Ninth played host to sixth on Saturday as Southampton welcomed West Ham United in the Premier League.
Victory for the home side would have seen them return to seventh spot, but a win for West Ham would have taken them above Manchester United into fifth position.
The Saints took a ninth-minute lead on home soil when Maya Yoshida turned past Adrian from close range and that goal separated the two teams at the interval.
West Ham had a boast early in the second period when Victor Wanyama received a straight red card for a late challenge on Dimitri Payet. The visitors could not find a leveller, however, as Southampton made it five games unbeaten in the league.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Afternoon all! Sports Mole's live Premier League coverage continues from St Mary's as Southampton welcome West Ham United. These two teams certainly have ambitions of finishing in the top six, but West Ham are looking higher than that as they chase down the top four. It should be a super game!
Southampton will enter this match having won three of their last four in the Premier League, but their overall record against West Ham is poor. Indeed, the Saints have only won one of the last eight Premier League meetings between the two teams – suffering three defeats in the process.
The last four Premier League meetings between Southampton and West Ham at St Mary's, however, have finished in draws. Earlier this season, West Ham recorded a 2-1 victory in the capital, but last season's Premier League match in this stadium finished 0-0. If you fancy having a bet, most of the signs are pointing towards a draw here and that is indeed what I am going to predict.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from St Mary's. Who have Ronald Koeman and Slaven Bilic placed their faith in for this match...
TEAMS:
SAINTS: Forster; Cedric, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Yoshida, Clasie, Wanyama; Long, Pelle, Mane
WEST HAM: Adrian; Tomkins, Reid, Collins, Cresswell; Song, Noble; Payet, Antonio, Moses; Valencia
So there we have it. Graziano Pelle, Maya Yoshida and Jordy Clasie all return for Southampton this evening and it appears that Yoshida will operate in a midfield role. Victor Wanyama also starts in the middle of the park, while Shane Long and Sadio Mane join Pelle in the final third of the field.
As for West Ham, it is a special game for the skipper Mark Noble, who will represent the Hammers for the 350th time. There is also a spot in the XI for Victor Moses, while Alex Song will operate alongside Noble in the middle of the park. Enner Valencia once again leads the line for West Ham in the absence of Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho, with new signing Emmanuel Emenike on the bench.
So there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now little under 40 minutes from kickoff on this mild early evening in the south of England. The home side are the slight favourites for this match, but West Ham are chasing their first league double over Southampton since the 2000/01 season.
Southampton struggled for consistency before Christmas and were actually not too far from the relegation zone following a disappointing start to the campaign. Ronald Koeman has turned things around in recent weeks, however, and 10 points from their last four matches moved them into seventh position entering this round of fixtures. The Saints are very much on the rise now!
The Saints were beaten 1-0 at Norwich in their first league match of 2016, but have since beaten Watford, West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United, in addition to drawing with Arsenal on Tuesday night. Indeed, Koeman's side are chasing their fifth straight clean sheet in the league tonight.
SATURDAY'S RESULTS: Man City 1-3 Leicester, Aston Villa 2-0 Norwich, Liverpool 2-2 Sunderland, Newcastle 1-0 West Brom, Stoke 0-3 Everton, Swansea 1-1 Palace, Tottenham 1-0 Watford
It is no surprise that Southampton have kept four clean sheets since the influential Fraser Forster returned between the sticks. The Englishman has saved all 12 shots that he has faced over the last four matches and he has kept 17 clean sheets in his 34 Premier League games for the Saints, which is a quite incredible record. Surely the big stopper has to travel to Euro 2016 alongside Joe Hart.
Southampton have won three of their last six league games on home soil, including a thumping 4-0 success over Arsenal on Boxing Day. Tottenham Hotspur, Stoke City, Manchester United and Everton have all won at St Mary's in the league this season, however, and West Ham will be confident of securing a positive result due to their own impressive form. It should be a cracking game!
