West Ham United 2-3 Southampton
Premier League
West Ham United twice came from behind but were unable to prevent Southampton from taking the points from London Stadium on Boxing Day.
Half-time sub Michail Antonio and Saïd Benrahma scored second half goals to cancel out efforts from Mohamed Elyounoussi and James Ward-Prowse, only for Jan Bednarek to head the winner 20 minutes from time.
David Moyes made four changes to his side which faced Tottenham Hotspur in their final game before Christmas, while Antonio was available again following his recent positive COVID test and he returned to the bench.
It was Southampton who made the more forceful start though, and the game was only eight minutes old when Elyounoussi gave them the lead.
The Norwegian’s finish was a smart one, as he drilled into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, although West Ham will feel he had too much space to pick his spot.
Southampton continued to dominate the opening exchanges, although West Ham did come to life as the opening period reached its midpoint and they began to assert themselves.
Nikola Vlašić tested Saints keeper Frazer Forster six minutes before the break when he seized upon a wayward pass in midfield and drove towards goal. He opted to shoot as he reached the box, aiming for the bottom right hand corner, but Forster was down sharply to push away.
Southampton still posed a threat at the other end and Elyounoussi might have had a second when he skipped through a couple of challenges to reach the box, although his eventual shot lacked the power to test Łukasz Fabiański.
Moyes made a double change at the break, introducing Antonio and Manuel Lanzini and the decision had an instant impact, as Antonio levelled within four minutes of the restart.
The No9 was the man on the spot to nod home after Craig Dawson nodded Jarrod Bowen’s corner back across the six yard box and the hosts seemed to be reinvigorated.
But, as the game reached the hour mark, Southampton had the chance to go back in front when referee Kevin Friend was called to his pitchside monitor to judge that Dawson had fouled Armando Broja inside the box.
Ward-Prowse buried his penalty low to the left and the Hammers had it all to do again.
To their credit, the response was strong, and they were level again on 65 minutes, Benrahma finishing with aplomb after latching onto Bowen’s low cross from the right eight yards out.
However, once more Southampton came again and scored the decisive goal five minutes later.
Ward-Prowse was the provider this time, delivering a free-kick from the left for Bednarek to rise and plant a header beyond Fabiański.
This time there would be no coming back as the Hammers suffered a frustrating end to their home fixtures in 2021.
West Ham United: Fabiański, Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Masuaku, Rice ©️, Souček, Fornals (Lanzini 46), Benrahma (Yarmolenko 80), Vlašić (Antonio 46), Bowen
Subs: Areola (GK), Fredericks, Ashby, Johnson, Noble, Král,
Goals: Antonio 49, Benrahma 65
Booked: Rice, Bowen, Dawson
Southampton: Forster, Livramento, Salisu, Bednarek, Walker-Peters, Elyounoussi, Romeu (Diallo 90+3). Ward-Prowse ©️, Redmond, Walcott (S. Armstrong 89), Broja (Adams 81)
Subs: Caballero (GK), Long, A. Armstrong, Perraud, Simeu, Valery
Goals: Elyounoussi 8, Ward-Prowse pen 61, Bednarek 70
Booked: Bednarek, Broja, Walker-Peters