Hassan Kachloul's fifth goal of the season eased Southampton nervously to
three more points in their battle against relegation at The Dell.
But West Ham wasted numerous chances to have at least gone home with a point
and have only themselves to blame for letting Saints escape with three vital
points.
Kachloul's 10th-minute goal had an element of fortune about it, his left-foot
shot from 20 yards striking West Ham defender Rio Ferdinand and wrong-footing
goalkeeper Shaka Hislop.
But West Ham should have been in front at that stage and missed enough
opportunities later to have equalised.
Harry Redknapp's men found Southampton goalkeeper Paul Jones in top form and
there was a spectacular clearance off the line near the end by full-back Scott
Hiley.
Hammers could have been two goals ahead in the first six minutes but on each
occasion Matthew Le Tissier, normally a vital part of the Southampton attack,
was in the right place in defence to prevent a goal.
Le Tissier blocked Frank Lampard's goal-bound shot on the edge of the six-yard
box and then cleared off the line from Marc-Vivien Foe.
Foe struggled to contain Le Tissier in the first half and it was no surprise
when he was substituted midway through the second half by Redknapp to be
replaced by Paul Kitson.
After Kachloul's goal West Ham continued to spurn opportunities with Marc
Keller shooting wide from six yards when it looked easier to score and
Southampton defender Claus Lundekvam almost sliced the ball into his own net
after Steve Lomas had caused chaos in the defence.
Just before the break a mistake on the halfway line by Southampton full-back
Patrick Colleter left three West Ham players free and only one defender between
them but a poor centre from Trevor Sinclair allowed Southampton to escape
again.
Southampton played veteran Welsh international Mark Hughes in attack because
of injuries to Egil Ostenstad and he was twice denied his first goal for the
club by superb saves from Shaka Hislop.
As Le Tissier faded Southampton came under increasing pressure in the second
half but still West Ham were unable to equalise.
They came closest to doing so in the 73rd minute when Jones could only parry a
fierce low shot from Sinclair and as the ball spun and dipped towards the empty
net, Hiley got back to clear from under the bar as a challenge from Paolo Di
Canio bundled him into the net.
With three minutes remaining and the Hammers pressure at its fiercest, Di
Canio weaved past three tackles only to bring out another spectacular save from
Jones with his shot from six yards.
By then Southampton had replaced the tiring Le Tissier with Stuart Ripley but
it was West Ham who went close again with Di Canio shooting onto the terraces
from 10 yards.
This was Southampton's fifth home win in their last six league matches and
keeps them in touch with other sides struggling near the foot of the
Premiership.
The victory, Southampton's third in succession at home to West Ham, made up
for morale-sapping defeats at Manchester United and Tottenham in the last week.
But for West Ham the dream of a place in European competition receded with
their seventh away defeat.
Teams:
Southampton: Jones, Hiley, Colleter, Marsden, Lundekvam, Benali,
Le Tissier (Ripley 84), Oakley, M. Hughes, Beattie, Kachloul.
Subs Not Used: D. Hughes, Marshall, Bridge, Moss.
Goals: Kachloul 10.
West Ham: Hislop, Ruddock, Ferdinand, Pearce, Foe (Kitson 71), Lampard, Berkovic, Keller, Lomas, Di Canio, Sinclair.
Subs Not Used: Minto, Moncur, Potts, Forrest.
Att: 15,240
Ref: D Gallagher (Banbury).
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