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‘Fantastic, win number 1000!’ – Southampton Fans React To Thrilling Victory Over West Ham + Player Ratings

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Charlie Austin scored a late penalty as Southampton edged past West Ham United

Full Time: Southampton 3-2 West Ham United

Southampton failed to take more than a point from their first game of the season against Swansea but managed to pull off a late win in a five-goal thriller against West Ham United. The Hammers were 2-0 down early in the game as Dusan Tadic converted from the spot after Manolo Gabbiadini opened the scoring for the Saints.

Javier Hernandez then started his comeback, scoring twice, on either side of the break, to help West Ham into the game. However, Pablo Zabaleta gave away a stoppage time penalty which was coolly converted by Charlie Austin to give his side all three points after West Ham’s newbie Marko Arnautovic was shown a straight red for an elbow on Jack Stephens.

Southampton Player Ratings

Fraser Forster (6)

Did very little do all game but shipped a couple of goals in. But no blame attached to him, as he did his best, claiming the crosses and making a couple of decent saves on the night.

Cedric Soares (6)

The Portuguese star was caught out of position on a couple of occasions but was generally solid, helping his side at their end.

Maya Yoshida (6)

Could have done better to stop Hernandez from scoring his brace but did well to win the penalty, that won his side the game.

Jack Stephens (7)

A solid performance from the centre-back as he got Arnautovic sent-off. He put in a solid display at both ends of the field.

Ryan Bertrand (7)

Stuck to his task well and created a number of chances all game as helped he Southampton score three goals.

Steven Davies (7)

Did a decent job alongside the likes of Romeu and Lemina as he never allowed West Ham any time on the ball in the final third.

Oriol Romeu (7)

The midfield machine for Southampton, Romeu was a constant thorn for West Ham, as he snubbed off a number of attacks and kept the Hammers honest.

Mario Lemina (6)

Though he lost his cool in the second half, he did what he was asked to, as a part of the midfield, in one of his first games in the country.

Dusan Tadic (7)

Converted the first penalty of the game and did well to keep West Ham pegged back, piling up the pressure at every opportunity.

Nathan Redmond (8)

Arguably the best player for the Saints on the night, Redmond played a role in the first two goals and was unlucky not to find the back of the net.

Manolo Gabbiadini (8)

Opened the scoring on the night and was a constant threat in the box to the Hammers.

Subs:

James Ward-Prowse (7)

Was used to see off the game and he put in a solid performance in the midfield towards the end.

Shane Long (6)

Was thrown on to try and find a winner and added some attacking threat late in the game.

Charlie Austin (7)

Came on late in the game to tuck off the penalty calmly and win his side the game.

It was a thrilling finish for the Saints, who have now picked up four points from their first two games of the season, that, without their first-choice center back in Virgil van Dijk. It was a fitting game for the fans to enjoy, who had to sit through a goalless draw against Swansea last time around. Most fans took to social media to express their happiness and here is a collection of the best tweets on this result:

https://twitter.com/lacbates/status/898937155682131968

https://twitter.com/mptterrell/status/898960510665797633