Southampton 1-1 West Ham-Report


In-form Carroll salvages a point for Hammers

After a first half that produced very few chances of note, the Englishmen cancelled out Gaston Ramirez's opener to deny Saints a fourth-successive Premier League victory.

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Southampton and West Ham shared the points at St Mary's on Saturday after a 1-1 draw that sees both clubs edge closer to Premier League safety.

The first half produced little action as both sides struggled to create and clear-cut chances, with Kevin Nolan and Rickie Lambert going closest for each side respectively.

Gaston Ramirez put the hosts a goal ahead just before the hour mark but Andy Carroll was on hand to level the scores with a free-kick minutes later in a result that leaves the Saints and the Hammers still not quite safe.

James Tomkins slid in with a perfectly timed tackle to block an early effort from Lallana as the hosts started brightly, but Saints' midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin then picked up a needless booking for a blatant dive.

Kevin Nolan then forced Artur Boruc into a decent low stop, which he just about kept hold of, before Ricardo Vaz Te fired just over for the visitors. Back came Saints, though, as Jack Cork and Lallana linked up well, but the former couldn't quite get on the end of the latter's cross after a neat one-two. 

With about five minutes left in the half Jussi Jaaskelainen got down low to deny a toe-poked effort from Lambert's outstretched boot, the keeper stopping the ball right on his goalline, before the forward headed just wide.

With the hour mark approaching Ramirez finally got the breakthrough, the Uruguayan smashing the ball past Jaaskelainen after his initial shot was blocked but fell kindly for him once more.

However Saints weren't in front for long as Carroll levelled the scores with a low, driven free-kick that crept past the wall and beyond Boruc in the hosts' goal. Both the keeper and Steven Davis, who broke from the wall, may have done better.

Jay Rodriguez was introduced for the hosts as they searched for a reply, and the forward threatened with a few decent runs, however the Hammers defense remained firm.

The substitute forced Jaaskelainen into a low save right at the death, with Saints' defense having to deal with a number of balls into their own area too, but both sides held on to a point that sees the duo almost safe.

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