Rice cracker earns point at Saints

Southampton 1 West Ham 1

Listened to this while laid up in bed with Covid and not sure it was the best medicine for convalescing. Emerson went close early on after good work by Scamacca, but the Saints came back with Fabianski saving with his feet from Adams. The Saints took the lead as the referee obstructed Bowen, preventing him tackling Perraud, who fired home a deflected shot. Infamy, infamy...

Fabianski had to make a brilliant low save from Adams but the response from the Irons was good as Scamacca fired two efforts just wide and then crossed for Paqueta to head against the outside of the post. Moyes also reckons we should have had a penalty for a foul on Soucek and MOD2 did indeed reveal a judo throw on the Czech by Perraud.

The second half was all West Ham as the Irons forced numerous corners. Sub Benrahma made a difference. Rice played a swift one-two with Benrahma and curled a lovely shot into the far corner for his first league goal in a year, topped off by a knee-slide celebration in front of the away fans. Scamacca had an effort saved late on and Benrahma a goal bound shot blocked, but the determined Saints held on. 

The worrying thing is that we couldn't win with 61 per cent possession, 25 shots and 14 corners. Perhaps the injured Dawson and Zouma might have made a difference at set-pieces. Still, it was a decent performance overall in terms of pressure and surely the goals will come.