Carroll scores again as West Ham come from behind to beat Southampton

West Ham bounced back from their midweek drubbing to beat a sorry Southampton side 3-1 and record their first ever victory at St Mary’s.

Southampton’s record signing Manolo Gabbiadini was handed his full debut and started in style, smashing in off the bar from a tight angle after beating the visitors’ offside trap in the 12th minute.

However that was as good as was going to get for the Saints and they were pegged back after just two minutes when Andy Carroll slotted past Fraser Forster and Pedro Obiang’s 30-yard strike from a half-cleared corner ensured they were behind at the break.

The third and killer West Ham goal came soon after and will be one for the dunious goals panel. Despite a tight angle, Mark Noble opted to shoot from a free-kick and Steven Davis flicked the ball into his own net.

The win lifts West Ham to ninth with 31 points while Southampton, languishing in 13th with 27, could soon find themselves in a relegation scrap if their form doesn’t improve.

Southampton are missing Jose Fonte. With Virgil van Dijk facing another three months out, Saints could really do with someone with the experience and pedigree of Fonte. Maya Yoshida and Jack Stephens look like a below average centre-back pairing so far, which is to be expected given this was only Stephens’ second top flight start, and aren’t receiving much support from either their midfield or goalkeeper. In the space of a few weeks Southampton have gone one having one of the Premier League’s most formidable defences to one of its worst.

Andy Carroll (West Ham). Southampton’s defenders didn’t look at all comfortable against him, unable to cope with his movement and physicality. He took his goal very well and despite playing less than an hour the damage was done by the time he departed.

12’ – GOAL! Southampton 1-0 West Ham (Gabbiadini). What a way to start! Gabbiadini beats the offside trap and from a tight angle hammers a left foot shot in off the bar!

14’ – GOAL! Southampton 1-1 West Ham (Carroll). Obiang dissects Southampton's centre-backs with a smart through ball and Carroll runs onto it and sides a first time finish home.

44’ – GOAL! Southampton 1-2 West Ham (Obiang). A West Ham corner is cleared to Obiang, 30 yards from goal, and his low shot goes through a crowd of bodies and nestles in the far corner. It looked like it took a slight deflection off Bertrand on the way through.

52’ – GOAL! Southampton 1-3 West Ham (Davis o/g) Noble whips the free-kick towards the goalkeeper and Davis flicks it past Forster. A poor own goal and probably game over.

70’ – SAVE! Cedric gets to the byline and dinks a cross to the back post where Ward-Prowse rises highest and sees his header tipped over by Randolph.

Southampton: Forster 5, Cedric 6, Yoshida 5, Stephens 5, Bertrand 6, Romeu 5, Davis 5, Ward-Prowse 6, Boufal 5, Rodriguez 5, Gabbiadini 6. Subs: Redmond 6, Long 5.

West Ham United: Randolph 6, Kouyate 6, Fonte 6, Reid 6, Cresswell 6, Feghouli 6, Obiang 6, Noble 7, Snodgrass 6, Antonio 6, Carroll 7. Subs: Collins 6,Lanzini 6, Calleri 6.

West Ham scored more goals today than in their previous seven visits to St Mary’s combined.

Southampton have lost three home games from winning positions, the most in the Premier League.

Andy Carroll has four goals in his last four games.

Gabbiadini also has four goals in his last four appearances, three of which were for Napoli.