West Ham 2 - Southampton 1: Carroll provides late sting as Hammers break run without a win

WEST HAM broke a run of eight games without a win thanks to a late strike from substitute Andy Carroll.

 

Andy Carroll came off the bench to provide the winner for West Ham

 

Southampton had taken the lead thanks to a Carl Jenkinson own goal, although they should have been further ahead before West Ham equalised 21 minutes from time.

And it was a sucker punch when the home side scored with 11 minutes left on the clock to leave Southampton driving back to the coast empty-handed.

The two sides could scarcely have come into the game with more different form: the Hammers hadn't won in the Premier League in two months, while Southampton had just thrashed high-flying Arsenal 4-0.

The game began against form, Mauro Zarate going close inside the first ten minutes, but Southampton eventually found their feet and took a deserved lead.

 

Dusan Tadic tried to claim Southampton's opener, but it will go down as an own goal

 

Steven Davis played in Shane Long down the left hand side, and Dusan Tadic slid in with Carl Jenkinson, and while the West Ham defender got the final touch, he could only steer it past Adrian into his own net.

Saints continued to have the best of it, Long causing problems all over the pitch with his pace and energy, but the visitors couldn't find a second before the break.

After half-time it was much of the same, as James Collins had a header cleared off the line by Boxing Day hero Cuco Martina.

  

Antonio celebrated his most bizarre of goals

 

But having made two changes at half time, throwing on Manuel Lanzini and Carroll, West Ham looked far more involved, and the some-time England striker should have scored from eight yards but cleared the crossbar.

Southampton were eventually punished for their first-half profligacy, albeit in the most bizarre fashion, as Victor Wanyama's shot deflected off a Michail Antonio on the ground and looped into the Southampton goal.

Ten minutes later West Ham were ahead, and Carroll this time made no mistake, following up after Antonio had hit the bar at the back post.