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A superb brace by Felipe Anderson gave West Ham United a 2-1 comeback win at Southampton in a pulsating Premier League match on Thursday.
The result lifted West Ham to ninth in the table on 27 points from 19 games while Southampton stayed 16th on 15 points, three above the relegation zone after suffering their first home defeat in five matches.
The game sprung to life when Southampton forward Nathan Redmond bundled the ball home with his shoulder in the 50th minute after visiting keeper Lukazs Fabianski parried his initial shot and Oriol Romeu's rebound.
In the absence of first-choice strikers Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez, West Ham lacked cutting edge until Brazilian midfielder Anderson turned the match on its head.
Anderson equalised in the 53rd minute with a stinging first-time shot from 20 metres and completed West Ham's comeback in the 57th when he buried the ball into the top right corner from 13 metres to cap a lightning break by the visitors.
Fabianski had kept out a long-range effort by forward Stuart Armstrong at the other end and marshalled his defence superbly in the closing stages as the Saints threw men forward in search of an equaliser.
Reuters
PREVIEW
What time does it start?
Southampton vs West Ham kicks off at 7:45pm (GMT)
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League from 7:30pm.
Player to watch…
Marko Arnautovic: Pellegrini hinted prior to Thursday's game that star striker Arnautovic could be in line for a return having missed the Hammers last three matches with injury. The Austrian has scored five goals in 13 matches this season, as well as contributing two assists.
Form guide…
Southampton: LDLLWW
West Ham: LWWWWL
Odds…
Southampton to win: 6/5
West Ham to win: 12/5
Draw: 5/2
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
32 mins: Southampton 0-0 West Ham
Mario Lemina has been lively upon his return from injury tonight. He makes a clever run in behind the West Ham defence, but Targett overhits his through ball towards the former Juventus midfielder and Fabianski can clear.
35 mins: Southampton 0-0 West Ham
A good spell inside Southampton's half for West Ham, who have been on top for much of this first period.
Felipe Anderson is stood over a free-kick.
36 mins: Southampton 0-0 West Ham
A real waste from Anderson, who tries to chip the ball towards a team-mate on the edge of the area. Southampton read it and clear, before launching an attack of their own.
38 mins: Southampton 0-0 West Ham
Danny Ings appeals for a penalty after an alleged shove in the box from West Ham defender Issa Diop. The referee isn't interested.
40 mins: Southampton 0-0 West Ham
Declan Rice has arguably been the best player on the pitch so far. The West Ham midfielder looks a real prospect.
42 mins: Southampton 0-0 West Ham
Cresswell puts in another dangerous cross into the Southampton box. Vestegaard is just about able to clear on the volley.
43 mins: Southampton 0-0 West Ham
Antonio hits one from long range but the ball deflects off Diangana and goes out for a goal kick.
45 mins: Southampton 0-0 West Ham
Big chance for West Ham as we approach half-time. The away side break and the ball falls to Snodgrass on the edge of the box, who tees up an effort on his left foot and whips just wide.
Southampton 0-0 West Ham
Goalless at the break at St Mary's.
Half-time recap
It's been a fairly evenly contested match so far at St Mary's.
Southampton started well and had a couple of good early chances through Redmond and Ings, but West Ham have probably been the better side since then. They've certainly had the better chances.
The best opportunity of the half came when Lucas Perez scuffed wide after a good cross from Aaron Cresswell.
The Hammers had another good chance when Robert Snodgrass whipped an effort wide on the stroke of half-time.
Ralph Hasenhuttl will want his Saints side to try and cut out the opportunities they're presenting to West Ham in the second half.
West Ham will want to get Felipe Anderson into the game, but Declan Rice and Michail Antonio have been particularly impressive so far.
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