1. Bowen moves second in Premier League goal charts
Jarrod Bowen’s St Mary’s Stadium winner saw him move second on West Ham United’s list of all-time Premier League goalscorers.
Bowen’s close-range second-half strike was his 48th top-flight goal in Claret and Blue – against the same opposition he netted his first for the Club back in February 2020 – and moved him one ahead of Mark Noble and Paolo Di Canio.
With Michail Antonio on 68, taking first place may not happen for some time, but the captain can still be hugely proud of his achievement.
The England international’s five Premier League goals this season have all come in victories – over Crystal Palace, Ipswich Town, Manchester United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and now Southampton – outlining his huge value to the team he leads.
2. Substitutes rise to the challenge
West Ham United used 17 players in the Boxing Day win at Southampton, and all 17 played their part in securing a welcome win and clean sheet.
With Łukasz Fabiański suffering a concussion in a collision while bravely punching clear a Southampton corner on the half-hour, Julen Lopetegui was permitted to make six changes at St Mary’s Stadium.
Alphonse Areola replaced Fabiański and kept his goal intact, while further first-half injuries suffered by Maximilian Kilman and Carlos Soler led to early opportunities for Jean-Clair Todibo and Edson Álvarez, who both impressed.
In the second half, Lopetegui sent on Crysencio Summerville, who went close to scoring, and defenders Aaron Cresswell – for his 300th Premier League appearance – and Vladimír Coufal, who helped see the game out.
3. Cresswell hits Premier League appearance landmark
With his second-half substitute appearance at Southampton, Aaron Cresswell became just the second West Ham United player to make 300 Premier League appearances for the Club.
The defender, who turned 35 earlier this month, showed his value and experience to help the Hammers record a welcome win at St Mary’s Stadium.
Ten-and-a-half years since he debuted in Claret and Blue, Cresswell brought up his top-flight triple century with his 110th victory and 63rd clean sheet in the competition.
The No3 joins a very small and illustrious group of just two players who have played 300 Premier League games for the Club, with the other being Cresswell’s long-time teammate and friend Mark Noble.
Overall, the Liverpool-born player ranks 26th on the all-time appearance list in all competitions with 356 to his name.
4. ‘Oh, what fun it is to see West Ham win away!’
The Claret and Blue Army were in fine Christmas voice at St Mary’s Stadium on Boxing Day, out-singing the Southampton supporters, despite being outnumbered by nine to one.
The 3,000 West Ham United fans who made their way to the south coast were rewarded for their vociferous backing with a performance full of determination from their team.
Despite losing three players to injury in the first half, the Hammers held their nerve to defeat the Saints, extending their unbeaten run against opponents who started the matchday bottom of the Premier League to 21 matches.
As the players thanked them for their support, the travelling fans serenaded them with a West Ham-themed chorus of ‘Jingle Bells’, before heading back up the M3 to toast their team with a festive drink or two.
