Oh what fun it is to see West Ham win away

Southampton 0 West Ham 1

It's a Boxing Day trip to the Saints for a difficult game against a bottom-of-the-table side with a new manager and nothing to lose. Although the game is on Prime I'm watching High Society with the in-laws at daughter Lola's gaff so have to make do with Match of the Day highlights. Though it's interesting to combine Louis Armstrong, Grace Kelly (no relation to David), Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra with BBC updates on my phone.

It could have been a lot easier after four minutes when Bowen finds Wan-Bissaka rampaging down the right wing. His cross finds Soler who fires against the bar when he should score. Kilman goes off injured early on and Todibo replaces him. Southampton are a lot more direct under new gaffer Juric and fire long balls towards the 6ft 7ins Onuachu.

Onuachu misses a gaping goal after good work from Walker-Peters and Fernandes forces a save from Fabianski as Southampton press. Fab then has to make a great save to claw away Onuachu's header. At the other end a good move started by Fullkrug sees Wan-Bissaka volley wide.

Fabianski has to go off on a stretcher after 36 minutes following a worrying clash of heads at a corner. Areola comes on and does well, immediately saving another header from Onuachu. Soler is the next injury, being replaced by Alvarez at half-time.

At the start of the second half a red card for Fernandez is overturned for a yellow — the correct decision as he played the ball even if the tackle was slightly out of control, The decisive goal arrives after a corner is cleared and from the following cross Soucek heads across the six-yard box. Niclas Fullkrug gets a crucial head to the ball and Jarrod Bowen shows great reactions to prod home a poacher's goal. It will do Fullkrug good to claim an assist.

The rest of the game sees Kudus hit the side netting, Fernandes shoot wide and Dibling fire over as Southampton try to equalise, but the Hammers defence remains resolute despite a nervy nine minutes of added time. 

It was according to Mystic Matt on WhatsApp "a painful watch against a team certain to be relegated", but considering the suspension of Paqueta and the injuries to Kilman, Fabianski and Soler, plus the fact the Hammers were facing a side with a new manager, this was still a decent result. It was hard-earned but the players had to show some character to grind out a result. 

Four games unbeaten is Lopetegui's best run as West Ham manager. A more realistic assessment of the side's progress will come against Liverpool on Sunday, when Soucek and Fernandez will be suspended. But 23 points is now looking a half-decent total from which the Irons can now start looking upwards.