Things we learned about West Ham in 1-0 relegation six-pointer win over Saints

By Alessandro Schiavone at London Stadium

On a Sunday when the axe fell on two Premier League managers in Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter, West Ham boss David Moyes ensured his fate would not be sealed. Not yet at least, as the Hammers ground out a precious 1-0 victory over Southampton. In football you get out what you put in and despite this being a laboured three points and with the smallest of margins, it does not reflect West Ham's superiority throughout. With only one point separating these basement clubs, the Conference League quarter-finalists had to win to avoid starting a new week as the league's biggest flops in 20th position. Instead thanks to Nayef Aguerd's headed goal, the Hammers moved up to 14th, with a game in hand. It couldn't have been better.

So what did we learn about West Ham?

No pressure was felt

As mentioned in the intro, the stakes were extremely high. And whenever it's been the case so far this season, West Ham have risen to the challenge, prevailing in must-win fixtures over Nottingham Forest and Everton. Yesterday they made it three in three against fellow relegation-scrap-embroiled teams. That shows that the players, who reached the UEFA Europa League semis last season, can handle pressure really well. They know how to play the big games. Rice, Soucek and company all pulled together and got the three points they craved.

Well-studied game by Moyes

Their was a method, a structure and an organisation in their game plan yesterday. Dominating territorially, West Ham restricted Saints to only two shots on target, through Perraud and Onuachu, either side of half-time. The Nigerian beanpole sent a header crashing against the crossbar late on. But barring that rare heart-in-mouth episode, West Ham never looked threatened. They had a lion's share of the ball and, amazingly, their defensive solidity which could have affected them going forward, didn't dent their attacking prospects. Sure, it could have all been better in the final third as Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paquetà had chances to put the game to bed. But for a team in peril and with their confidence low, they managed the game well. More of the same against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Leeds United and Leicester and it should make sure of safety matters.

Danny Ings: passive

Danny Ings looked like a passenger against his former side yesterday. With a goal ratio of almost one goal every other game at St Mary's (46 in 100 matches), Saints fans expected the worst against their team's fragile defence.

But Ings was harmless and passive. Most strikers are only as good as their service and he's one of them, cutting an isolated figure throughout with Bowen and Benrahma barely assisting him. Yet West Ham are far from being out of jail and can't afford to play a man 'down' like yesterday. Despite Ings' underperformance, they still managed to come out on top because there appeared to be a lot of wind in their sails. But it's in their interest to involve him more against opponents playing with a deep defense. After all, he was brought to the club to fill the boots of goal-shy Scamacca and Antonio. And he can certainly do the job but needs to be supported better by those around him.

That said, West Ham can still save their season by staying up and winning the Conference league. If they do that, it will go down as one of their best-ever campaigns. Football is a strange sport.