Southampton 3-2 West Ham: Charlie Austin seals last gasp victory over ten-man Hammers as new signing Marko Arnautovic sees straight red for elbow

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Two penalties, a red card, a stunning comeback and an injury time winner. The Premier League is back everyone.

Southampton left victorious, West Ham heartbroken.

Slaven Bilic won't take solace from it, but his team deserve huge credit for their contribution to this breathless football match, particularly after they were forced to play the majority of the game with 10 men after Marko Arnautovic's brainless sending off.

An ice cool Charlie Austin slots home a penalty in added time to claim victory and three points for his side at the death

Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez almost became the saviour of the day after scoring twice in the closing stages

Hernandez is on hand to grab a goal back for West Ham and officially open his goalscoring account for his new side

The former Manchester United man reacted quickest to score his first goal of the game at the goalkeeper's near post

RATINGS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE 

SOUTHAMPTON (4-3-2-1): Forster 6; Soares 6.5, Yoshida 6.5, Stephens 6.5, Bertrand 7; Davis 7 (Long 80, 6), Romeu 7, Lemina 6.5 (Ward-Prowse 65, 6.5); Tadic 7, Redmond 7.5; Gabbiadini 7.5 (Austin 80, 7). 

Subs not used: McCarthy, Boufal, Bednarek, McQueen. 

Booked: Tadic

Manager: Mauricio Pellegrino - 7.5

WEST HAM (4-3-2-1): Hart 6; Zabaleta 6, Ogbonna 6, Fonte 5.5, Cresswell 6.5; Noble 7, Rice 7 (Obiang 76, 6); Antonio 7.5 (Sakho 68, 6.5), Ayew 6 (Fernandes 68, 6.5), Arnautovic 3; Hernandez 8. 

Subs not used: Adrian, Byram, Masuaku.

Manager: Slaven Bilic - 7

Referee: Lee Mason - 6.5

Att: 31, 424

MOTM: Hernandez

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Gabbiadini opened the scoring for Southampton against West Ham - CLICK HERE to view more from our MATCH ZONE

 

 

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In the end Charlie Austin came off the bench to score a last gasp penalty to seal the first three points of Mauricio Pellegrino's reign.

But that was just the icing on the cake of this super-duper 90 minutes of entertainment.

Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez re-introduced himself to English football with two trademark finishes to drag his team level after Manolo Gabbiadini and Dusan Tadic fired the hosts into a two-goal lead.

Ultimately, referee Lee Mason's decision to award Southampton a soft looking penalty in the 91st minute provided this game's decisive moment.

Bilic's refusal to answer questions about Mason's pivotal decision spoke volumes.

Pellegrino will feel justice was served, his team dominating for large parts; Bilic won't feel the same satisfaction, though.

Two games, two defeats - not the start Bilic - or his bosses - would have hoped for.

For Pellegrino, it's an unbeaten beginning to his career as a Premier League manager.

The way Southampton let West Ham back into the game will certainly worry the newly-appointed Saints boss. But for now the signs are promising.

Bilic sprang a selection by handing 18-year-old academy product Declan Rice his full debut.

However, the Hammers boss was forced to change his starting XI before the game had even started as Winston Reid - fresh from signing a new six-year contract - left the field on a stretcher during the warm-up after sustaining a calf problem. Angelo Ogbonna replaced him in the starting XI. 

The Mexican points to the skies after finding the back of the net and giving his side some hope in the tie

Dusan Tadic retained his composure to slot home a penalty and double the lead for his side in the first half

The winger punches the air in celebration after making the difference from 12-yards in the match

Arnautovic and Michail Antonio - who impressed in front of England assistant manager Steve Holland - missed two early chances for West Ham before Southampton took an 11th minute lead through Gabbiadini.

Set up expertly by Nathan Redmond, the Italian accurately fired across Joe Hart to score the first goal of Pellegrino's reign.

The way Jose Fonte and Ogbonna allowed Gabbiadini to ghost into the box unmarked was unforgivable.

Bilic certainly wouldn't have been in a hurry to excuse his defenders of blame.

Nor will he be rushing to rally round Arnautovic after his nonsensical elbow on Jack Stephens in the 33rd minute.

The perplexed look on the forward's face wasn't fooling anyone, least of all referee Mason, who couldn't pull out his red card quick enough.

Arnautovic knows what he did: a pointless and malicious act of violence.

And within five minutes his team paid the ultimate consequence as they fell two behind.

Redmond, patrolling the area Arnautovic would have been guarding, found Steven Davis in the box with an incisive pass.

Having failed to deal with the first ball, Fonte felt he had no option but to pull the Northern Irish midfielder back. Mason had no option but to point to the spot.

Hart got a flailing leg to Tadic's spot-kick but that wasn't enough to prevent the Saints from taking a 2-0 lead.

Ten men and a two goal deficit; it wasn't looking good for the Hammers.  

The spot kick had been awarded after Jose Fonte pulled back Southampton's Steven Davis in the penalty area

New boy Marko Arnautovic stands over Southampton counterpart Jack Stephens after elbowing the player in the challenge

Referee Lee Mason brandishing a straight red card to deal a blow to West Ham and their new signing Arnautovic

But out of nowhere they grabbed a lifeline before the break, Hernandez tapping home after Antonio's long range effort was saved by Fraser Forster to score his first goal since his £16million arrival.

Despite they numerical disadvantage the Hammers had given themselves a fighting chance.

They rode their luck of course; Gabbiadini hit the bar with vicious long-ranger on the hour.

But 14 minutes later West Ham levelled. Again Hernandez was on hand to pick the pieces after Forster had produced a point blank save from Diafra Sakho.

Pellegrino was left scratching his head; 2-0 up, playing against 10 men - how did this happen? Welcome to the Premier League, Mauricio.

But in the end Pellegrino was smiling thanks to Mason's intervention.

Maya Yoshida's appeal as Pablo Zabaleta leant into him was tame, but it was enough for Mason to award Southampton an injury time penalty.

Zabaleta and his team-mates were confused. When West Ham players see the replays, they'll feel cheated. Penalty decisions don't come much softer.

Not that Austin cared a jot as he stepped up to break Hammers hearts. 

The Austrian cannot believe it after being dismissed from action in the first half at St Mary's

Manolo Gabbiadini breaks the deadlock after just ten minutes played with a low, accurate shot sent into the bottom corner

The Italian follows through with power as the ball goes lashing towards the West Ham goal in the early stages

Gabbiadini peels away to celebrates as Hammers players stand around dejected in the background.