MATCH FACTS Hammers’ Christmas SACKERS BOARD TO AXE PELL, DESPITE HIS VICTORY
Hammers’ swashbuckling verve. Mark Noble pinged a 50-yard, crossfield pass to Antonio, who, but for a foul, was clean through.
That was followed by Haller producing an equally brilliant longrange pass – only for Antonio to handle as he broke into the box.
An opener would surely have arrived on 25 minutes – from the spot – had VAR official Jonathan Moss seen two shoves in the back of both Antonio and Haller. You can just about forgive onfield ref Martin Atkinson for missing the double infringement. But someone with video evidence at their fingertips?
■ West Ham have won more Premier League games against Southampton than they have against any other side (17), while only at Fulham (7)
Luckily, that injustice was forgotten 11 minutes later when Haller, fed by Fornals’ cushioned header, fired home with a classy left-foot finish.
Whatever was said at the break did nothing to change the momentum. Indeed, only a sensational Alex Mccarthy save to deny fantastic Fornals prevented a killer second goal.
Well, that and another dubious VAR call that ruled Antonio had handballed before rifling home in the 51st minute,
On this occasion, Moss reckoned the clearance – from one yard – struck Antonio’s arm rather than chest. It was anything but clear and obvious. The have they won more away games than against Saints (5).
■ Southampton have conceded at least once in their last 14 Premier visitors sat back in the hope of clinging on
–and they did – but Danny Ings’ 70th-minute rocket that crashed off the bar almost cost them.
League home games, the longest run without a clean sheet at home in the competition since Crystal Palace recorded 15 in May 2015.
BARNSLEY
QPR