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| Our man of the match: West Ham (H) | Southampton lost for the sixth time in seven league matches as they were bested 3-1 by West Ham at St.Mary’s. This … 04-02-2017 |

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| Southampton 1-3 West Ham: Rating the Saints18 hours ago |
| Diamonds aren’t forever, but why not now?2 days ago |
| Southampton vs West Ham - Predicted line-up2 days ago |
| Where do Southampton go without Virgil van Dijk?2 days ago |
| Wake me up when January ends2 days ago |
| Saints reportedly open talks with Wszolek ahead of summer2 days ago |
| Virgil van Dijk to miss EFL Cup final2 days ago |
| An Expert View - Mouez Hassen2 days ago |
| Gabbiadini speaks of Pelle’s influence on move2 days ago |

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

#SaintsFC boss Claude Puel gives his thoughts after the 3-1 defeat to #WHUFC in the #PL: https://grabyo.com/g/v/YF0HyGzNEZ1

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Sourced from Daily Star article

Premier League line-ups: The confirmed team news for the six 3pm kick-offs

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Lucas and Sadio Mane return to the starting XI while Dejan Lovren is out while Georginio Wijnaldum drops to the bench. Hull boss Marco Silva hands debuts to deadline day signings Kamil Grosicki and Alfred N’Diaye while Omar Elabdellaoui and Abel Hernandez return to the starting XI.

Crystal Palace boss Sam Allardyce names an unchanged XI following their win at Bournemouth. Sunderland boss David Moyes makes two changes from the 0-0 draw against Tottenham - Fabio Borini and Javier Manquillo are on the bench with Adnan Januzaj and new boy Bryan Oviedo starting.

Ademola Lookman is given his full Everton debut and is one of three Everton changes - James McCarthy and Gareth Barry also start with Kevin Mirsallas, Tom Davies and Mason Holgate on the bench. Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe makes four changes following their defeat to Crystal Palace - Adam Smith, Brad Smith, Junior Stanislas and Benik Afobe drop out with Tyrone Mings, Marc Pugh, Dan Gosling and Harry Arte coming in.

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic makes two changes to his starting XI with Robert Snodgrass handed a full debut and Cheikhou Kouyate in from the off.

Watford make two changes following their win at Arsenal with Miguel Britos and Daryl Janmaat being replaced by Jose Holebas and Maruo Zarate. Burnley have deadline day arrivals Ashley Westwood and Robbie Brady on the bench.

West Brom v Stoke

West Brom make one enforced changed with Claudio Yacob replaced by new signing Jake Livermore. Stoke are unchanged from their draw against Everton on Wednesday.

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Saints 1-3 West Ham: Carroll, Pedro Obiang and Noble earn comeback win

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Perhaps the two will always go together for Andy Carroll – goals of quality and twinges of concern.

It happened again here, with the strike that laid a platform for a West Ham win and a groin niggle that ended his afternoon half an hour early.

Only a precaution, Slaven Bilic explained, and it certainly seemed that way as Carroll smiled on his way off the pitch, a spring in his step as he went when so often it has been the slow trudge of the damned.

The expectation, Bilic added, is that he will be back to face West Brom on Saturday and only the cruel would want otherwise, given how much this striker has suffered and how good he can be when his body wants to play ball.

He showed those talents again in this fixture, scoring his fourth goal in four games. It wasn’t nearly so spectacular as the goal against Crystal Palace last month, merely a clever run and sharp finish rather than an act of flight, but it was even more decisive, given it came just two minutes after Manolo Gabbiadini thundered a lovely debut goal.

From there, Southampton looked to close the door, but up popped Carroll to smash it open again moments later, allowing a foundation for Pedro Obiang and Mark Noble to go on and win it.

Bilic grinned broadly as well he should, considering he has faced speculation this week about his future, despite a wider perspective showing they have won six times in nine league games, with two of their defeats coming against Manchester United and Manchester City. Not too shabby on the bottom line, even if the 4-0 home defeat against City in midweek was damaging.

Bilic said: 'I said after the City game that never mind how much it hurt, it shouldn’t affect our confidence. And it didn’t - we played fantastic here.

‘We did everything you can ask for as a manager and staff. The boys executed the plan brilliantly.’

