Good evening everyone! A bumper midweek action of Premier League football continues tonight with no less than six games from the top flight. We'll be focusing on two teams who will be hoping to boost their chances of qualifying for Europe, as Southampton take on West Ham United at St Mary's Stadium.

The Saints have enjoyed a remarkable season and they have defied all expectations by sitting third in the table. It really is so tight in the hunt for a Champions League spot, but a win today would lift them three points above Arsenal and help to solidify the final automatic qualifying place.

Meanwhile, West Ham have seen their hopes of qualifying for Europe fade after winning just one of their league matches since Christmas. They were so close to all three points against Manchester United on Sunday, but a stoppage-time leveller from Daley Blind ensured another frustrating afternoon for Sam Allardyce.

SOUTHAMPTON XI: Forster, Clyne, Fonte, Gardos, Yoshida, Wanyama, Reed, S. Davis, Mane, Elia, Pelle

WEST HAM XI: Adrian, Jenkinson, Tomkins, Kouyate, Cresswell, Song, Amafitano, Downing, Valencia, Sakho, Cole

SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: Davis, Tadic, Djuricic, Ward-Prowse, McCarthy, Flannigan

WEST HAM SUBS: Jaaskelainen, Burke, Oxford, O'Brien, Jarvis, Lee, Carroll

So, that's how each side lines up this evening. Let's begin by looking at the hosts, who have made two changes to their starting XI. Harrison Reed and Florin Gardos are the players who come in, but they will have to do without the injured Morgan Schneiderlin and the suspended Ryan Bertrand.

Moving on to the visitors now and West Ham have opted to start the match with three strikers. Enner Valencia, Diafra Sakho and Carlton Cole will begin in a front three. Morgan Amalfitano also comes in to the midfield, while there is a start for James Tomkins, who broke his nose at the weekend.

With just 14 games left to play this season, who would have thought that Southampton would be occupying a spot inside the top four? This was a team who were in League One just four years ago, which makes the story all the more remarkable.

Of course there is a long way to go and it is so tight at the top. Southampton are level on 45 points with Arsenal, while Manchester United, who play Burnley this evening, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are also just a win away from overtaking them.

This could be a really crucial run for the Saints and it may help that they are out of the FA Cup, as they will have a chance to concentrate solely on the league. They are not in action at the weekend, but will return on February 22 with a huge clash against Liverpool, before games against struggling West Brom and QPR. With the way that Manchester City are playing, there is still every chance that they could finish in second place.

Ronald Koeman certainly deserves all of the credit and he has assembled a great team, that threatened to be completely torn apart last summer. It was one of his summer signings that helped to secure a fourth win in five league games at the weekend, as Sadio Mane's winner deep into added time earned them all three points against QPR.

Another team that has impressed this season is West Ham, who would be right back in the mix for a top-six finish if they were to win this evening. Their tally of 37 points on the board is a marked improvement from their last campaign, where they finished with 40 points and narrowly avoided a relegation scrap.

It certainly has been a great turnaround for Sam Allarydce who was under a huge amount of pressure this time last year. There was plenty of talk that he would be sacked, but a superb four-game winning run helped them to secure Premier League survival. It led to him winning the manager of the month for February and he will be hoping that they can do the same this time around.

The only win for the Hammers in their last seven league games was a 3-0 win against Hull, but it has been difficult period, with fixtures against Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool. They were up against another big club in Manchester United at the weekend and were only denied by a stoppage-time equaliser. After the game, Allardyce complained about the long-ball tactics employed by the Reds, which was certainly ironic given the way that his Bolton team were renowned for playing.

You suspect that a defeat today would severely damage West Ham's hopes of getting into the Europa League, but they could still qualify through the FA Cup. They must be confident of beating West Brom in the fifth round at the weekend and with the huge shocks we have seen so far, there is every chance of a first win in the competition since 1980.

We could be in for a few goals tonight, as last time the teams met at Upton Park they shared four. It was Southampton though who scored the majority, as they came from behind to claim a 3-1 win. That victory was the first of the season for the Saints and helped to spark their wonderful run of form.

