Already-relegated Southampton ensured that they would not finish the season with a new lowest Premier League points total as they struck late to hold West Ham United to a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium.
A familiar cacophony of boos rang out around the London Stadium during a forgettable first 45 for West Ham, who were arguably fortunate not to go into the break behind as a Kamaldeen Sulemana-inspired Saints ran the hosts ragged.
However, the Irons' frowns were turned upside down by Jarrod Bowen, who broke the deadlock just two minutes into the second half before Niclas Fullkrug had a second disallowed for a foul on Aaron Ramsdale.
Graham Potter's men never really looked like bagging goal number two, though, and in the third minute of second-half injury time, the unlikeliest source in Lesley Ugochukwu struck the goal that saw Southampton match Derby County's 11 points from the 2007-08 season.
The Saints remain rooted to the foot of the rankings, though, while West Ham still find themselves 17th in the Premier League table and are not yet mathematically safe from the drop, despite being 15 points clear of 18th-placed Ipswich Town.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
As Ivan Juric memorably said before his premature exit, Southampton's goal for the rest of the season was not to pull off an unthinkable great escape, but simply to avoid being the worst of the worst.
A team's fate being sealed well before the final day can sometimes allow the shackles to come off, and so it proved at the London Stadium, where Simon Rusk's side were the ones looking more likely to score early doors.
That Bowen goal early in the second period could have easily sucked the belief out of Southampton, but they kicked things up a notch late on, and their fans had something to cheer for the first time in a long time when Ugochukwu levelled matters.
While the Saints could still go down as the joint-worst team in Premier League history, they will not be the outright worst, a significant statistic even if they were doomed some time ago.
The travelling Southampton faithful will no doubt go home happier than Hammers fans, whose side were nothing if not mediocre, and Potter's future could become a major talking point in the coming weeks.
WEST HAM VS. SOUTHAMPTON HIGHLIGHTS
47th min: West Ham 1-0 Southampton (Jarrod Bowen)
© Iconsport
All of Southampton's hard work from the first half is undone just two minutes into the second period!
The hosts quickly turn defence into attack after comfortably dealing with a Southampton cross, as Fullkrug prods the ball through to Bowen, who shifts onto his left foot and picks out the far corner despite a touch from Ramsdale.
90+3 min: West Ham 1-1 Southampton (Lesley Ugochukwu)
The most important goal of Southampton's dreadful season!
The visitors keep possession well in and around the West Ham area, and Kyle Walker-Peters embarks on a mazy run in the right-hand side of the box before his cross cannons off a West Ham body.
However, the rebound falls on the money for Ugochukwu to fire in a terrific volley off the post!
MAN OF THE MATCH - LESLEY UGOCHUKWU
© Imago
The marking for Ugochukwu's goal sure was questionable from a West Ham perspective, but take nothing away from the Frenchman's terrific strike, which guaranteed that Southampton would not be relegated with a new lowest Premier League points total of all time.
Also playing his part defensively, the Chelsea loanee put in three tackles, two interceptions and two blocks to help stifle the Irons, and it will be intriguing to see what the Blues hierarchy have planned for him in 2025-26.
WEST HAM VS. SOUTHAMPTON MATCH STATS
Possession: West Ham 51%-49% Southampton
Shots: West Ham 12-15 Southampton
Shots on target: West Ham 4-4 Southampton
Corners: West Ham 2-5 Southampton
Fouls: West Ham 14-13 Southampton
BEST STATS
Jarrod Bowen reaches double figures for West Ham for the fourth straight season to break the deadlock 🙌#BBCFootball #WHUSOU pic.twitter.com/OfUYplBUqh
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) April 19, 2025
Lesley Ugochukwu's 93rd-minute equaliser means that Southampton can't set a new outright record for the lowest points tally in a Premier League season.
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) April 19, 2025
They'll need one more in their final five games to beat Derby's total of 11 points in 2007-08.https://t.co/yj5HdcUeDH
WHAT NEXT?
A trip south awaits West Ham next weekend, as the Irons clash with Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex in gameweek 34, before a London derby with Tottenham Hotspur on May 4.
The doomed Saints continue their formalities at home to Fulham next Saturday, which precedes a basement battle between Rusk's side and a Leicester City side whom they will surely be squaring up to in the Championship next season.
Ben Knapton
