NEIL MOXLEY

calm from skipper Mark Noble and co-chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold.

Player interviews had been carefully placed, preaching the same gospel.

None of this would have mattered had Southampton turned up like they wanted to fight for the three points.

No, the fact that David Moyes and the boys had spent five days preparing for a death-or-glory relegation scrap in Miami would have been held against them.

After this, there would have been seven matches left – four against teams in the top six.

Defeat here would have dealt a potentially-lethal blow. There was a recognition of that, unspoken perhaps, in the stands.

Contrary to the evidence of a fortnight ago against Burnley, most supporters want to get behind the team. But they need a reason, and West Ham finally gave them one.

There was an explosion of emotion that greeted Joao Mario’s opening goal – more than 50,000 people releasing pent-up frustration in one joyous collective.

There were three small areas that didn’t participate. First, the visitors’ enclosure. Secondly, in Mark Hughes’ (below) technical area. The last one was the most significant. Co-chairman Sullivan sat motionless.

He had ditched the Russian coat and hat he’s worn for 15 years in favour of a grey Peaky Blinders’ number. He wasn’t fooling anyone.

Sullivan’s partner, Eve Vorley, sat alongside him. Gold was one row in front and vice-chairman Karren Brady a row further back still.

They were all supposed to be sitting in a safer area.

But if the hordes had invaded, the truth is that these precautions were unlikely to be enough to save them – the truth is that there were no hiding places.

Not for the owners and decision-makers. Not for Moyes, and certainly not for his players.

There couldn’t be any more excuses. This was the time to stand and deliver.

Even if the result hadn’t gone their way, those 50-odd thousand punters wanted to see the effort – to see that the players cared like they did. They had their answer 45 minutes later. Three goals up, West Ham had answered all the questions.

As awful as the Saints were, the Hammers ran about like it meant something. And in Marko Arnautovic they held the trump card.

Two of the players gestured to the crowd after the third goal, the pick of the afternoon, trying to raise them. There really wasn’t any need – by this time they were onside and may just last until the next home game.

Of course, the irritants who opened wounds among the Hammers’ support are not going to be solved overnight.

The Olympic Stadium isn’t the Boleyn. Champions League football, hinted at by the owners, as a possible consequence of the move, is far further away than Championship football.

But they ve taken a foot in the right direction.

West Ham predicted a riot. It turned into a fiesta – and in the boardroom, you can bet they heaved one mighty sigh of relief.