Good afternoon and thank you for joining Sports Mole for live text commentary of the Premier League match between West Ham United and Southampton at Upton Park.

What a month it's been for West Ham so far. They have won their last three league matches and are now up to 11th in the table. A win or a draw this afternoon will ensure that they move into the top half.

The visitors are also in good form, having not lost in the league since New Year's Day. They had gone eight games unbeaten in all competitions, until last weekend's FA Cup defeat away to Sunderland.

The teams have been announced so I can bring you lineups, starting with the home side.

WEST HAM XI: Adrian, Demel, Tomkins, Collins, McCartney, Nolan, Noble, Taylor, Downing, Jarvis, C. Cole

SOUTHAMPTON XI: Boruc, Chambers, Fonte, Yoshida, Shaw, Cork, Schneiderlin, S. Davis, Lallana, Rodriguez, Lambert

WEST HAM SUBS: Jaaskelainen, Reid, Armero, Collison, Diame, J.Cole, Nocerino

SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: K. Davis, Clyne, Lovren, Ramírez, Ward-Prowse, Guly, Gallagher

TEAM NEWS: West Ham are still without Andy Carroll, who is serving the last game of a three-match suspension. Carlton Cole continues up front, with support from Stewart Downing and Matt Jarvis. Kevin Nolan will be looking to continue his fine recent form, after scoring four goals in his last three games. Southampton welcome a number of players back into their side after last weekend's cup defeat, with Jay Rodriguez and Artur Boruc in the starting XI. Gaston Ramirez and Dejan Lovren are on the bench after recovering from recent injuries.

It has been some turnaround for the Hammers since their poor form at the start of the year. They were deep in trouble at the bottom of the table and suffered big cup defeats to Manchester City and Nottingham Forest. They have looked a completely different team in recent weeks, keeping a club record four-consecutive Premier League clean sheets and have eased their relegation fears considerably.

Southampton aren't quite firing as they were at the start of the season, but after a dip in form towards the end of 2013, they have now gone six games in the league unbeaten. They are currently eighth in the table and they could finish the day in seventh place, depending on how Manchester United fare against Crystal Palace.

This is traditionally a game that West Ham have struggled in recently, having won just one of the last eight league matches between the sides. When they met back in September, the game ended in a goalless draw thanks to a string of fine saves from Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Despite being 11th in the table, West Ham are only four points clear of the relegation zone. There are no such worries of dropping down to the Championship for Southampton, who are just one point away from reaching the 40-point mark. They could finish in the final Europa League spot, but it would take a huge effort and a poor run of form for the teams directly above them.

We may very well see another goalless draw this afternoon, due to the good defensive records of the two teams. West Ham have kept the most clean sheets in the Premier League this season with, while the Saints are not far behind with 10.

West Ham have won their last two matches at Upton Park, but their home form hasn't always been the best this season. In 13 games at the ground they have lost six so far this season. Southampton have done well away from the St Mary's Stadium, winning five of their league matches on the road.

UPDATE: Chelsea have beaten Everton 1-0 in the day's early Premier League kick off at Stamford Bridge. John Terry scored a stoppage time winner for the Blues, that has given them a four point lead at the top of the table.

PREDICTION: Had these two teams met last month, I would have expected a win for Southampton. However, after their fantastic recent spell and improved defensive displays, the Hammers will be tough to beat. Both teams are in great form and the confidence running through the players should show this afternoon. I think that they will both carry on their unbeaten runs, with the game ending in a 1-1 draw.

REFEREE: Mark Clattenburg will be the man taking charge of the match this afternoon.

The Hammers lead the head to head records of the two teams ahead of today's match. They have won 34 games, compared to Southampton's 30, with the other 26 fixtures ending in draws.

West Ham fans should be wary if they take the lead this afternoon, as no team has lost more points from winning positions than they have in the Premier League this season.

The players are out on the pitch, and we are less than three minutes away from kick off.

KICKOFF! We are underway at Upton Park!

Rodriguez is nearly in for Southampton after latching onto a long ball over the top, but his touch lets him down and Demel is able to get back and tackle him before he gets the chance to shoot.

The visitors have seen a lot of the ball in the opening stages and are controlling the pace of the game. They have pushed their full backs high up the pitch to pressure the West Ham backline.

The home side almost create a good opening as Downing is played in down the left and has time to cross, but his delivery is poor and fails to beat the first man, with the Saints easily clearing the danger.

Southampton have taken the lead inside the opening eight minutes of the match. They win a free kick by the right hand touchline after Lallana is fouled by Tomkins. Davis whips in the set piece and Yoshida rises unopposed to direct a header into the far corner, that leaves Adrian with no chance.

The Hammers almost respond immediately as Noble slides a wonderful pass down the right wing for Demel, who delivers a low cross looking for Nolan, but the midfielder can't get enough on the ball and pokes it into the arms of Boruc.

The Saints are continuing to play a high pressing game and they are forcing some hurried clearances from the West Ham backline.

Lallana comes forward for the visitors and works himself some room the edge of the box before firing in an effort that goes just over the bar.

It has not taken West Ham long to respond, as Jarvis gets them back on level terms. Nolan lifts a wonderful ball over the top that he latches onto, and takes past the keeper, before sliding into the back of the net. There was a hint of offside, but the Hammers won't mind one bit.

What a turnaround by the home side! The Hammers win a corner which Cole heads against the post, but the rebound comes back out to him and he makes no mistake to lash an effort into the back of the net.

