West Ham storm back to overcome Southampton

Grady Diangana tries to escape the attention of Matt Targett (Getty)

A superb brace by Felipe Anderson gave West Ham United a 2-1 comeback win at Southampton in a pulsating Premier League match on Thursday.

The result lifted West Ham to ninth in the table on 27 points from 19 games while Southampton stayed 16th on 15 points, three above the relegation zone after suffering their first home defeat in five matches.

The game sprung to life when Southampton forward Nathan Redmond bundled the ball home with his shoulder in the 50th minute after visiting keeper Lukazs Fabianski parried his initial shot and Oriol Romeu's rebound.

In the absence of first-choice strikers Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez, West Ham lacked cutting edge until Brazilian midfielder Anderson turned the match on its head.

Anderson equalised in the 53rd minute with a stinging first-time shot from 20 metres and completed West Ham's comeback in the 57th when he buried the ball into the top right corner from 13 metres to cap a lightning break by the visitors.

Fabianski had kept out a long-range effort by forward Stuart Armstrong at the other end and marshalled his defence superbly in the closing stages as the Saints threw men forward in search of an equaliser.

Reuters

PREVIEW

What time does it start?

Southampton vs West Ham kicks off at 7:45pm (GMT)

Where can I watch it?

The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League from 7:30pm.

Player to watch…

Marko Arnautovic: Pellegrini hinted prior to Thursday's game that star striker Arnautovic could be in line for a return having missed the Hammers last three matches with injury. The Austrian has scored five goals in 13 matches this season, as well as contributing two assists.

Arnautovic has missed the Hammers’ last three matches with injury (Getty)

Form guide…

Southampton: LDLLWW

West Ham: LWWWWL

Odds…

Southampton to win: 6/5

West Ham to win: 12/5

Draw: 5/2

(Odds provided by 888 Sport)

Key Points

• Southampton XI: McCarthy; Valery, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Yoshida, Targett; Lemina, Romeu; Armstrong, Redmond; Ings.
• West Ham XI: Fabianski; Antonio, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Rice, Obiang; Snodgrass, Diangana, Felipe Anderson; Lucas Perez.

[27 December 2018 20:45 · Jack Sear]

Southampton 0-0 West Ham

The second half is underway.

[27 December 2018 20:47 · Jack Sear]

46 mins: Southampton 0-0 West Ham

Good start to the half from the hosts. Targett puts in an excellent cross towards Ings, who perhaps wasn't expecting the ball in to be quite as good as it was and is unable to get anything on it.

[27 December 2018 20:48 · Jack Sear]

47 mins: Southampton 0-0 West Ham

Felipe Anderson goes down after a challenge from Southampton defender Jan Bednarek. He looks to be in some pain but is now up on his feet again.

[27 December 2018 20:50 · Jack Sear]

SOUTHAMPTON LEAD!

[27 December 2018 20:53 · Jack Sear]

50 mins: Southampton 1-0 West Ham

The home side lead after an almighty scramble inside West Ham's box. Mario Lemina swings in a cross from the right side, Targett heads down, before Romeu's shot lands at the feet of Redmond. His shot on the turn is saved but he bundles in the rebound. Chaos.

[27 December 2018 20:53 · Jack Sear]

WEST HAM ARE LEVEL! FELIPE ANDERSON!

[27 December 2018 20:54 · Jack Sear]

53 mins: Southampton 1-1 West Ham

What a response that is and it's Felipe Anderson, who's actually had a quiet night so far.

Cresswell's cross is headed clear as far as the Brazilian, who rifles into the bottom corner from outside the box. This game has come to life.

[27 December 2018 20:55 · Jack Sear]

55 mins: Southampton 1-1 West Ham

First change of the night as Andy Carroll replaces Grady Diangana for West Ham.

Robert Snodgrass has moved to the right side of the attack, with Perez now just behind Carroll.

[27 December 2018 20:57 · Jack Sear]

56 mins: Southampton 1-1 West Ham

Carroll is certainly putting himself about having just come onto the pitch.

His first involvement sees him flatten Jan Bednarek after an aerial challenge.

His second sees him take out Oriol Romeu's legs after attempting to win a loose ball. He's lucky to have avoided a booking there.

[27 December 2018 20:59 · Jack Sear]

58 mins: Southampton 1-1 West Ham

That's a very good save from Fabianski. Armstrong turns and unleashes a curling effort from around 25 yards out before the West Ham goalkeeper pushes it around the post.