Southampton edged closer to avoiding infamy as they secured a dramatic 1-1 draw with West Ham United on Saturday, thanks to a stoppage-time equaliser from Lesley Ugochukwu.
The south-coast side, already relegated, showed grit and resilience at the London Stadium, and their late goal brought them level on 11 points with Derby County’s all-time low from 2008.
After a dull first half that saw West Ham jeered off by their home fans, the hosts finally broke the deadlock early in the second period.
Jarrod Bowen capped a swift counter-attack with a neat finish — marking his 10th goal across all competitions this season and hitting double digits for the fourth consecutive campaign.
But Southampton, despite their grim season, weren’t ready to roll over. Having been the more promising side for large spells of the game, they found their reward in added time when Ugochukwu rifled in a volley amid a chaotic scramble, giving their travelling supporters a rare moment of joy.
The draw keeps West Ham hovering just above the drop zone in 16th place, a point behind Tottenham Hotspur, who are set to host Nottingham Forest on Monday.
Southampton, meanwhile, remain at the foot of the table with 11 points.
