player has scored six games on the bounce.

5:27PM

The players are out onto the pitch

It is cold and dry at St Mary's.

5:24PM

Kick-off is just five minutes away!

Although it is only December, this feels like a huge moment in the season for both sides. Ramifications of the result are going to be huge.

5:18PM

Southampton looked very relaxed upon arrival earlier on

5:17PM

Fighting talk from Southampton before the match

Ralph Hasenhuttl:

Manuel Pellegrini on the other hand played down the importance of himself to the occasion:

A fascinating encounter awaits.

5:09PM

Southampton have been relying on English players for their goals (and not just Danny Ings)

Southampton’s last 13 Premier League goals have been scored by English players – excluding own goals, the last team to have a longer run of English goalscorers in the competition was Swansea City between October 2011-January 2012 (14).

5:04PM

Manuel Pellegrini has acknowledged he could be out of a job if West Ham fail to win today

The pressure could not be much higher on the experienced Chilean manager. West Ham showed some promise at the start of the season but have struggled ever since. The Hammers have got into winning positions and dropped points far too often.

Only Aston Villa (13) have dropped more points from winning positions than West Ham (12) in the Premier League this season. Indeed, the 12 points West Ham have dropped is as many as they lost from ahead in the whole of 2018-19.

West Ham cannot afford to let a lead slip today.

4:54PM

Both managers need the gift of three points today

4:51PM

And West Ham are getting worse away from home

After an unbeaten run of six Premier League away games (W3 D3), West Ham have lost three of their last four on the road (W1).

However, the Hammers have won a higher proportion of their Premier League points in away games this season than any other side (56.3%).

4:44PM

Southampton are getting better at home

After a run of eight successive home games without a win (D3 L5), Southampton have won their last two at home in the Premier League. They last won three consecutively at St Mary’s in the competition in May 2016 (a run of four).

4:36PM

Team News

Sebastien Haller returned to West Ham's starting XI as manager Manuel Pellegrini made one change for the late kick-off at Southampton.

Record signing Haller came in for Felipe Anderson following Monday's 3-1 loss to Arsenal, while left-back Aaron Cresswell passed a fitness test after limping off in that game.

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl stuck with the team which was beaten 2-1 at Newcastle.

Saints midfielder Stuart Armstrong was fit enough for the bench following a hamstring problem while Sofiane Boufal does not make the bench.

4:30PM

Match Preview

Under-pressure West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini says he may be out of a job if the London club do not beat fellow Premier League strugglers Southampton today.

West Ham are 16th on 16 points, a point above Southampton, who occupy 18th spot and are in the relegation zone.

West Ham have collected just five points from their last 10 games and Pellegrini is the odds-on favourite with bookmakers to be the next Premier League boss to leave, ahead of Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuettl.

"What I really need is to win the game but maybe I'm not in my job on Monday," Chilean Pellegrini told a pre-match news conference. "Having just five points from this many games is not good enough."

British media had reported that the 66-year-old was on the verge of being sacked after West Ham lost 3-1 at home to London rivals Arsenal on Monday.

"I said from the beginning that I came here to ... try to play another way than West Ham played in all the other seasons and not for just fighting relegation," he said.

"It is not my goal. And if I am not in that position, of course I'm not happy."

Southampton lost 2-1 last weekend at Newcastle. Hasenhuttl's men failed to make the most of their chances on Tyneside after going ahead early in the first half, but their previous performances since the international break have been impressive.

The Austrian is confident the players can deliver again after a draw at Arsenal was followed by home wins over struggling Watford and Norwich.

"We analysed the behaviour of being in the lead (at Newcastle)," Hasenhuttl, who should have midfielder Stuart Armstrong in contention again following a hamstring problem, told a press conference.

"We had not played that brave before, and also not that brave after the equaliser, so that was a completely different game.

"We should stay on our track, also if you are in the lead.

"We had taken seven points and had a lot of self-confidence, but then you must play differently than we did it after being in the lead at Newcastle and this was the big topic in the week.

"We must make this step in our game development and then we don't give points away when we are in the lead.

"We must focus on our way that we want to play, on our philosophy.

"The intensity of the game must be a high one in our stadium. If we are in a good mode at our own ground, then we have shown in the last two games that we can win."