West Ham 1 Southampton 0: Aguerd goal gifts Hammers vital win in bottom-of-the-table six-pointer to boost survival hopes
LIKE a bloodied boxer desperately dodging punches in the final few rounds, West Ham and David Moyes survive yet another must-win outing.
The Hammers boss has been on the brink of the sack plenty of times this season already, but on each occasion he and his underperforming squad have risen from the canvas.
In January, there was the 2-0 win over Everton and in February the 4-0 thumping of Nottingham Forest, both at the London Stadium.
For a third time, Moyes risked the wrath of the fans, as well as his own job security, with dropped points against a bottom-three rival in Southampton.
This time, the KO blow came courtesy of Nayef Aguerd’s 25th-minute header – the one bit of quality in an otherwise torrid first half that had ‘Championship’ written all over it.
It is not pretty, but there is some momentum building in east London. Five league games unbeaten at home for the first time this campaign.
And in one of the most intense and unpredictable relegation battles in Premier League history, just their third league win in 2023 sees West Ham rise up the table.
From 19th to 14th onto 27 points. They remain just a point above the drop zone, but only three away from Crystal Palace in 12th with two games in hand.
The first of seven Prem games this month, this could be the start of West Ham’s long-awaited resurgence, with fellow strugglers Palace and Bournemouth on the horizon.
Moyes will hope so, as there are only so many times you can take jab after jab without throwing one back and expect to emerge unscathed.
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Southampton, meanwhile, after a brief bounce following their third manager since November in Ruben Selles, are back in the mire.
Without a win in four games and three points from safety.
The compact nature of the bottom half means a great escape is still not out of the question.
But with Manchester City and Arsenal in their next three, and having played at least a game more than those above them, being cut adrift is a real possibility.
Moroccan international Aguerd was an injury doubt pre-match, as was Emerson, but both started in a team that also saw Lukasz Fabianski return in goal for the first time since late February after recovering from a fractured cheekbone.
Both Aguerd and Emerson combined to break the deadlock, ending an opening period full of such dross that it is barely worth commenting on.
Italian full-back Emerson’s lofted free-kick from deep found the unmarked head of Aguerd, brilliantly guiding it past Gavin Bazunu.
Aguerd’s joy at netting his first goal for the club since arriving in the summer was delayed for a baffling three minutes as VAR took an age to draw lines across multiple sets of knees.
Referee Paul Tierney was finally given the green light. Moyes pumped his fists in the air.
Saints reacted with their only shot of the half, Romain Perraud ghosting into the box and forcing Fabianski to tip around his far post.
But West Ham were now attacking with some intent. Said Benrahma put through Thilo Kehrer whose first touch under pressure was that of a right-back.
Their lead should have doubled before the break – a rattling bar denying Jarrod Bowen as he cut inside and curled goalwards.
Moyes will be wondering how this stayed 1-0 following a second-half performance that included much more endeavour and adventure.
Benrahma tested Bazunu from a free-kick. Kurt Zouma headed over from a corner. Bowen had a cross deflected onto the roof of the net. Lucas Paqueta blazed over from close range.
West Ham almost paid for their frustrating lack of cutting edge in the 85th minute as 6ft7 substitute Paul Onuachu headed a James Ward-Prowse cross onto the bar.
It would have been an extremely undeserving point gained for Saints, who snatched a draw against another London club in Tottenham before the international break.
This West Ham lot can pack a winning punch when they really need it – too bad it only comes out when their backs are against the ropes.
Here is how the action unfolded at the London Stadium...