On Carroll, he added: 'He felt his groin against Middlesbrough (on January 21) and we didn’t want to take any risks. We said at half time to play 10 minutes and he said yes, so we left him on.

‘Hopefully he is going to be available for the next game.’

There was also the satisfaction of seeing Robert Snodgrass look so solid with and without the ball on his full debut. ‘A brilliant performance,’ said Bilic.

‘We knew about his left foot and his vision and his plan in his head, how to use space. But the work rate was amazing, fantastic.’

Factoring in numerous good saves from Darren Randolph, it was all-round good showing, which is a marked contrast to the folk of Southampton.

For Claude Puel, there is a risk of a drama becoming a crisis with six defeats in seven. They have a League Cup final on their horizon but the day job is suffering.

Puel looked for solutions here but little worked. He made four changes to his side and only Gabbiadini of the incoming excelled, with the striker rocketing the opener 12 minutes into his first game following a £14m move from Napoli.

Sadly for Puel, that was about as good as it got. He said: ‘Of course I am worried. We have to correct things. We need some results and points to get some confidence.’

Work also is needed on a defence that lacks leadership or strength in the absence of Virgil van Dijk. Carroll’s goal came from a throughball that ought to have been cut out, Obiang’s originated with a corner and the third was caused by a Mark Noble free-kick that Steven Davis sliced into his own net.

Clearly, Southampton have problems that need addressing; the hope for West Ham is that Carroll does not.

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Sourced from Daily Star article

Relive the action from Hull, Everton, West Ham, Watford, WBA and Sunderland’s wins

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Hull v Liverpool: Alfred N’Diaye put the Tigers in front, they ended up winning 2-0

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Sourced from Mirror.co.uk article

Southampton 1-3 West Ham: Gabbiadini debut goal in vain as Irons rule

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Andy Carroll inspired West Ham to come from behind to beat Southampton and climb into the top half of the Premier League .

New £17m Saints striker Manolo Gabbiadini needed only 11 minutes to find the net in English football when he lashed in a left-footed shot off the bar.

But Carroll levelled only three minutes later when he slid home his fourth goal in four games from Pedro Obiang’s pass. And the Spanish midfielder scored his first goal for the a minute before the break with a low 25-yard shot. Saints keeper Fraser Forster had gone 333 league minutes without conceding a goal to West Ham before today but he conceded a third after 56 minutes when captain Steve Davis diverted Mark Noble’s free kick into his own net.

Since reaching the EFL Cup final, Southampton have lost 5-0 at home in the FA Cup and now lost consecutive Premier League games to Swansea and West Ham. Record signing Sofiane Boufal limped off in the second half with a knee injury. That is now just one win in seven Premier League games for Claude Puel’s side.

Here are five things we learned:

Slaven Bilic’s side were ripped apart by Manchester City in their first match after the acrimonious departure of the Frenchman. But this was more like last season: Mark Noble pulling the strings, Andy Carroll running riot and a promising first start for Robert Snodgrass. They won’t finish seventh again this season but this was better. The chants for “Super Slav” were back too.

The £17m Italy striker did not take long to confirm his class and gave what Saints have been lacking this season since the departure of the equally dashing Graziano Pelle – a focal point in the attack. Apart from his goal, the former Napoli forward made run after run and could have grabbed a second after the break but his snatched shot went over. Tired later in his first start since December but will score more this season.

After 10 games away from home without a goal, the former England forward has now scored six in his last 10 on the road – and four in four in all. It was a simple finish from a straightforward ball from Pedro Obiang but he proved a nuisance all afternoon.

The Dutchman is out injured while the Portugual defender moved to the Hammers for £8m in the last window. England U21 defender Jack Stephens filled in manfully and gave as good as he got with Carroll. Southampton have the inerring ability to adapt to sales but it takes time.

In his 55th appearance for West Ham, the Spanish midfielder produced his best performance. A slide-rule pass for Andy Carroll’s opener and then a grass-cutter into the corner for his first goal for the club. Combined with bossing the central midfield with Noble, not a bad day’s work.

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

“Our downfall lately is conceding goals straight after scoring them.”

#SaintsFC’s @Prowsey16 on defeat to #WHUFC: http://sfcne.ws/JWPOnWHUFCH

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Sourced from ESPN FC article

Southampton vs. West Ham United - Football Match Report - February 4, 2017 - ESPN

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Claude Puel laments Southampton’s loss to West Ham, considering the wonderful start they had to start the match. (1:18)

West Ham got back to winning ways as Southampton’s dismal run in the Premier League continued with a 3-1 defeat at St Mary’s.

