Lesley Ugochukwu’s extra-time equalizer ensured Southampton drew with West Ham and equaled Derby’s record-low Premier League points total.
Already relegated Saints remained the worst team in Premier League history after Jared Bowen gave the hosts the lead.But they weren’t the worst side in what had long been a dreadful game at the London Stadium and Chelsea loanee Ugochukwu earned a deserved point when he slotted home a packed penalty.
The Southampton fans behind the goal celebrated as if they had won the league title, and after seeing their record 11 points from the 2007-08 season fall to a record low, the groans from Derby could be drowned out.
At the same time, to say that West Ham have not been under their new manager Graham Porter would be an understatement.The Hammers have averaged just one point since Potter’s reign.A worse record than his disastrous predecessor, Julen Lopetegui.
Potter has criticized his players for not being able to control games and admits he faces some big decisions this summer.”We couldn’t have deserved it more, it just reflects how disappointed we are,” the manager said.”Credit to Southampton, but we didn’t do enough to win and in the end we have to see why.”
We have to be the protagonist of the game, which I think West Ham are at home to Southampton, we have to be able to control things, attack and control the situation.
“We couldn’t do that and at the end of the day we always feed the opponent no matter what league they are in or how many points they have.
“We have to look at the whole season and think about how we can expand and make decisions going forward, because where we are playing now, we need to improve.”
West Ham almost took the lead through Niclas Füllkrug within three minutes of his first start since January through injury.The Germany striker failed to get a foot on Lucas Paquetá’s ball into the box in front of Jan Bednarek, but his effort was well saved by Aaron Ramsdale at close range.
They are still not mathematically safe from relegation – although the chances of relegation are slim.The hosts stormed through the first half with unsurprising urgency. Southampton have won two all season and are the more threatening side with Kyle Walker-Peters being tackled by Camden Suleman who narrowly crossed without scoring.
The league’s lowest scorer went close when Paquetá parried Jack Stephens’ shot as Sulemana rebounded off the bar.
Boos rang out as the teams crossed at half-time and when Bowen pulled off a minute of exhaustion at the start of the second half, there were still thousands of empty seats.This goal came from a Southampton corner.Emerson Palmieri and Mohammed Kudus stepped forward before finding Füllkrug, who played in Bowen to score his 10th goal of the season.
78 goals conceded by the Saints this season. It almost became 79 when Füllkrug headed in a James Ward-Prowse corner at the far post, but the striker’s forearm into Ramsdale’s throat ensured he was duly cleared.
Southampton’s chances were lost after substitute Tyler De Blain went over and disappeared with the ball.But in the fourth minute of extra-time, Dibling found Walker-Peters who was passed by Max Kilman and was dismissed by Ugochukwu.
Their interim manager Simon Rusk is delighted to have made the point.”I think we can be really satisfied. That’s the least we deserve,” he said.
“The players showed resilience in the second half and I thought we didn’t let ourselves down in any way, shape or form. And in the end we deserved the equalizer.”
“I was really happy to finally see the moment we had with the fans. It was a great moment to watch. It was a lovely moment after a season where it was very difficult to score late goals.”