Indeed, West Ham will enter this match off the back of a comfortable 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Tuesday, which ensured that they would remain sixth. Victory here, however, would see them move above Manchester United, who are not in action until tomorrow, when they travel to Chelsea.
West Ham actually won four of their first five Premier League away games this season, but they have only won one of their last seven on the road – losing three times in the process. Their last away fixture was against struggling Newcastle United on January 16, when they suffered a 2-1 defeat.
West Ham are also in FA Cup action next week as they prepare to host Liverpool for the return of their fourth-round match, which finished 0-0 at Anfield. The Hammers will then travel to struggling Norwich City next weekend, before hosting Sunderland before the end of the month. A positive result tonight and indeed in their next two could well see them above Man United in the table.
Finding the back of the net has not been a problem for West Ham this season, with the capital side hitting 38 goals in their 24 league matches, which is more than both Arsenal and Man United. In fact, only the current top three have scored more league goals than Slaven Bilic's team this term. They have shipped 28 down the other end, however, which is quite high in relation to their position.
PREDICTION! Score draw for me. Both teams are in good form and I am finding it difficult to separate the pair at St Mary's. I think this match has a 1-1 draw written all over its face.
A reminder of the two teams for this match...
SAINTS: Forster; Yoshida, Fonte, Van Dijk; Cedric, Clasie, Wanyama, Bertrand; Long, Pelle, Mane
WEST HAM: Adrian; Tomkins, Collins, Reid, Cresswell; Noble, Song; Antonio, Payet, Moses; Valencia
KICKOFF! It must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium - let's hope that the football matches it! Right, it is the home side that get the first period underway here...
... it is only 40 days since these two teams met in the Premier League and it was West Ham that ran out 2-1 winners on that occasion. The weather is absolutely terrible down on the south coast, which has created a fast pitch and windy conditions. The perfect match for defensive mistakes!
It has been a decent start from Southampton, who forced the first corner of the match before passing and probing outside the West Ham box. You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital in this type of match. It has been a fast start from the home side.
Long has been playing on the shoulder since the first whistle tonight and the Republic of Ireland international has already threatened to meet a couple of though balls. The West Ham fans are in good voice at the moment, but their team has not really settled in the early exchanges here.
Possession football from the Saints, who are in control at the moment.
SAVE! Terrific goalkeeping from Adrian as the West Ham goalkeeper keeps out a bullet header from Cedric, who had met a deep cross from Long! Looked to be the opener there!
GOAL! Southampton 1-0 West Ham (Yoshida)
Southampton make the breakthrough in the ninth minute as Wanyama pokes the ball into Yoshida, who sweeps home from close range. They deserve it after such a good start!
West Ham have just not settled in this match and it is the home side that continue to break forward and search for another goal. Van Dijk has already stepped into midfield on a couple of occasions and his latest venture forward sees Pelle head a Cedric cross over from a tight angle.
West Ham are currently enjoying their best spell of the match in possession, but the Hammers have not come close to threatening Forster in the opening 14 minutes of this match.
Southampton's three-man defence is looking very comfortable here and their forward players are causing West Ham all sorts of problems. Indeed, both Bertrand and Cedric have been very advanced in the opening 16 minutes. Southampton are in a super run of form at the moment.
Bilic has no problems rocking this hat, that is for certain...
Moses breaks forward for the visitors, but his strike from distance is deflected into the arms of Forster, who has had a comfortable 18 minutes. It has been a very lively match thus far.
Southampton's aerial threat is very apparent in this match. Pelle, Fonte and Van Dijk - to name just three - are massive men, while the likes of Long and Wanyama are also good in the air. It is a horrible night for goalkeepers as the ball swirls around in the wind and rain. Still 1-0 Saints here.
West Ham have managed to enjoy plenty of the ball in the last five minutes or so, but Forster remains unthreatened between the sticks for Southampton. The away supporters call for a spot kick as Valencia goes down inside the box under a challenge from Yoshida, but the referee shakes his head.