Deadline-day signing Manolo Gabbiadini fired Saints ahead just 12 minutes into his debut, but that was as good as it got for the hosts.

Andy Carroll equalised within two minutes, Pedro Obiang added the second before half-time and a Steven Davis own-goal left EFL Cup finalists Southampton with just three points from the last 21 available.

It also meant a winning return to the south coast for former Saints captain Jose Fonte, who left to join West Ham a fortnight ago.

The Portugal defender endured a torrid debut in the 4-0 midweek defeat by Manchester City - and he was conspicuous by his absence when Southampton took the lead.

Jay Rodriguez’s speculative ball somehow caught out the West Ham defence, looping over Fonte and Cheikhou Kouyate into the path of Gabbiadini.

The £17million new boy still had plenty to do as he cut in from the left but his powerful angled drive rocketed past Darren Randolph and in off the underside of the crossbar.

Yet within two minutes Southampton’s defence, minus the injured Virgil van Dijk as well as Fonte, went missing themselves.

Obiang’s pass forward did not look particularly menacing but it dissected centre-halves Maya Yoshida and Jack Stephens, allowing Carroll to slot in his sixth goal in 12 games.

Saints keeper Fraser Forster did well to beat out Aaron Creswell’s shot before the left-back’s cross found Sofiane Feghouli, who could not convert at the far post.

At the other end Gabbiadini glanced a Cedric Soares cross wide, but when the crucial second goal did arrive it came from an unlikely source.

A minute before half-time Robert Snodgrass’ corner was headed out to Obiang, who was loitering some 30 yards out.

The Spanish midfielder, by no means known for his shooting, sent a low drive through a crowd of players which seemed to deceive Forster as it crept inside the far post for his first Hammers goal.

Saints came out after the break determined to claw themselves level, with James Ward-Prowse forcing a sharp near-post save from Randolph and Cresswell denying Gabbiadini a second with a vital block.

But seven minutes after the restart West Ham won a free-kick down the left, Mark Noble swung it towards goal and Davis stuck out a foot to inadvertently hook the ball into his own net.

Gabbiadini had the chance to pull one back but skied his effort from 12 yards out and Randolph held Davis’ drive to secure a welcome three points and lift the Hammers back into the top half.

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Sourced from The Telegraph article

Southampton 1 West Ham 3: Jose Fonte enjoys winning return as Slaven Bilic’s side come from behind to ease to victory

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When he reflects on his first win as a West Ham player, Jose Fonte might just think that he has left one club on a downward spiral and joined another on an upward trajectory.

West Ham bounced back emphatically from their 4-0 defeat by Manchester City and have now won six times in nine league games.

“Today we were fantastic,” said Slaven Bilic. “We closed down, we had a game plan and the boys executed the game plan brilliantly.

“I said after that game against Man City, it doesn’t matter how much it hurt us, before Man City we won five out of seven so it shouldn’t and it didn’t affect our momentum and confidence.”

Fonte experienced a baptism of fire at the hands of Gabriel Jesus on Wednesday evening but, for the most part, he was not treated like Judas by Southampton’s supporters.

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Sourced from The Independent article

Southampton’s miserable form continues to West Ham

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If you had told Southampton manager Claude Puel at the beginning of the season that his defence would prove a problem area, he would probably have been surprised. But with Jose Fonte wearing West Ham colours yesterday following his £8m move last month and Virgil Van Dijk out for three months with an ankle injury, Saints’ rear-guard suddenly has a soft centre and West Ham took full advantage.

It had all started so well for Puel’s men when Italy forward Manolo Gabbiadini, their £14m new signing from Napoli, scored after only 12 minutes of his debut. But Andy Carroll levelled only two minutes later and Pedro Obiang put the Hammers in front with his first goal for the club on his 55th appearance in all competitions. An own goal by the normally dependable Saints captain, Steve Davis made it 3-1 early in the second half and although Saints did their best to get back into the match, they found West Ham as steady at the back as they themselves used to be.

