Southampton scored three times inside the first 34 minutes and then survived a second-half siege to beat West Ham 3-2 at the London Stadium on Saturday, ending the Hammers’ nine-match unbeaten run in the Championship. Kuryu Matsuki, James Bree and Lewis Dobbin put Tonda Eckert’s side 3-1 up by half-time, and Daniel Peretz made 10 saves to protect the lead until Tomas Soucek’s stoppage-time consolation.

Three goals in 34 minutes settle it

Southampton led inside two minutes. Leo Scienza carried the ball into the penalty area, his shot was saved at close range by Mads Hermansen, and the rebound rolled to Matsuki, who tucked it into the opposite corner. West Ham were two down on 11 minutes when Caspar Jander’s cross was tipped away by Hermansen only as far as Bree, who volleyed it into the roof of the net without breaking stride.

Former Saint Kyle Walker-Peters pulled one back on 24 minutes, skipping past Jander on the edge of the box and finding the top corner, but West Ham’s pressure brought a third Southampton goal instead. Finn Azaz shot straight at Hermansen on 34 minutes and Dobbin followed in the rebound. Our pre-match Southampton predicted lineup had Dobbin leading the line with Matsuki starting, and both men scored in that opening spell.

The second half was one-way traffic. Konstantinos Mavropanos had a drive saved by Peretz, Maximilian Kilman crashed a shot against the crossbar, and Peretz saved an Arne Engels effort with his legs. West Ham finished with 28 shots to Southampton’s 15 and 14 corners to six, but the second goal arrived too late, Soucek curling in on 90+3 minutes from a Taty Castellanos lay-off before Peretz kept out a Castellanos header to preserve the win.

Nuno Espirito Santo said: “We started not the way we wanted and we conceded. We were looking at the situations with hesitation, bouncing balls, too many chances for Southampton to have a second phase, third phase and achieve a goal.” (Sky Sports) Eckert said: “We were clinical today, more than in our last three games, and you could see the togetherness of the whole group.” (Sky Sports)

West Ham player ratings

Mads Hermansen 5 – Made four saves, but two of them fell straight to Southampton scorers, Matsuki for the first goal and Dobbin for the third.

Kyle Walker-Peters 7 – Scored against his former club with the best finish of the game, added two key passes, and was replaced on 74 minutes.

Konstantinos Mavropanos 5 – Stood off Scienza in the build-up to the opening goal. Went close himself after the break, when Peretz saved his drive.

Maximilian Kilman 6 – Hit the crossbar as West Ham chased the game and made three tackles, but the back line never settled in the first half.

Morato 5 – A difficult half on the left of the defence, and the first change of the day, replaced by Oliver Scarles at half-time.

Jarrod Bowen 6 – Dragged an early shot wide after being found by Walker-Peters, then created four key passes without finding a finish.

Arne Engels 6 – Kept West Ham moving in the second half and forced Peretz into a save with his legs from the edge of the box.

Mohamadou Kante 6 – Worked through 74 minutes in midfield before Joel Piroe took his place, with the game already stretched.

Divine Mukasa 6 – Also stood off Scienza for the opener, then responded by winning the ball off Ryan Manning and driving a shot deflected wide. Replaced on 63 minutes.

Manor Solomon 6 – Booked on 18 minutes and created five key passes in 63 minutes, the most of any West Ham starter, before Soucek replaced him.

Taty Castellanos 6 – Laid the ball off for Soucek’s goal and had a late header kept out by Peretz, but no goal of his own from a full 90 minutes.

Oliver Scarles 6 – On at half-time for Morato, made three tackles and helped pin Southampton back for the whole second half.

Tomas Soucek 7 – On for Solomon on 63 minutes and curled in the stoppage-time goal that gave West Ham a final minute of hope.

Pablo 6 – On for Mukasa on 63 minutes, added two key passes as the pressure built.

Edvin Austbo 6 – On for Walker-Peters on 74 minutes, part of the late push that produced 28 shots but only two goals.

Joel Piroe 5 – On for Kante on 74 minutes and could not find a clear opening in a crowded penalty area.

Southampton player ratings

Daniel Peretz 9 – Ten saves, including the Mavropanos drive, the Engels shot stopped with his legs, and the late Castellanos header. The reason three first-half goals were enough.

James Bree 8 – His volley on 11 minutes was the outstanding goal of the match. Defended his flank through a second half played almost entirely in Southampton’s half.

Jack Stephens 7 – Led a back four that bent under 28 shots and 14 corners without giving up a second goal until stoppage time.

Keven Schlotterbeck 7 – Two tackles and a composed display next to Stephens as West Ham swung crosses in after the break.

Ryan Manning 6 – Lost the ball to Mukasa in one first-half moment that almost cost a goal, but still created three key passes from left-back.

James Ward-Prowse 7 – A controlled performance in midfield against his former club, keeping Southampton’s passing calm while West Ham pressed.

Caspar Jander 7 – His cross produced Bree’s goal after Hermansen could only tip it away, though Walker-Peters beat him for West Ham’s first goal. Booked on 51 minutes.

Kuryu Matsuki 7 – Scored the opener on two minutes, following in Scienza’s saved shot, and worked the right side until Welington replaced him on 73 minutes.

Finn Azaz 6 – His saved shot on 34 minutes became Dobbin’s goal, and he added two key passes, but the second half passed him by as Southampton defended.

Leo Scienza 7 – Created the first goal by carrying the ball into the area and forcing the save Matsuki converted. Replaced by Samuel Edozie on 64 minutes.

Lewis Dobbin 8 – Followed in Azaz’s shot for the third goal on 34 minutes and led the line for 89 minutes, occupying both West Ham centre-backs. Our West Ham predicted lineup had not accounted for how much work he would cause that defence.

Samuel Edozie 6 – On for Scienza on 64 minutes, gave Southampton an outlet as the pressure built.

Welington 6 – On for Matsuki on 73 minutes and helped Manning see out the left side.

Divin Mubama 6 – On for Dobbin on 89 minutes, on the pitch for the Soucek goal and the final siege without a chance to change it.

What the result does to the table

West Ham would have gone top with a win. Instead they stay third on 22 points from 12 matches, three points behind leaders Middlesbrough, whose 5-1 win at Bolton on Friday took them to 25 points. Southampton rise to sixth on 20 points, two behind West Ham, despite the four-point deduction they began the season with. They are unbeaten in four league matches and have won back-to-back away games, at Norwich and now at the London Stadium.

Both clubs play again on Saturday 31 October. West Ham host West Bromwich Albion at the London Stadium, and Southampton are at home to Queens Park Rangers.