West Ham earned an important win over Southampton on Sunday, but it wasn’t pretty.
Nayef Aguerd scored the only goal - a fine header after a long VAR delay - in one of few chances for either team, though Lukasz Fabianski was one of the busier players on the day upon his return to the team.
The three points send the Hammers up to the lofty heights of 14th in the league.
Here’s how Malik Ouzia rates David Moyes’s side...
Lukasz Fabianski 7
Straight back into the side after his facial injury and made a couple of fine saves, including one from Perraud that took a deflection and came through a defender’s legs.
Thilo Kehrer 6
Swung in the free-kick for Aguerd’s opener. A case of altitude sickness when going through on goal and taking heavy touch.
Kurt Zouma 6
Might have sealed the game with header 15 minutes from time but seemed put off by Antonio’s jump. Did not distribute especially well.
Nayef Aguerd 7
Brilliant header to open scoring with a goal that hadn’t looked like coming. One of his side’s more positive passers, too.
Emerson 6
Too hesitant early on, playing safe but improved.
Tomas Soucek 5
Part of the early problem as West Ham struggled to play through midfield and had to resort to long hoofs. Might’ve got on the end of Bowen’s pull-back.
Declan Rice 6
Followed another fine international break with another disciplined showing at the base of midfield.
Lucas Paqueta 6
Found it difficult to pick up the ball between the lines but was well up for the scrap in a more industrious display. Should’ve doubled lead but snatched at back-post chance off-balance.
Jarrod Bowen 7
Hit the bar with a superb curling effort after a fine run. West Ham’s biggest attacking threat.
Danny Ings 5
A striker who does his best work in the penalty box, so it is a problem that West Ham so rarely get the ball to him there.
Said Benrahma 5
Didn’t bring much to the party until almost catching Bazunu out with clever free-kick late on. Tracked well to deny Walker-Peters opening.
Substitutes
Michail Antonio (Ings 65’) 5
Flynn Downes (Soucek 68’) 5
Pablo Fornals (Paqueta 87’)
Aaron Cresswell (Emerson 88’)
Unused: Areola, Coufal, Ogbonna, Lanzini, Cornet.