Slaven Bilic, the West Ham manager, has spoken on the eve of the match of wanting to increase his team’s one-point advantage over Saints and will have enjoyed doing so, especially after Southampton’s 3-0 victory when the two teams met in London in September. His only concern will be the need to withdraw the injury prone Carroll after less than an hour.

Carroll had just finished complaining to referee Graham Scott that he had been obstructed by Maya Yoshida as he went for a header when Gabbiadini announced his arrival in Hampshire in style. A simple lofted pass sent the Italian clear of defenders down the left and, with West Ham far too slow to realise the danger, he ran into the penalty area, took a look up and crashed the ball in off the crossbar from an unlikely angle. Fonte was closest to recovering but not close enough, and at that point he might have wondered whether he was in for an uncomfortable afternoon on his return to the club he captained until recently.

But Southampton’s defence was unable to hold the lead for long. Within two minutes, Obiang slipped the ball between Yoshida and Jack Stephens to Carroll, who powered into the area and finished with an emphatic low shot.

And the visitors could have led before the interval. Carroll helped create a chance just short of the half-hour when he ducked under a cross from stand-in right back Cheikou Kouyate to allow Aaron Cresswell to collect the ball and hit a fierce volley that was saved by Fraser Forster. Then Forster had to be alert to gather a diagonal pass from Robert Snodgrass before Sofiane Feghouli could reach it.

Saints’ unconvincing central defenders almost gifted West Ham a second goal five minutes before half time. Stephens mistimed his jump to allow Cresswell’s cross to drift over his head and Yoshida swung and missed the ball. Feghouli pounced but instead of shooting he tried to go the long way round Ryan Bertrand and took the ball out of play.

But they were ahead anyway after 44 minutes. Southampton cleared a corner kick from the left as far as Obiang, 35 yards out. That, by itself, should not have posed a problem bearing in mind the midfield player’s non-existent scoring record in English football. But he was allowed to advance unchallenged and hit a 25-yard daisy-cutter that somehow found its way past everyone including Forster and into the bottom far corner.

Southampton looked for a reply but Darren Randolph was down quickly to his right to push away an 18-yarder from James Ward-Prowse. And Randolph denied the Southampton midfield player again soon after the restart as he tried a cheeky shot to the near post from a free kick on the left.

Winston Reid did well to block a shot from Gabbidini after Ryan Bertrand had taken a pass from substitute Nathan Redmond and crossed low, and West Ham went up to the other end to make it 3-1. Snodgrass was sandwiched by two defenders on the left and when Mark Noble flighted the free kick to the near post, Davis swung a lazy boot at the ball and deflected it past Forster.

Saints had to take risks now and they should have reduced the arrears after 59 minutes when Kouyate, unsighted by the leap of Fonte, could only head an attempted clearance to the feet of Gabbiadini but he shot hurriedly and swept the ball over the crossbar.

But the chances continued to come for the home side. Randolph tipped a header by Ward-Prowse over the bar and from the corner kick, Michail Antonio nodded Yoshida’s header off the line. Then Randolph did well to hold Davis’s piledriver with two forwards rushing in case of any slip. Next Davis’s clever reverse pass allowed Redmond to cross, but Yoshida, attempting an acrobatic overhead kick, showed why he is a defender and not a forward.

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 04/02/2017 20:46:47

| | Stats: Southampton v West HamVITALFOOTBALL |
| | West Ham player ratings: Obiang brilliant as Hammers breeze past SouthamptonFOOTBALLLONDON |
| | Andy Carroll inspires West Ham fightback to stun SouthamptonTHEOBSERVER |
| | Southampton 1-3 West Ham UnitedCLUBCALL |
|

| REPORT: Southampton 1-3 West HamSTMARYSMUSINGS |
| | MATCH REPORT: Blackburn Rovers 1 QPR 0TILAN |
| | Happy Hammers into top half after crushing Saints - TEAMtalk | Latest Football News & Transfer RumoursTEAMTALK |

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

We spoke to #SaintsFC midfielder @Prowsey16 after a disappointing result against #WHUFC at St Mary’s: https://grabyo.com/g/v/p1DArAPMPPl

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Sourced from Sky Sports article

Blackburn 1-0 QPR: Sam Gallagher strikes last-gasp winner

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Sam Gallagher scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Blackburn defeated QPR 1-0 to boost their survival hopes.

