A Marko Arnautovic brace and Ryan Fredericks’ first Premier League goal for West Ham ensured the Irons emerged victorious from their final home game of the season.
The Hammers ran out 3-0 winners against a spirited but ultimately outclassed Southampton side, a result which keeps Manual Pellegrini’s hopes of a top half finish alive.
It moves West Ham to within a point of the top 10 – something that looked highly unlikely after they lost their first four games of the season.
Embed from Getty ImagesArnautovic, who hadn’t scored since January and the collapse of his proposed move to China, gave West Ham an early lead and they went on to dominate the opening 45 minutes but were unable to add to their advantage.
Southampton, who have already assured their Premier League survival, rallied after the break but the wind was taken out of their sales by a quickfire double that ended the game as a contest.
First Arnautovic doubled West Ham’s lead, heading in from almost a goal-line position after Fraser Forster could only parry Arthur Masuaku’s cross right to him.
Then, just minutes later, the three points were secured as Fredericks blasted the ball in after a neat one-two with substitute Jack Wilshere.
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