SCRAMBLE! Southampton threaten to score a second as a deep free kick causes all sorts of bother inside the West Ham box, but the visitors manage to scramble clear!
Just a reminder that a win for West Ham tonight would take them above Manchester United into fifth position. A win for Southampton, meanwhile, would see them return to seventh spot. Antonio has been lively for the Hammers in the last few minutes, but still no real chances for the visitors.
SAVE! Stunning goalkeeping from Forster as Reid meets a swinging free kick from Payet, only for the Saints stopper to make an excellent one-handed stop! Brilliant!
Mane carried the ball away on the counter for the home side, but his final pass into Long was too strong and West Ham survive conceding a second. It is a super game at the moment here.
Payet has been a little off-the-pace tonight and the Frenchman's cross towards Antonio is too strong at the end of another West Ham break. Southampton are still on top in terms of possession, especially in the final third, but the visitors have grown after a slow start.
Southampton still lead courtesy of Yoshida's ninth-minute strike...
Little under 10 minutes of the first period remaining at St Mary's and West Ham are seeing more and more of the ball here. Reid again meets a corner from Payet, but his header is over.
The rain continues to fall at St Mary's and there are a number of unhappy faces on both benches. Tough life lads isn't it! Not too much to report in terms of action in the last couple of minutes.
As it stands, West Ham would remain sixth in the table, while Southampton would move above Everton and Liverpool into seventh. West Ham continue to enjoy possession in the final third of the field, but aside from that Reid header, Forster has not been tested between the sticks for Southampton.
End-to-end football in the last few minutes, but both sides have been guilty of losing possession too easily in the final third. It must be said that the opening half has just flown past tonight.
Pretty scrappy game at the moment as both teams battle for possession in midfield.
Just the one additional minute at the end of the first period.
HALF-TIME: Southampton 1-0 West Ham
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Southampton leading West Ham 1-0 courtesy of a close-range finish from Yoshida in the ninth minute of action. West Ham have had their moments in the final third, with Reid testing Forster from a close-range header, but Southampton have been the dominant force for large parts of the first 45 minutes. All to play for after the break!
STATS! West Ham have just about shaded the possession with 51%, while they have had seven attempts, but just one of those was on target. Southampton, meanwhile, have hit the target with two of their five attempts. No bookings thus far, however, despite some late challenges.
BENCH WATCH! Southampton boss Koeman has a number of attacking options on his bench tonight, with the likes of Charlie Austin, Juanmi, Tadic and James Ward-Prowse all capable of making a difference. West Ham, meanwhile, have new signing Emenike in reserve alongside Andy Carroll. Pedro Obiang and Sam Byram are also options for Bilic in the second period at St Mary's.
MATCH PIC! It is looking good for this man at the moment...
RESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players re-join us on the pitch for the second period. Can West Ham find a route back into the match? It is the Hammers that resume the action here...
... no changes for either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise at this stage of proceedings. However, I suspect that both managers will already have alterations in mind here.
It has been a slow start to the second period, with both teams just attempting to feel their way back into the match. West Ham have not really got going at any point during this clash.
Sloppy play from Southampton in the last couple of minutes as they continue to relinquish possession. West Ham are doing their best to pass and probe in the final third, but it would be fair to say that the tempo is lacking at the moment. Valencia seems to be struggling for the visitors here.
Half-chance for West Ham as Valencia collects a through ball from Noble before firing towards the bottom corner, but it was always comfortable for Forster, who got down low to claim.
RED CARD! WANYAMA!
Southampton are reduced to 10 men as Wanyama is given a straight red card for a rash challenge on Payet. There was not a great deal of contact, but it was reckless from the midfielder!
Payet is still down receiving treatment here...
... SOUTHAMPTON SUB! Mane is replaced by Romeu for the Saints.