The home fans had endured a frustrating afternoon of few chances and made their feelings about manager Owen Coyle clear, but Gallagher stopped those chants in their tracks in the dying moments with his 11th goal of the season.

QPR will feel aggrieved, though, as Conor Washington’s header in the second half looked to have bounced over the line but the officials denied them.

The visitors created the clearest opportunities but found Jason Steele in inspired form, and after their first defeat on the road in 2017 are now only six points off the relegation places. Rovers, meanwhile, ended a three-match winless run in the Championship and remain three points from safety.

QPR peppered the Blackburn goal from the outset. Inside the first minute a raking cross-field ball found Washington, who squared to Jamie Mackie free inside the box but Steele pulled off a stunning low save.

Washington’s dangerous cross barely a minute later just evaded Mackie and after Massimo Luongo’s close-range shot was diverted for a corner, Joel Lynch saw his resulting header tipped over by Steele.

Neither side created anything clear-cut as the half wore on, although Gallagher should have done better when he met a Conway corner 12 yards out but could not find the target.

The visitors had the first real chance of note in the second half when Washington controlled on the left of the area but proceeded to drag his effort wide.

The game’s real talking point came on the hour as a long throw somehow found Washington in the area and his powerful 12-yard header bounced down off the underside of the crossbar. However, the officials ruled the ball had not crossed the line.

Blackburn went close soon after when Connor Mahoney’s superb curling free-kick was prodded goalwards at the back post by Darragh Lenihan and was palmed away on the line by Smithies, who then watched Feeney scuff the rebound wide.

As the game entered the dying moments, the Blackburn fans loudly voiced their displeasure against Coyle. But in the 91st minute, Marvin Emnes delivered the perfect cross for Gallagher to half-volley home from six yards and give his under-fire boss some respite.

"I certainly understand the frustrations in respect of we want to win games, we want to win points. The club for a number of years, there has been loads of stuff going on. The bottom line is anybody who knows me knows how resilient I am, knows how focused I am.

“I totally understand the frustration if you’re at home, it’s 0-0, you want to win the game, but there’s still time to win. People will have their opinion but the important thing is they keep backing players, keep getting behind the team because when you do that the players have shown great spirit, great character, and went on to win a tough game.”

"I had the same view as the fourth official [of Washington’s effort]. We couldn’t be really sure, but with players’ reactions it looked like it was. Never mind, we let a goal in at the end, that’s what cost us. It truly is the first time I’ve ever scored a goal and lost 1-0. I just ask for professionalism.

"We’re asking referees, fourth officials, assessors to be professional when you’re not giving them the right equipment. I don’t need a fourth official stood between me and (Blackburn manager) Owen Coyle, I can tell you that.

"We’re professional people. That man needs to be upstairs, watching a screen, talking to the referee and he would have seen it and could have had a re-run of it.I used to work for the people who do it. You don’t need a goal line machine telling you ‘goal’, ‘no goal’, that costs over £100,000. You don’t need that.

“How can you have a respect campaign, when you can’t respect them yourself and let them have the technology that is available?”

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

Southampton 1-3 West Ham - did we take your picture at the match?

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It started so brightly as debutant Manolo Gabbiadini lashed home a sensational strike on 12 minutes to give Saints the lead.

But then it all fell apart - mainly because of some really bad first-half defending.

Maya Yoshida and Jack Stephens were split open just two minutes after Saints had taken the lead, allowing an unmarked Andy Carroll to slot home to make it 1-1.

Things then got even worse for Saints, as Pedro Obiang’s low effort bounced through a crowded box and past a rooted Fraser Forster.

West Ham then wrapped up the three points on 52 minutes as Mark Noble’s free-kick deflected off Steven Davis and into the net for 3-1.

The Southern Daily Echo’s chief photographer Stuart Martin was at St Mary’s Stadium, so check out the pictures above.

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WATCH: Southampton 1-3 West Ham highlights

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West Ham got back to winning ways as Southampton’s dismal run in the Premier League continued with a 3-1 defeat at St Mary’s.

Deadline-day signing Manolo Gabbiadini fired Saints ahead just 12 minutes into his debut, but that was as good as it got for the hosts.

Andy Carroll equalised within two minutes, Pedro Obiang added the second before half-time and Mark Noble’s second-half free-kick, courtesy of a Steven Davis deflection, left the EFL Cup finalists Southampton with just three points from the last 21 available.

