West Ham United slumped to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Southampton on Sunday to continue their difficult start to the season.

The Hammers began the game at a good tempo as the frist chance of the match fell to Simone Zaza, who sliced his effort high and wide after three minutes of action.

West Ham continued to pressurise the Saints as Michael Antonio scuffed a chance after 10 minutes, while Zaha in particular was looking bright and lively.

Then with 40 minutes gone, Southampton broke the deadlock. The goal came from Charlie Austin as he delicately stroked home off a low cross to net his fifth goal of the season. At half-time the score remaiend 1-0.

The Saints almost got the second period off to a perfect start as only a last-ditch Hammers denied Dusan Tadic from close range.

Tadic was not to be denied for long, however, as he rounded goaleeper Adrian to put the ball into an empty net following a great flicked pass from Austin on the hour mark.

It was all Southampton as the Hammers struggled to make the most of their forays forward, while the Saints were looking threatening with each attack.

West Ham then had a strong penalty appeal turned down by the ref as Virgil Van Dijk looked to have blocked a shot with a hand before Dimiti Payet flashed a shot wide as West Ham finally seemed to come to life.

Tadic almost set up Nathan Redmond in the 76th minute but the midfielder’s shot was well parried by Fraser Forster. Barely a minute later, Zaha came desperatly close to pulling a goal back for the home side but saw his poked effort cleared off the line.

With time runnung out, Adrian was callled into a pair of great saves in quick succesion as Southampton were denied a third goal in the contest. However, with virtually the last kick of the game, James Ward-Prowse netted the third as Hammers failed to deal with a clearance.

At full-time the score was 3-0 to Southampton.

Photo: Premier League Website