Southampton vs West Ham match report: Saints fail to down 10-man Hammers after goalkeeper Adrian saw red

Southampton 0 West Ham 0

Adrian handles outside the area (GETTY IMAGES)

Should Louis van Gaal analyse the statistics of this match he will find them deeply satisfying. In the final 25 minutes almost every pass West Ham made was a long ball. Sam Allardyce’s team had a reasonable excuse though. Reduced to ten men by the dismissal of goalkeeper Adrian they dug in for a draw, defending the 18-yard box and hoping their clearances would reach a limping Andy Carroll in splendid isolation 30 yards away and he could eke out valuable seconds.

Like Manchester United thumping the ball to Marouane Fellaini on Sunday, it was not pretty but it worked. Hammers held out for a point which meant Southampton slipped behind Manchester United - another reason for Van Gaal to smile. Still, Saints have come a long way when they are disappointed to be fourth.

When these teams met at Upton Park on the third weekend of the season Southampton were still seeking their first win after the summer player exodus. Victory in east London was the launchpad for their unlikely assault on the Champions League places, a challenge that has survived the inevitable arrival of injuries.

West Ham, too, are enjoying an unexpectedly successful campaign despite their squad depth also being tested. As if to illustrate last night Southampton had a central defender pressed into service at left-back, West Ham a midfielder filling in at centre-half alongside another nursing a broken nose, but neither defence was unduly troubled in the opening half.

West Ham managed to grind out a point despite the red card (GETTY IMAGES)

Saints were the brighter side, but their close-passing foundered whenever they reached the visitors’ area. They have pace on the flanks, but only once did they get round the back of the Hammers’ defence.

That was after 13 minutes when Eljero Elia broke through. Adrian did enough to prevent him scoring directly and an alert Carl Jenkinson cleared as Mane threatened to turn the loose ball in.

Hammers responded with a goal-bound shot from Morgan Amalfitano blocked by Steve Davis but that was a rare foray. They were fortunate Craig Pawson did not spot Cheikhou Kouyate using his hand to prevent Graziano Pelle’s flick entering the box, and grateful Florin Gardis did not make more of a good opportunity but otherwise reached the break without alarm.

They re-emerged without Enner Valencia, Matt Jarvis replacing the Ecuadorian. Valencia had been anonymous, but as he was hardly alone in that he was presumably injured.

A second change, introducing Andy Carroll, soon followed, then a third, this time very much unplanned as Adrian’s dismissal prompted the arrival of Jussi Jaaskelainen. Adrian had lost control of a back-pass as Mane closed him down, then handled the ball outside the area. Pawson, who had not been having a good game, showed red. Hammers were furious arguing Mane had fouled Adrian as the pair scrambled for the ball, and besides, a covering defender was back by the time Adrian handled.

After Tadic, with his first touch, failed to convert the free-kick, West Ham withdrew the wagons, settling for defending the point they had.

Carroll, though suffering a knee injury, stayed on for nuisance value but left the ground on crutches. He is likely to be out for four weeks.

Ronald Koeman gave new signing Filip Djuricic a debut in an effort to open West Ham up but, with Alex Song in the centre of a back five, the Hammers were resolute. So well organised were they Jaaskelainen was untested until injury time when Jose Fonte sent him diving full stretch to turn away a 30 yards drive. Pelle then missed with a diving header and, at the death, Jaaskelainen denied Djuricic a golden debut. West Ham even could have scored themselves, Matt Jarvis having ended a lone break with a delicious cross Amalfitano was unable to do justice to. That, however, would have been larceny.