Video: Haller gives Saints hell
By Allen Cummings
West Ham had won more Premier League games against Southampton (17) than they had against any side.
They desperately needed to increase that total to 18 when they visited the Saints just before Christmas 2019. With just one win in the previous 11 games in all competitions, the pressure was continuing to mount on manager Manuel Pellegrini.
The Chilean appeared to answer Hammers fans’ calls for a change in set-up, abandoning his favoured one up front approach and instead choosing to go start the game with the twin spearhead of Michail Antonio and the previously out of salts Sebastien Haller.
It looked to be the correct move right from the kick-off. The Hammers were quickly on the front foot, with the home side, relegation candidates themselves, frequently exposed by Antonio’s strength and pace and Haller’s shrewd hold-up play.
West Ham dominated the early play and a goal look only a matter of time. It was no real surprise when Antonio, Robert Snodgrass and Pablo Fornals all combined to set-up Haller to open the scoring in the 37th minute. It was the Frenchman’s first goal for eight games. Great timing!
Antonio looked to have doubled the lead in the second half – but the dreaded VAR deemed Michail had handled before slotting home. But that disappointment mattered not in the grand scheme of things.
Despite something of a rally from the Saints, West Ham held on to their single goal lead to grab all three hugely valuable points.
The victory moved us up to 15th place in the Premier League – four points clear of the relegation zone – and made for a slightly more enjoyable Christmas for all concerned.