West Ham have the best part of 35 minutes to turn this game around, or at least claim a point. Romeu has slotted into central midfield for the visitors, with Long and Pelle now in the final third. It has been a strong start to the second period for the Hammers and they are now in control here.
It is not the first time and probably will not be the last time that Wanyama is sent off for Southampton and his team will now have to hold off West Ham to claim all three points here. Bertrand's pace takes him away down the left, but his cross into Pelle is cleared by Collins.
WEST HAM SUBS! Carroll and Byram replace Moses and Tomkins here.
Carroll for Moses was a tactical change, but Tomkins has had to leave the field with an injury. Southampton are dropping deeper and deeper here, inviting West Ham forward.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Long to send Southampton ahead after a defensive mistake from Collins, but the striker fires just over the crossbar! What an opportunity here!
Much better from the home side in the last couple of moments as they manage to ease the pressure with a couple of free kicks. Van Dijk meets the latest delivery inside the West Ham box, but his header was never threatening a second goal. Little under 25 minutes to play at St Mary's.
BOOKING! Valencia (West Ham) is booked for a late challenge on Romeu.
Not an awful lot to report in terms of chances in the last few minutes and neither team are really in control. Southampton still lead courtesy of that ninth-minute goal from defender Yoshida.
You just get the feeling that there is another goal in this match and at the moment, West Ham are the team pressing forward. It would not be a surprise to see Pelle subbed off for Southampton in the next five or so minutes because the Italian international looks to be tiring in the final third here.
SOUTHAMPTON SUB! And there it is! Charlie Austin for Pelle.
WEST HAM SUB! Emenike on for his West Ham debut in place of Antonio.
I suspect that we will be seeing a lot of high balls into the Southampton box in the latter stages, with both Carroll and Emenike now on the field for the visitors. Still plenty of time for more goals in this match and it is the away team dominating possession of the ball in the final third.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Emenike to net on his debut as the striker meets a super cross from Valencia, but his header is just wide of the post! So close to a debut goal!
More West Ham pressure as Valencia strikes one from the edge of the box, but it hits Carroll and bounces into the arms of Forster. Still more than 10 minutes of this match remaining here!
A terrific ball from Romeu releases Austin for Southampton and the striker faces up to Collins inside the West Ham box, but the Welshman does well to clear behind for another corner!
It is 15 years since Southampton last kept five consecutive clean sheets in the league, but they are little under 10 minutes away from achieving that. Forster has once again been excellent.
West Ham will continue to pepper the Southampton box, but the home side have a lot of pace on the counter attack and Long has threatened to get away on a couple of occasions here.
BOOKING! Clasie (Southampton) is booked for dissent.
Valencia finds space down the right for the away side, but instead of playing in Byram, he decides to have a go and it is well clear of the crossbar, which brings cheers from the home fans!
Southampton have had to play the majority of this second period with 10 men, but they are still holding off West Ham, who have struggled to really hit top gear for long spells of this game.
BOOKING! Byram (West Ham) is booked for a late challenge on Bertrand.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Southampton to make sure of the points as Romeu finds Austin inside the West Ham box, but the Englishman fires wide of the post!
Poor from Valencia once again as he fires a poor free kick into the stands.
CLOSE! Almost an incredible own goal from Cedric as the Southampton defender meets a deep cross from Valencia, but it just drops wide of the post!
We are into the first of five additional minutes here!
SOUTHAMPTON SUB! Ward-Prowse replaces Clasie for the home team.
West Ham are camped inside the Southampton half at the moment, but the home side continue to defend the edge of their own box. Not too much time left in this match on the south coast.
West Ham call for a penalty as Collins's strike is blocked by Fonte. No says the referee!
FULL-TIME: Southampton 1-0 West Ham
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close at St Mary's and Southampton collect all the points courtesy of a 1-0 win over West Ham. It was tense, but the Saints have got over the line! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action once again. Until next time!
