Nayef Aguerd gives West Ham vital win over Southampton to lift survival fight

The difference was that West Ham just looked a little bit tougher and cannier than Southampton in the areas that truly counted. In truth this was a dreadful game between two mediocre sides. There was nothing to separate them between both boxes and the main regret for Southampton, who had more of the ball and a few decent shooting opportunities, will be that they never created a sense that a comeback was on the cards once they had handed over the initiative by giving away an unnecessarily soft goal to Nayef Aguerd.

It probably explains why Southampton are likely to be playing in the Championship next season. Rubén Sellés’s side can do a lot of things well but there is a reason why they are propping up the table with nine games remaining. They are simply not ruthless enough at both ends of the pitch and, although they almost rescued a point when Paul Onuachu came off the bench to head against the bar, this was hardly a performance that suggested Southampton are capable of saving themselves.

Not that West Ham, who could celebrate climbing from 19th place to 14th, were much better. They did enough, as tends to be the way when David Moyes has his back against the wall, and victory was imperative before a tricky run. But it was not convincing. West Ham remain stodgy and need to improve when they host Newcastle on Wednesday.

It did not take long for both teams to demonstrate why they are in such great danger. Southampton began with good intentions, their pressing organised, their passing neat and tidy, but there was not enough aggression in attack. It all felt too nice. They were insipid when incision was required, even though they mustered the first attempt of any note when Theo Walcott sent a hopeful shot wide, and found it