Jarrod Bowen downs Southampton in Ivan Juric's first game

Jarrod Bowen scored a second half winner for West Ham United in a 1-0 Premier League victory at Southampton as new Saints manager Ivan Juric suffered defeat in his first game in charge of the struggling club on Thursday.

The visitors led just before the hour-mark when Bowen poked the ball into the net from three yards after Niclas Füllkrug's flick-on into the path of the forward as Southampton failed to clear from a corner needlessly conceded by Yukinari Sugawara.

The home side were the better team in the first half and should have led, but striker Paul Onuachu missed a trio of headed opportunities and Mateus Fernandes was also profligate in front of goal.

West Ham move up to 13th in the table with 23 points from their 18 games, while Southampton are rooted to the bottom with six points from the same number of fixtures and a single victory all season.

Southampton created enough in the final third to at least earn a point and Onuachu's physical presence up front was a constant threat, but too few of his efforts were on target.

The hosts had more possession and shots at goal than their rivals, not something that has happened often this season, and Juric will feel there is something to build on despite the loss.

Jarrod Bowen's winner ensured a vital win for West Ham, with Southampton still bottom of the Premier League.
Alex Pantling/Getty Images

West Ham have two wins and two draws from their last four games, which has considerably eased the pressure on coach Julen Lopetegui after a difficult start to the campaign.

Carlos Soler should have put the visitors ahead early on but smashed the ball against the crossbar from 10 yards.

Southampton were creating chances from high balls into the box, but were thwarted by two excellent saves from goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, and some wayward efforts.

West Ham midfielder Guido Rodríguez was handed a straight red card by referee Lewis Smith in the second half for a challenge on Kyle Walker-Peters, but it was downgraded to a yellow after a Video Assistant Referee review with the contact minimal.

Fernandes scuffed a shot wide from an excellent shooting position as Southampton searched desperately for an equaliser, while at the other end substitute Crysencio Summerville missed from a tight angle when he should have worked the goalkeeper.

Deep into stoppage time, 18-year-old Tyler Dibling had a final chance to equalise for Southampton but his curling shot was always high and side, summing up their wasteful afternoon.