Southampton will leapfrog West Ham and escape the bottom three if they win their first league game under Mark HughesBy Martin Laurence for WhoScored, part of the Sport NetworkChelsea and Tottenham meet in a London derby on Sunday to battle it out for fourth place place and the capital also hosts the big relegation clash of the weekend on Saturday, when Southampton travel to West Ham. The two sides sit either side of the dreaded dotted line, with Saints able to leapfrog their opponents and escape the relegation zone if they pick up all three points.This game is about more than points though. It is also West Ham’s first match since fans invaded the pitch to protest during their 3-0 defeat to Burnley – and it is Mark Hughes’ first league game in charge of Southampton. Hughes, now in charge of his sixth Premier League club, may be pleased he can follow up Southampton’s 2-0 win at Wigan in the FA Cup quarter-finals with an away game. The atmosphere at the London Stadium is likely to turn sour very quickly if West Ham make a poor start – and Southampton have been woeful at St Mary’s of late, failing to win any of their last eight home fixtures in the league – their worst winless streak at home in Premier League history. Related: Mark Hughes starts Southampton reign in style with FA Cup win at Wigan Continue readingreadfullarticle
