Premier League: West Ham United v Southampton match preview

A look ahead to this weekend’s Premier League fixture at Upton Park

Sam Allardyce makes a gesture form the sidelines (GETTY IMAGES)

Southampton will attempt to end West Ham’s four-match unbeaten run in the Premier League at Upton Park this weekend.

The Saints haven’t claimed a win at the Hammers’ ground in 12 years, but Mauro Pochettino will want his team to recover from their 1-0 FA Cup fifth-round defeat against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, and to extend their run of back-to-back away victories in the Premier League.

Southampton are currently three points off seventh place and will be hoping to put the pressure on David Moyes’ perturbed Manchester United, who face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

West Ham, although on an encouraging stretch, remain four points off a relegation spot. If they claim victory however, they will climb above Swansea in 10th place – assuming the Swans lose against the Saints’ next opponents Liverpool at Anfield.

No side has lost more points from winning positions than West Ham United (14) in the Premier League this season, but the Hammers will look to their skipper Kevin Nolan to provide goal-scoring threat, as 22 of the 28 goals the 31-year-old has netted in the league since the start of the 2010/11 campaign have been racked up in home games (79%).

The Saints will be relying on forward Rickie Lambert to continue his good form, as he has scored (2) or assisted (2) four out of Southampton’s six goals in February this year.

KICK-OFF: Saturday 22nd February at 3pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS:

Southampton 0 – 0 West Ham (Premier League, 15 Sept 2013)

Southampton 1 – 1 West Ham (Premier League, 13 April 2013)

West Ham 4 – 1 Southampton (Premier League, 20 Oct 2012)

STATS:

West Ham have won just one of their last eight league meetings with Southampton (W1 D4 L3).

West Ham have kept four clean sheets in a row for the first time in Premier League history – they haven’t kept five in a row in the top-flight since December 1985.

The Hammers have attempted just one shot on target in six of their 26 Premier League games this season, including in the reverse fixture against Southampton.

ODDS:

West Ham to win: 9/4

Southampton to win: 6/4

Draw: 12/5

TV: Highlights on BBC 1’s Match of the Day at 10:30pm