West Ham travel to Southampton on Saturday afternoon, hoping to make it four matches unbeaten and 20 victories over the Saints in the Premier League era.
The Hammers haven’t emerged victorious more times against any other opposition and are currently on a head-to-head run of six wins out of their last seven meetings with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side.
Since David Moyes returned to east London in December 2019, West Ham have been transformed from relegation candidates to top-six finishers and have been rampant in their attacking play, scoring 100 league goals since the start of the Scot’s second spell – only Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool have scored more in that period.
So West Ham go into this one in top form and high on confidence, as well as being boosted by the arrivals of summer signings Kurt Zouma, Nikola Vlasic and Alex Kral, all of which are available to make their Hammers debuts at St. Mary’s Stadium.
Southampton, on the other hand, are still waiting for their first win of the 2021/2022 Premier League season, with draws against Manchester United and Newcastle United coming after their opening weekend defeat away to Everton.
With six goals already conceded, having lost star defender Jannik Vestergaard to Leicester City in the summer, Hasenhuttl’s side are now on a horrid run of just one clean sheet in their last 24 top-flight outings.
It’s that kind of form, coupled with West Ham’s current positive period, that has got Southampton fans worried about what’s to come on Saturday afternoon, although there are a few who are hopeful of frustrating West Ham coming away with something.
Here’s what Saints fans have been saying ahead of this game on two big forums – SaintsWeb and Not606…
“Tbf, It feels like Bowen, Antonio and Fornals always score against us. I can’t deal with another 9-0. I hate playing West Ham, absolutely misery in recent years, even when they were awful they still seemed to steamroller us.” – Saint Garrett, SaintsWeb
“They are a better team than us and far more street-wise. But we could have one ace up our sleeve this weekend. Energy levels. While very few of ours have been away, some of there’s have had some meaty journeys and little recovery time. We need to be chasing and harrying them from the first minute. There is no excuse for being outworked by them. Come on Saints, ruin a load of super six bets!” – LiberalCommuinst, SaintsWeb
“Like to think we could get something here but they’re in great form currently and we never seem to pick up points against them. Antonio is on fire atm and their new CAM Vlasic could make an appearance.” – os862saints, SaintsWeb
“Good team with a good manager. Also another one of our bogey teams. Point would be a good result.” – Turkish, SaintsWeb
“Part four of ‘fixtures we never win’. I’d take a point.” – Lighthouse, SaintsWeb
“Everything in our favour here. West Ham superior all over the park, West Ham second in the form table, West Ham haven’t lost to us in 7 meetings. Erm, what was I saying?” – farawaysaint, SaintsWeb
“For the second match in succession, we find ourselves up against a team that has had the upper hand in recent meetings, so time to turn it around. In the last 9 Premier League meetings with the Hammers, Saints record is decidedly poor with just 1 win and 1 draw, so WHU will be coming to SMS feeling full of confidence, despite their having dropped 2 points at home to Palace, last time out. David Moyes, a manager I have never taken to, blamed the state of the pitch for his team’s performance, but then he would. It’s never his fault.” – St Badger, Not606
“This will be a real test, I think they will be too much for us. That said a point against united was an unexpected result! Just wish we had a decent shot-stopper in goal and a real no nonsense player in midfield that could bully them.” – Mr X, SaintsWeb
“For the last four years, West Ham have dominated us home and away, and generally make us look like a bunch of asthmatic children wheezing about against a team of giants. Not sure I see that pattern changing in this game either.” – verlaine1979, SaintsWeb
“West Ham are too good for us at the moment sadly. Think it’s 1-3. Really need Romeu and Salisu to do a job on Antonio.” – Saint Fan CaM, SaintsWeb