West Ham had drawn four and lost three of their previous seven visits to the stadium, dating back to January 2002, but have ended that run with a victory the lifts them to ninth.

It also meant a winning return to the south coast for former Saints captain Jose Fonte, who left to join West Ham a fortnight ago.

Hit the video at the top of the story for highlights of an entertaining clash at St. Mary’s…

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Ward-Prowse: We need to see it through

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James Ward-Prowse says Southampton can’t afford to keep conceding goals after scoring first in games, following their 3-1 setback against West Ham at St Mary’s.

Saints took the lead through Manolo Gabbiadini’s debut strike with 12 minutes on the clock, but less than five minutes later, the Hammers were level before going on to take a 2-1 lead by half-time.

Those efforts put Saints on the backfoot and they were given a mountain to climb when the visitors made it 3-1 before the hour.

Ward-Prowse was frustrated by the timing of the goals against Saints, and feels that the team needs to do more to eradicate those mistakes.

“We are disappointed with the result,” he said.

“I think we started the game very well, I think we were very bright and on the front foot, aggressive and positive, but I think what’s been a bit of our downfall lately is that we’ve conceded goals straight after scoring them.

“That’s something we need to rectify as that’s a vulnerable time for any team after they’ve scored to concede, and we need to make sure we put that right.

“It (their equaliser) disrupts our flow a little bit, but that’s happened a few times this season and that can’t happen anymore. We need to make sure that we’re solid and see that little period through and make sure we get the second and the third to see it through.”

Gabbiadini’s strike put Saints in front with a well-taken debut goal, and Ward-Prowse was pleased for the Italian.

“All the lads are buzzing for him,” said the midfielder.

“He’s come in and settled in very well and you could see how much it meant to him today to score a goal and hopefully that could be a good stepping stone and a foundation for him to move on and score more goals for us.”

Ultimately though, Saints must now reflect on another defeat, which they have a week to prepare to put right at Sunderland.

“I think we came out in the second half and looked positive,” said Ward-Prowse. “We were on the front foot as well and created a few chances. It’s (the third) a tough goal to concede at that time of the game. I think the lads who came on made a good impact, but we have to stick together now.”

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

Southampton 1-3 West Ham: Saints slump to sixth league defeat in seven

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Saints didn’t get the Wembley send-off they were hoping for as they lost a sixth Premier League game in seven with a 3-1 defeat to West Ham at St Mary’s.

In what was the club’s last home match before the EFL Cup final, they looked set for a good afternoon as deadline day signing Manolo Gabbiadini had a dramatic impact scoring 12 minutes into his debut.

But from there Saints slumped, conceding goals to Andy Carroll, Pedro Obiang and Mark Noble as their terrible league form continued.

If it was something of a surprise that Claude Puel named Gabbiadini in his starting line-up, it was interesting that he played the Italian as a central striker with Jay Rodriguez in a deeper role to the left.

It was a fairly open start to the game but it was Saints who were the first to get a shot on target, James Ward-Prowse half volleying from just outside the area straight at Darren Randolph.

Andy Carroll appealed for a penalty as he went down in the area after what he thought was a block by Ryan Bertrand but it was a very optimistic shout and referee Graham Scott was having none of it.

It was a crucial decision as just moments later Gabbiadini announced his arrival in some style as he thrashed home a dramatic goal to give Saints the lead on 12 minutes.

Rodriguez played a ball over the top and into the path of Gabbiadini, with West Ham unsuccessfully claiming he was offside.

The Italian took a couple of touches to bring it under control and line up an unstoppable left footed shot that flew past Randolph at the near post before he could even react and went in off the underside of the bar.

However, the lead lasted just two minutes before West Ham equalised.

It was poor defending from Saints as they opened up in the heart of defence with a slipped ball from Pedro Obiang, under little pressure, dissecting Maya Yoshida and Jack Stephens and allowing Carroll the chance to measure a low finish past Fraser Forster for 1-1.

The game settled down a little after the early flurry and it took until 29 minutes for the next chance as Aaron Cresswell hit a technically tricky volley that found the target but Forster got his body behind it.

It was an entertaining enough game with both teams looking decidedly uncertain at the back but both willing to commit men forward and attack.