This game has completely changed thanks to those two goals, and the home side look full of confidence. They win another corner and it eventually comes out to Collins. He tries to curl an effort past Boruc, but the keeper does well to hold onto his low strike.

It's all West Ham at the moment and they are looking to make this spell in the game count. They are looking strong from set pieces, with the Southampton defence looking rather shaky at the moment.

OFF THE POST! Southampton are the width of the post away from eqaulising as Lambert rises highest in the box to meet Cork's cross from the right wing, but he can only direct his header against the woodwork.

Southampton have started to see more of the ball now, after the initial knock in confidence they took after falling behind. They are trying to play it through the middle, but it is all very congested at the moment.

The game is very similar to the opening stages, and the possession stats show that, with the Saints seeing 64% of the ball. They are struggling to get in behind the West Ham defence at this moment in time.

The visitors will have a chance to grab a goal at the end of the half, as they win a corner on the left hand side which Davis will take.

Southampton make a mess of the set piece, with the ball failing to beat the first man. Lallana does well to win another corner, which is played short to Shaw, but after cutting inside he fires the ball well wide.

There is going to be two minutes of stoppage time.

The first half comes to an end, and West Ham have a 2-1 lead over Southampton. Quickfire goals from Jarvis and Cole turned the game on its head after Yoshida's early header. It has been a very watchable match so far and it is all set up for an intriguing second half.

Southampton have dominated the possession throughout the match and ended the first half with 64% of the ball. Both teams have had seven attempts on goal, with West Ham finding the target four times compared to the away side's one effort.

UPDATE: There are four other Premier League matches taking place this afternoon. Arsenal are in firm control against Sunderland, as two goals from Olivier Giroud and a strike from Tomas Rosicky has given them a 3-0 lead over Sunderland. It is goalless between Manchester City and Stoke City, Fulham are beating West Bromwhich Albion 1-0, while Hull City have a 2-0 lead away to Cardiff City.

West Ham kick off and get the second half started.

The half starts with Southampton dominating the ball and looking to get back into this game quickly. West Ham are holding firm though, and keeping a solid backline that doesn't look like it will be breached easily.

We haven't seen any clear goalscoring opportunities yet, but the Saints will have a chance to get the ball into the box after winning their first corner of the half.

Southampton cause problems from the set piece delivery as West Ham scramble it behind, but from their second corner the ball fails to beat the first man and it is comfortably cleared.

Shaw comes forward from the back and fires in a drive looking for the bottom left corner, but Adrian is behind the ball and manages to hold on at the second attempt.

SUBSTITUTION: West Ham make their first chance of the afternoon, with Diame coming on for Downing.

Collins comes close for the Hammers as he meets a corner from the left, but heads it just over the bar. It was a difficult chance for him, as the delivery was floated into the box, leaving the defender needing to generate all the power himself.

SUBSTITUTION: Southampton make a change, as Ramirez comes on for Cork.

Shaw does brilliantly to latch onto a ball down the left wing and burst into the box, before crossing for Lallana, but his delivery is just behind the midfielder. That was a fantastic piece of play from the full back.

CHANCE! Southampton are starting to pile on the pressure now and Ramirez charges into the box, before lashing a fierce effort over the bar.

Lallana floats a ball into the box that Lambert rises highest to meet, but he gets underneath the ball and directs it over.

CHANCE! Lallana is the next Saints player to come close as he gets in behind following Ramirez's pass, but can only fire wide of the goal.

Completely against the run of play, West Ham have scored their third of the afternoon. The visitors fail to deal with a cross from the right, which Cole wins in the air, and the ball drops to Nolan who acrobatically volleys into the net from inside the six-yard box.

SUBSTITUTION: Nolan's last piece of action this afternoon was finding the back of the net, as Reid comes on to replace him.

Southampton win a free kick around 30 yards out from goal that Lambert steps up to take. The striker looks to curl a low effort into the bottom right hand corner, but he doesn't get enough on the ball to trouble Adrian, who comfortably holds on.

DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION: The Saints make a double change, with Ward-Prowse and Gallagher coming on for Schneiderlin and Lambert.

OFF THE BAR! This would have been some goal! Diame moves in from the left and works himself some space, before bending a strike onto the top of the bar.

CHANCE! Adrian is called upon to keep his team two goals ahead, as Lallana gets free inside the box, before drilling in a low effort that needs to be tipped around the post.

The visitors are still pressing for a goal and Ward-Prowse is the next to try his luck, but after picking up the ball 30 yards out from goal, he scuffs an effort well wide of the post.

Rodriguez comes within inches of finding the net, after controlling the ball outside the box and powering in a strike on the half-volley, but it heads narrowly wide of the post with Adrian at full stretch.

YELLOW CARD! Lallana is the first player to be booked this afternoon for tugging Noble's shirt.

Southampton have won a free kick just outside the box, which Ramirez and Ward-Prowse are both standing over.

Ramirez takes the set piece and fires his strike across the keeper wide of the goal. It just hasn't happened for Southampton in this second half.

CHANCE! Ward-Prowse finds Rodriguez in space just inside the box, and the striker looks to bend an effort into the corner, but his shot takes a big deflection and dips just over the bar.

There are going to be three minutes of stoppage time.

Ramirez latches onto a ball over the top and takes it inside, before poking in an effort that Adrian has to block at his near post.

The game comes to an end, and West Ham have won their fourth successive Premier League match. It is a huge result, that has moved them up to 10th in the table.

Southampton dominated the possession for large spells, but struggled to create clear chances after Yoshida's early goal.

That's all we've got time for here. Please stay with us for all of today's latest results and news. Until next time, goodbye!