West Ham generally have the better record when these teams play, as they have won 72 of their previous 164 matches, losing 46 times. However, the last two Premier League meetings at St Mary's have ended in draws and it has been five games since the Hammers last won on the South Coast.

PREDICTION: This could be quite some match up, between two teams who have exceeded many people's expectations of them season. Southampton generally have a decent record at home and they will be desperate to bounce back from two successive defeats in front of their own fans. It will also be interesting to see how West Ham respond after coming so close to beating United at the weekend. I think we will see an entertaining game, with the Saints managing to squeeze out a 2-1 victory.

With five minutes to go until kick off, make sure you check out our video preview of today's match.

KICKOFF! We are underway at St Mary's Stadium!

The Saints have made the stronger start to the match and they are quickly closing their opponents down in the middle of the pitch. They are also seeing more of the ball, but we await our first attempt on goal.

The hosts have got in behind down the flanks on a couple of occasions now, but their deliveries have just been slightly overhit. We have also had our first shot of the night, but it was not one to remember, as Wanyama sliced his effort horribly wide.

West Ham are just starting to come into the match and they are seeing the ball much further up the pitch. The service to their front men has been poor so far, with the likes of Cole and Valencia not too involved.

CHANCE! This is the first really decent opening of the match. It falls to Southampton as Mane latches onto a flick and bursts into the box. He then delivers a low cross right into the centre, but Jenkinson is back to clear with Elia just behind him.

CHANCE! The Hammers break straight down the other end and immediately win a corner. The Saints fail to clear and the ball falls kindly to Amalfitano who fires in a low drive, but Davis heads away his goal-bound effort.

CHANCE! It's all happening now as Southampton come close from a free kick that Adrian comes out to punch. The keeper only gets it as far as Gardos who heads the ball back in, but Kouyate is there to hack it off the line.

Those recent goal attempts have certainly livened things up here. It just seems like a matter of time until we see our opening goal, with each team looking especially threatening from set pieces.

At the midway stage in this first half it's still Southampton who are on top and they are dominating the midfield. Mane has shown some dangerous moments and you get the feeling that he could be the key to unlocking the West Ham defence.

Just as I spoke so positively about Mane, he goes and curls a dreadful free kick wide from 25 yards out. He's capable of far better than that, as shown by his brilliant winner against QPR at the weekend.

SHOT! Elia is another Saints player who has looked lively this evening and he beats the offside trap to latch onto Wanyama's pass. He is forced wide by Jenkinson, but manages to cut inside and fire in a low strike that ends up heading just wide of the far post.

It's just gone a little bit scrappy over the past few minutes with a couple of poor challenges. Quite a few passes from each team have also gone astray, with both defences well on top so far.

The home fans are getting very frustrated at their team's inability to get in behind their opponents. A lot of their moves are breaking down just outside of the box and a collective moan goes around the ground as Pelle wastefully gives away possession.

SHOT! Song initially does well for the Hammers by cutting out a pass, before losing possession to Pelle. The Italian then lays the ball off for Mane to strike, but he places his effort narrowly wide of the post.

YELLOW CARD! Mane picks up the first booking of the evening for a foul on Song.

YELLOW CARD! It's another booking for the Saints, as Fonte is shown a yellow card for handling Downing's cross just outside his own box.

SHOT! Davis is the latest player to have an effort on goal, but his strike from outside the box heads wide of the post. It did take a slight deflection, but it was not spotted by the referee and a goal kick is awarded.

We are going to have one minute of stoppage time.

The first half comes to an end and it's still goalless between Southampton and West Ham. Chances have been few and far between, with neither keeper really being forced into any saves of note.

Southampton have been well on top and they have seen the majority of the ball, with a huge 61% of the possession. They have also had eight attempts on goal, while the Hammers have had just three efforts. However, only three of those shots from both teams managed to find the target.

There was a period early in the first half when a goal looked like it was coming, but the match has since become increasingly scrappy. Southampton may be in charge, but they are struggling when they get into the final third and credit must be given to how solid the visitors have been at the back.

