Fabien Balbuena – like the rest of the players and fans of course -was delighted to grab three points from the Southampton games.

And he claimed that’s how the team must continue to play in every upcoming game although that would probably present a few reservations in some minds.

Yes, there’s massive relief but whilst the team did extremely well for an hour, the Saints created some fine chances which fortunately went unconverted as they hit the post on two occasions and having one strike ruled out.

We too were unfortunately treated by a VAR decision but that can’t disguise the fact that we need to add more to our game if we are to start rising towards the top eight or top ten.

Nobody would dispute that we bossed the game in a big way during that first 45 minutes winning frst and second balls but led by Danny Ings the south coast outfit created some real problems towards the middle of the second and the end .

Balbuena, however, is happy for now telling the official site at https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2019/december/15-december/fabian-balbuena-way-we-need-play-every-game: “We talked in the week, we talked before the game and on the pitch as well to be concentrated and to be focused on every ball and try to do the job in the best way that is possible and we are happy now because we got three points and an important win.

“That is the way we need to play every game. Every time with order. We need to be organised in all our lines and try to score the chances that we create, then try to keep the clean sheet that is so important for the confidence of all our players.

“We are in a good way. We are working hard but sometimes in some details we are losing, but today I thought all the lads did an amazing job so we deserved the three points.”

West Ham’s victory was secured by Sebastien Haller’s first goal in nine Premier League matches and based around a monumental performance from his strike partner Michail Antonio.

Haller said: “They are two strikers who are big and they keep the ball forward and that’s the most-important thing when you have two strikers like them.

“For the team, you grow in confidence because you keep the ball forward and we created a lot of chances because they moved and fought for every ball and that is so important.

“Of course we needed this win because we were working hard and we were working hard so I think we deserve to be happy, as do all the fans support us in every game, away and home, and for the staff and the manager as well, because we know that when you are not winning, of course the pressure is bigger.

“We are confident between the manager and the players, so we need to keep working and doing what we are doing and try to use all the days we have now improving on the things we need to improve and try to win the next game.”