West Ham earned an absolutely vital three points against Southampton at the London Stadium yesterday.
The Hammers beat the Saints 3-1, and were thoroughly deserving of their victory.
Many West Ham fans expected a tough game yesterday. One of the main reasons for that was Danny Ings’ incredible recent form.
So when the 27-year-old was left out of Southampton’s starting XI, eyebrows were raised from fans of both teams.
He did come on early in the second-half, but West Ham scored their third goal almost immediately after, and by then, the game was as good as done.
Lady luck was really shining on the Hammers.
Ings is one of the most in-form strikers in the Premier League at the moment. The former Liverpool and Burnley hitman has scored 15 goals in 28 Premier League appearances for the Saints this season (Transfermarkt). 11 of those have come in his last 17 games.
But Ralph Hasenhuttl opted to play Shane Long and Michael Obafemi in attack against West Ham, with Ings warming the bench.
And the Hammers job was made a hell of a lot easier with the 27-year-old not playing.
West Ham have had some real luck in recent weeks, what with the teams in and around them in the table losing and drawing games.
After plenty of bad luck with numerous VAR decisions having gone against them, however, perhaps getting the rub of the green with Ings’ omission yesterday was no more than they deserved.
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