Aguerd seals vital win in six-pointer

West Ham 1 Southampton 0 

Could it be a lucky omen that actor Donald Sumpter is spotted getting off the Overground at Hackney Wick? If the Lord High President of the Council of Time Lords is on our side then we might just win this six-pointer. 

Inside the stadium the big news is that at security Matt has been alerted to a bee inside his yellow hoodie, perhaps thinking that he is a giant daffodil. Could it be an agent from Brentford? After Lisa successfully places the bee on some vegetation she suggests that it might have flown off to play for the Bee Team. 

It's already been an epic week for Matt, Lisa and Michael who have been to see The Fizz (once Bucks Fizz) at the O2, the former Eurovision winners being rather like West Ham in letting their indecision take them from behind before making their minds up. We're joined by Nigel (whose season ticket is still playing up) and Fraser plus Steve the Cornish Postie, who is hoping to improve West Ham's delivery, as the Irons make the obligatory slow start. 

The players seem nervous as the crowd starts to get on Benrahma's back for playing the ball backwards. Walcott has a volley wide for the Saints but apart from some fine Rice interceptions it's pretty tame stuff until Bowen wins a free kick in the 24th minute. Kehrer swings over a decent free kick and the unmarked Aguerd powers home a header. The ref disallows it for offside before VAR intervenes. You could read most of War and Peace in the time it takes to come to a decision, but after three and a half minutes the goal is given. Nayef celebrates his first Hammers goal all over again.

There's a scare as Saints come straight back and Lavia's goalbound shot is superbly tipped round the post by the returning Fabianski. A great reaction save from the Pole. West Ham almost make it two before the break as Bowen does really well to cut inside two defenders, look up and whack a shot against the crossbar.

At half-time Nigel is instructed not to eat his 'lucky' banana as we're already winning. The second half sees Southampton have lots of possession without looking too threatening. The Hammers have their moments on the break. Ings is almost released, but doesn't have the pace to get beyond the defence, though does find Bowen who fires wide. When Emerson is fouled on the edge of the area Benrahma's free kick is tipped round the post by Bazunu.

It's a poor match, but Paqueta is having a good game in midfield doing un-Paqueta-like things, getting stuck in and winning more tackles than any other player on the pitch. Also encouraging is the fact that the centre back partnership of Aguerd and Zouma looks well-balanced and holds firm against the Saints probing. Kehrer has a decent game at right-back and we avoid giving away any free kicks in Ward-Prowse territory.

THE IRONS GO MARCHING IN

Bazunu has to prevent an own goal by Caleta-Car from Bowen's cross. A corner finds Paqueta at the back post but he swivels and volleys over the bar. Antonio comes on for Ings and confuses both his team-mates and the opposition, at one point almost smuggling the ball over the line with the ball seemingly glued to his chest.

The Saints bring on the giant 6 foot 7ins Onuachu who provides a focal point up front. Urged on by some noisy away support they almost equalise as Ward-Prowse gets in a good cross and Onuachu plants a header against the bar. 

Sub Flynn Downes does a good job of holding the ball up and Bowen wastes more time on the wing as the Irons see out three minutes of added time. Not pretty, but the result was everything.

Matt and Lisa head off to watch the WHU women's team play at Dagenham. This makes it four games in two days for uber-fan Lisa, who has also seen the Under-18s and the Under-21s play on Saturday. Perhaps she could fit in a 7.45pm kick-off as well? The rest of us head to the Eagle where Fraser is treated to table service as we try not to remind him that Moyes has saved his job again. Brendan Rodgers has gone though and soon Graham Potter has departed Chelsea too. Perhaps they should appoint Avram Grant again?

To be positive that's five league games at home unbeaten. Hopefully this result will give the side some confidence to play more expansively and get some kind of result against third-placed Newcastle on Wednesday. Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 7; Kehrer 7, Aguerd 8, Zouma 7, Emerson 6 (Cresswell n/a); Rice 7, Soucek 5 (Downes 6), Paqueta 7 (Fornals n/a), Benrahma 6, Bowen 7, Ings 5 (Antonio 6).