There will be no new manager at St Mary’s, although an under-pressure boss managed to buy himself more time.
New Southampton boss Ivan Juric, who took charge of his new team for the first time following the sacking of Russell Martin last week, saw his side slump to their fourteenth defeat in eighteen Premier League games this season and remain bottom of the table .
Julen Lopetegui, on the other hand, who was on the verge of losing his job just three weeks ago, gave himself more breathing space with this narrow victory thanks to Jarrod Bowen’s solitary strike.
Whisper it, but the Hammers are now four games unbeaten. Hardly an irresistible burst of steam, of course.
But for Lopetegui it is something tangible to understand in his attempts to convince the Hammers hierarchy that his appointment can still be a success.
With Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa on the horizon, Lopetegui will not be completely at ease yet.
Jarrod Bowen scored the only goal of the match as West Ham defeated Southampton on Boxing Day
Julen Lopetegui’s start at West Ham was difficult, as the team won only six league games
Southampton, meanwhile, find themselves eight points short of safety at the bottom of the table
But the threat of plunder seems less threatening than it was.
However, the Hammers had to sweat for their three points. Southampton created enough chances, especially in the first half, to feel like they deserved more than their last defeat.
That will at least provide Juric with some encouragement as he plots what would surely be the greatest escape.
But you fear that Southampton’s fate is already decided. Juric, or anyone else for that matter, will struggle to change the course of their season.
Bowen fired narrowly over the inside 15 seconds before Carlos Soler smashed the underside of the crossbar with a first-time effort from Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s pass as the Hammers dominated the opening exchanges, but when Southampton eventually found their stride they certainly looked threatening – Paul Onuachu and Mateus Fernandes missed two golden headed chances to give the hosts the lead.
Suddenly St Mary’s was pumped dry; It’s funny what a change of manager and a few opportunities can do.
West Ham’s positive start was short-lived; their concerns were compounded by the sight of centre-back Max Kilman trudging off in the 19th minute with what appeared to be a shoulder injury and replaced by Jean-Clair Todibo.
Had Fabinaski not denied Walker-Peters and Onuachu with clever saves, the Hammers’ problems would have been greater.
The Hammers had to sweat for the points, which will at least give Ivan Juric some encouragement
Defender Max Kilman was forced off in the 19th minute with what appeared to be a shoulder injury
Lukasz Fabianski denied Paul Onuachu with a smart save to keep the Hammers level
There were worrying scenes after 30 minutes when Lukasz Fabianski required lengthy treatment after a sickening aerial collision with Saints defender Nathan Wood left the goalkeeper motionless on the grass.
That internal cameras showed no replays of the incident or footage of Fabianski being treated was an indication of its severity.
Even opposing goalkeeper Ramsdale was concerned enough to walk the length of the field to check on his opponent.
The Pole, flat on a stretcher, eventually left, replaced by Alphonse Areola, in the 36th minute to a chorus of ‘super Fabainski’ as the stricken goalkeeper lay still as paramedics wheeled him away.
Wan-Bissaka missed a good chance just before ten minutes of first-half stoppage time, while Onuachu’s physical presence continued to trouble Lopetegui’s defenders as the game headed towards half-time.
Juric would have been happy with his debut. Lopetegui, on the other hand, cut an irritated figure at half-time, with his side inexplicably letting Southampton back into the game they controlled.
West Ham midfielder Guido Rodriguez was given a huge reprieve in the 53rd minute after being shown a straight red card for a lunge on Kyle Walker-Peters that was overturned by referee Lewis Smith after the referee was encouraged to review his decision.
Smith, making just his fourth Premier League game, was right to put himself aside – Rodriguez, despite an overzealous challenge, made little or no contact with Walker-Peters – although the Argentine did earn himself a yellow card.
Fabianski required lengthy treatment after a collision with Aaron Ramsdale (left) to quickly control his counterpart
The veteran goalkeeper left to applause from both sides as West Ham fans sang ‘super Fabainski’
Bowen poked home the eventual winner from two yards after some late play from Yukinari Sugawara
And the Hammers made the most of their reprieve in the 59th minute when Bowen poked home from two yards after Tomas Soucek and Niclas Fulkrug combined substitute Edson Alvarez’s deep cross on half-time to produce the winner.
Juric will point to an unnecessary corner from Yukinari Sugawara that led to West Ham’s opener, the Japanese’s substitution immediately after Bowen’s goal, perhaps indicative of the new coach’s anger.
But Southampton had ample opportunity to clear the resulting corner. That’s not all on Sugawara.
Fernandes flashed wide from Walker-Peters’ pass in the 69th minute for substitute Summerville before Tyler Dibling missed an injury-time chance to steal a point but West Ham clung on for victory.