There haven't been too many goals in this evening's other Premier League games. Manchester United are 2-1 up against Burnley, while Man City are drawing 1-1 with Stoke. The only other goal has come from Newcastle, who are 1-0 up away to Crystal Palace.

West Ham take the kick off and get the second half started!

SUBSTITUTION: I can tell you that the Hammers have made a change at the break, with Jarvis coming on for Valencia.

There's not been too much to report since the break, with both teams still struggling to create any chances. It is still very sloppy out there and not the most attractive of games to watch.

YELLOW CARD! Cole is the third player to be shown a card for a high challenge on Yoshida. The striker can consider himself quite lucky to just see yellow, as he has caught the Southampton defender right in the face.

SUBSTITUTION: West Ham are going to make their second change of the match, with Carroll coming on to replace Sakho.

The fouls are really starting to pile up now and Mane is fortunate to not pick up a second booking for a foul on Cresswell just outside the box. With the way that things are going, I would not be too surprised to see a red shown at some point.

RED CARD TO WEST HAM! What was I just saying about a red card! The Hammers are down to 10 men as Adrian tries to take the ball past Mane, but takes a poor touch and gives it away. He tries to recover by diving for the ball, but he ends up handling outside of his area and has to go.

SUBSTITUTION: Cole is the man who is sacrificed for the Hammers, with Jaaskelainen coming on between the sticks.

Tadic is unable to make the Hammers pay immediately as from the resulting free kick he sees his effort blocked by the wall. There is sure to be plenty more strikes on goal for the Hammers to defend in the remaining 25 minutes or so.

SUBSTITUTION: The hosts are going to make a change now, as Ward-Prowse comes on to replace Reed.

CHANCE! Southampton are completely dominating the ball now and they play it around patiently before working it to Pelle just inside the box. The Italian shifts it onto his left foot and tries to pick out the top corner, but his strike ends up going high and wide of the goal.

The Saints have got into some great positions but they really haven't taken their chances. This time Ward-Prowse lifts a delightful ball to the back post that finds Tadic in acres of space. The Serbian then seems to get the ball caught under his feet and by the time he tries to deliver a cross he is closed down by the defence.

It's getting rather desperate for the visitors now as they try and cling on to a point. Every time they clear the ball is is coming straight back at them and there is no one up front to hold the ball up and relieve the pressure.

SHOT! Pelle tries the spectacular as he meets Tadic's cross with an overhead kick from the centre of the box. He doesn't make great contact with the ball through and it loops up kindly into the arms of the keeper.

The Hammers are already down to 10 men and they have a problem here with Carroll struggling. He has gone off to receive some treatment and his side can ill-afford to play out the remaining minutes of this match with just nine players.

SUBSTITUTION: Southampton are going to make their final change of the evening, as Djuricic is on to replace Mane.

We have just had a halt to the proceedings, with a supporter running across the pitch. That will come as a welcome distraction to the Hammers, but it is not what Southampton want as they desperately press for an opener.

Southampton have been guilty of trying to play just one pass too many. It's all a little too intricate and another good move ends with a delivery into the box that is just over the head of Pelle.

This has been such a great defensive performance by the Hammers since going down to 10 men. They have been pegged right back inside their box, but somehow they have managed to clear away everything that the Saints have thrown at them.

This must go down as a half-chance for the Saints. They win a corner after another heavy spell of pressure, but after making a good run to the front post, Yoshida gets his header all wrong and puts it well over the top.

We are going to have five minutes of stoppage time.

SAVE! The Saints have got everyone forward now and Fonte collects possession 20 yards out from goal. He looks to drive a low effort into the far corner, but Jaaskelainen pulls off a super stop to touch the ball behind for a corner.

SAVE! Southampton almost win it right at the death! Tadic does well to work some room inside the box, before firing in a low strike, but once again Jaaskelainen is there to make the save and surely earn his side a point.

It's all over and West Ham have survived the last 30 minutes with 10 men to earn a point this evening. Southampton will be hugely disappointed that they weren't able to claim the win and you just wonder if it will come back to haunt them at the end of the season.

Well, that's all from me today. Please stay with us, as we bring you analysis and player ratings of every Premier League match this evening. Until next time, goodbye!