Juric starts Southampton stay with defeat by West Ham

SOUTHAMPTON, England :Jarrod Bowen scored a second half winner for West Ham United in a 1-0 Premier League victory at Southampton as new Saints manager Ivan Juric suffered defeat in his first game in charge of the struggling club on Thursday.

The visitors led just before the hour-mark when Bowen poked the ball into the net from three yards after Niclas Fullkrug's flick-on into the path of the forward as Southampton failed to clear from a corner needlessly conceded by Yukinari Sugawara.

The home side were the better team in the first half and should have led, but striker Paul Onuachu missed a trio of headed opportunities and Mateus Fernandes was also profligate in front of goal.

West Ham move up to 13th in the table with 23 points from their 18 games, while Southampton are rooted to the bottom with six points from the same number of fixtures and a single victory all season.

Southampton created enough in the final third to at least earn a point and Onuachu’s physical presence up front was a constant threat, but too few of his efforts were on target.

The hosts had more possession and shots at goal than their rivals, not something that has happened often this season, and Juric will feel there is something to build on despite the loss.

West Ham have two wins and two draws from their last four games, which has considerably eased the pressure on coach Julen Lopetegui after a difficult start to the campaign.

Carlos Soler should have put the visitors ahead early on but smashed the ball against the crossbar from 10 yards.

Southampton were creating chances from high balls into the box, but were thwarted by two excellent saves from goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, and some wayward efforts.

West Ham midfielder Guido Rodriguez was handed a