Gabbiadini tried to glance a header in from Cedric Soares’ right wing cross from a difficult spot just inside the area three minutes before half time but guided it off target.

But it was the Hammers who were to go in ahead at the break as they scored a minute later.

Robert Snodgrass hit an outswinging left wing corner that was cleared from the area but with Saints having everybody in the box Obiang was able to pick it up and line up a right footed shot.

He drilled it in hard and low from 20 yards, the ball went through a crowd of players which possibly unsighted Forster who just got fingertips to it diving to his right but couldn’t keep it out.

Ward-Prowse threatened in stoppage time but his low drive was stopped by a save from Randolph.

Puel made a change at the break with Nathan Redmond replacing Rodriguez.

Ward-Prowse started the second half as he ended the first, testing Randolph, this time with a sneaky free kick that the keeper keep out at his near post.

Despite a bright start to the second period, Saints fell further behind on 52 minutes.

West Ham won a free kick on the left side of the area and Mark Noble whipped in a hard to handle fierce free kick.

Steven Davis got there first at the near post but only made a slight contact with the ball, which was enough to divert it into the far corner.

West Ham made a surprise change in attack with Manuel Lanzini coming on for Carroll.

Sofiane Feghouli was complaining to Scott after being floored by the elbow of Bertrand but the referee didn’t see anything wrong with it.

Gabbiadini should have pulled one back on the hour mark with a chance far easier than the one he converted early in the game as Cheikou Kouyate’s awful defensive header presented the striker with the ball eight yards out, but he sliced over.

There was an injury blow for Saints as Sofiane Boufal had to be helped limping from the field after appearing to damage his right ankle in an innocuous looking challenge with Mark Noble with Shane Long coming on to replace him.

Ward-Prowse tested Randolph yet again, this time heading goalwards from ten yards out, but it was a relatively comfortable task for the keeper to turn over the bar.

West Ham brought on James Collins for Kouyate on 71 minutes as they tried to ensure they went home with the three points.

Long tried to find the goal to bring Saints back into it as he cut in from the right and hit a shot but it went wide of the far post.

Davis was the next to fire in from distance but Randolph was equal to it diving to his right.

Yoshida tried to produce a spectacular acrobatic volley at the far post after Redmond stood up a cross from the left but it went well over.

Davis got a break in the dying minutes and hit a low shot from the edge of the area, but again it was pretty easy for Randolph.

West Ham were winning the game at a canter and made a late change to try and run down the clock a little more with Jonathan Calleri coming on for Feghouli.

At the final whistle Saints and Puel were left to reflect on another league defeat and with just Sunderland away to come to try and get some momentum before the big final.

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Puel on West Ham defeat

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Debutant Manolo Gabbiadini opened the scoring with a thunderous strike, before goals from Andy Carroll, Pedro Obiang and Mark Noble condemned Saints to successive defeats.

Puel said: “It’s a bad result of course, we can start this game very well with a fantastic goal from Gabbiadini and after it was a pity to take a goal a few minutes after.

“We have to correct this situation. It’s not possible to give presents like this for the opponent.

“After it was difficult to come back on the play in the first-half and I think the second-half was interesting.

“We had a lot of situations, with many chances without a good result or a good clinical.

He added: “To take this goal from a free-kick is very hard because they had one situation in the second-half and they score – it’s too easy to score in this moment against us and we have to correct this.

“To keep the strong mentality. We know we now have possibilities in attack with the good support of Gabbiadini for example but we have to find a good clean sheet and good confidence as well as being strong together to defend.”

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 04/02/2017 21:47:09

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Puel lauds Gabbiadini debut

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Gabbiadini introduced himself to the Southampton faithful with a superb angled strike after 12 minutes.

And Puel says he can prove to be an important player during the rest of the season.

“It’s a pity we lost this game when you saw this fantastic goal. I’m satisfied and I enjoyed his game because he’s a strong player with quality,” Puel reflected.

“He can give solution between the lines and behind the lines also. On the crosses he is always available.

“It’s a very good player to play to find him between the lines but to score and give assists for the future.”

Sofiane Boufal went off injured in the second-half to be replaced by Shane Long, but Puel says they are still awaiting news on its severity.

Puel said: “I don’t know for the moment. We will see this tomorrow but I hope it’s not a bad injury because he’s a talented player who can give a good solution and he had a good relationship with Gabbiadini.”

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