As the Olympic Stadium emptied prematurely, and the West Ham players sloped off the pitch, heads hung, the mire deepens and darkens. Once again West Ham played well below what most can now only barely remember as their best form, and Southampton cantered to the final whistle comfortable winners.
Another match, another defensively haphazard performance, and here, for the first time in 18 league games, West Ham failed to score. Charlie Austin thumbed his nose at the West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan – his goal and assist a suitable reply to Sullivan’s claim last year that Austin “had no knees” – Dusan Tadic ran the show, and now Slaven Bilic’s team have the worst defensive record in the league.
The players in claret and blue were barely recognisable from their doppelgangers from last season. Where power had been, limpness now resides. Where incision had existed, now only bluntness reigns. A West Ham team hasn’t conceded this many goals at this point in the season for more than two decades. It will take more than crowd noises played through the stadium PA to fix the problems West Ham are suffering through.
West Ham United
Adrian – 7: Made a key save early in the second half, keeping the score at 1-0. Ensured the score didn’t become embarrassing.
Nordtveit – 6: Offered very little going forward, save for some long throws. Substituted.
Reid – 5: Dallied with the ball, contributing to the muddle that offered Saints a second goal.
Ogbonna – 5 Bamboozled by Austin’s sudden halt, allowing him space to score the first goal.
Arbeloa – 6: Looked polished, if a little physically overwhelmed and under-fit.
Noble – 6: Appears to have no ability to inspire his teammates; a damning criticism for the captain.
Kouyate – 5: Gave possession away carelessly, to gift Saints a chance to construct their second goal.
Lanzini – 6: Flickered, and then faded. Removed at half-time.
Payet – 5: Looked alarmingly blunt, with a heavy touch. Went down flimsily.
Antonio – 6: Lost Ryan Bertrand, allowing the fullback to cross for the opening goal. Tried, as always, but to no avail.
Zaza – 5: Started with encouraging energy, but had little tangible impact. Was booked for diving in the second half.
Substitutes
Fernandes – N/A: Arrived too late to change things, on debut.
Feghouli – 6: Hustled, but only to minimal effect.
Fletcher – 6: Had very little time to make an impact.
Southampton
Forster – 7: Almost totally untroubled throughout the match.
Cedric – 7: A pocket-rocket down the right, all activity and enthusiasm.
Fonte – 8: Supreme, confident, and inspiring his teammates to act similarly.
Van Dijk – 8: Totally commanding in the air, and tackled hard.
Bertrand – 8: The most potent player on the pitch for huge swathes, as he shot up and down the left flank.
Davis – 8: Neat and tidy, exactly as advertised.
Tadic – 9: Extremely active and present; hockey-assisted the first goal, scored the second goal.
Romeu – 8: Dropped deep often and to calming effect. Passed nicely, tackled well.
Hojbjerg – 7: Inconspicuous, which wasn’t a bad thing, save for one roostered shot late in the game.
Redmond – 7: A little aggravated, and flustered as a result. Revved around madly.
Austin – 9: Powerful, accurate and decisive. A goal and an assist. His knees looked perfectly serviceable.
Substitutes
Long – 7: Offered the sort of lightning pace the Hammers defenders were dreading with 20 minutes to go.
Martina – N/A: Had barely any time to make an impact.
Ward-Prowse – 8: Had a powerful shot saved late by Adrian. Tapped in a cherry-goal in added time.
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