In a thrilling conclusion to the contest at London Stadium, Southampton managed to come away with an artistic 1-1 draw against hosts West Ham United. Lesley Ugochukwu capped that first half action with a stunning volley in the dying minutes of regulation to equalize. In the 93rd minute Southampton scored an equally gigantic goal, salvaging a point from the jaws of defeat. This goal now left their season total at just 11 points – joint lowest ever points total in Premier League history (shared with Derby County in the 2007/08 season).
The south coast club, currently struggling near the bottom of the table, has only five games left to surpass that dismal record. Jarrod Bowen West Ham’s early scorer to put hosts ahead early in second half That left Southampton on course for what would have been a club record 27th league defeat of the season. Despite dominating possession, West Ham’s inability to convert their chances and a late surge from Southampton meant they left the pitch with just a single point.
Struggling Southampton Fights Back
Southampton came into this match under a world of pressure, having picked up one point from their last nine league fixtures. Though the team were very much on the back foot to start, as they have been in many matches this season, Dallas slowly started establishing themselves. Saints full back Kyle Walker-Peters had a decent opportunity to open the scoring himself in the 26th minute but he pulled his shot wide. Five minutes later, Kamaldeen Sulemana came inches away from equalising. He struck the woodwork, raising the drama for both fans to a fever pitch.
And yet, even through a dreadful run of form all season long, Southampton kept fighting and attacking, and they were finally able to break the deadlock. When Ugochukwu scored the late equalizer, jubilation turned into relief. Yes, they’ve taken a lot of flak for the way they played this year.
“Credit to Southampton, but we didn’t do enough to win, and in the end we have to look at the reasons why. We have to be honest enough to say that and then look to improve, for sure.” – Graham Potter
West Ham’s Missed Opportunities
Dismal West Ham supporters packed the stadium wanting a swashbuckling performance from their club against one of the league’s worst sides. Their hopes quickly evaporated as the Hammers found it difficult to break through Southampton’s organized backline. The home side recorded an expected goals (xG) figure of just 0.8, indicating a lack of attacking potency throughout the match.
Bowen’s second goal just after the break seemed to send West Ham on their way to a comfortable win. The longer the game went on, the clearer it was that they were in a position where they could not afford to play with their lead. Even after making exceptional on-field progress, the coaching staff were under fire for their performances, with Potter himself addressing the criticism and promising better days ahead.
“We’re really disappointed with the performance and the result. I can’t say we deserved much more, which is a reflection on how disappointed we are.” – Graham Potter
Late Drama and Historic Implications
With time running out, Southampton increased their urgency in pursuit of a late equalizer. Their virtue was rewarded though when Ugochukwu struck a shot from the post in the third minute of added time. The goal reverberated through West Ham’s side. This late drama didn’t just earn Southampton a crucial point, it further emphasized their current struggle to stay up in the Premier League.
It leaves Southampton joint-top of the wrong kind of table in Premier League history – the most times finishing bottom. There are just five matches left in the season. They now find themselves looking over their shoulders at the record of Derby County for the least points total in Premier League history.
“It’s a mindset problem. Very angry today. Not disappointed, just angry about what we did after the goal.” – Niclas Fullkrug
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