New-boy Bowen living the dream as West Ham boost survival hopes with 3-1 win

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Southampton - London Stadium, London, Britain - February 29, 2020 West Ham United's Mark Noble celebrates with Jeremy Ngakia and Angelo Ogbonna after the match REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

West Ham United produced an excellent performance to beat Southampton 3-1 on Saturday and climb out of the Premier League relegation zone as they ended an eight-match winless streak in all competitions.

The result lifted the Hammers two places up to 16th on 27 points from 28 games, one more than Bournemouth and Aston Villa, with the latter having a game in hand as they meet Manchester City in the League Cup final on Sunday.

Southampton, who have been in good form recently as they surged from the bottom three into mid-table, dropped one place down to 13th on 34 points from 28 games.

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Southampton - London Stadium, London, Britain - February 29, 2020 West Ham United's Robert Snodgrass applauds fans after the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

The outcome delighted West Ham manager David Moyes and it also featured a fine full debut for midfielder Jarrod Bowen, who scored his first goal for the club since his January move from Championship side Hull City.

"I think that's the way it went in my dreams last night," the 23-year old forward told the BBC.

"Hard work is a given. I think (in the 3-2 defeat at Liverpool on Monday) we performed well, the work rate was there, but when you're at home you want to get the three points and build on it."

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Southampton - London Stadium, London, Britain - February 29, 2020 General view as Southampton's Jan Bednarek appears to handle the ball REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Sebastian Haller and Michail Antonio were also on target for West Ham after Michael Obafemi had equalised for Southampton.

Bowen fired the home side ahead in the 15th minute with a clinical finish after a through ball by Pablo Fornals before Obafemi levelled in the 31st, sweeping the ball in from a James Ward-Prowse cross.

Haller restored the home team's advantage shortly before halftime as he beat Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy to a looping cross from the left and slid in to prod the ball home from a tight angle.

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Southampton - London Stadium, London, Britain - February 29, 2020 West Ham United manager David Moyes celebrates with Jeremy Ngakia and Sebastien Haller after the match REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Antonio put the game beyond Southampton's reach when he steered the ball past McCarthy after another superb assist by Fornals, who released the midfielder with a defence-splitting pass through the middle.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl was livid with his team's poor defending.

"I think we conceded goals that were an absolute joke," he said. "For me it's simply not enough. Not aggressive enough, not committed enough.

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Southampton - London Stadium, London, Britain - February 29, 2020 West Ham United manager David Moyes reacts REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

"Play like this against a team in a relegation battle, then you may also be in a relegation battle again."

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Southampton - London Stadium, London, Britain - February 29, 2020 West Ham United manager David Moyes reacts REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

(Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic; Editing by Ed Osmond and Tony Lawrence)

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Southampton - London Stadium, London, Britain - February 29, 2020 West Ham United fan wearing a shirt supporting the protests against the club's owners during the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Southampton - London Stadium, London, Britain - February 29, 2020 West Ham United's Aaron Cresswell in action with Southampton's Oriol Romeu Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Southampton - London Stadium, London, Britain - February 29, 2020 West Ham United's Michail Antonio in action with Southampton's Jack Stephens Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Southampton - London Stadium, London, Britain - February 29, 2020 West Ham United's Jarrod Bowen shakes hands with manager David Moyes after being substituted off REUTERS/Eddie Keogh