Saints: Bialkowski, James, Surman, Schneiderlin, Svensson, Perry, Thomson, Gillett, Lallana, McGoldrick, Holmes. Subs: Forecast, Aarran Racine, Wotton, Mills, Wright-Phillips, John, Rasiak, Dyer

West Ham: Stech, Neill, Davenport, Upson (Ferdinand, 58), Behrami, Parker, Faubert (Stanislas, 70), Bellamy (Noble 45), Reid (Widdowson, 58) Cole (Hines, 58), Mullins. Subs: Stokes, Collinson, Spence, Green

Referee: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire)

Attendance: 12,314

Injuries to Lee Bowyer, Kieron Dyer and ex-Saints Nigel Quashie and Luis Boa Morte kept them out of the West Ham starting eleven, but Hammers boss Alan Curbishley was easily able to replace them with strong looking alternatives.

Michael Svensson led Saints out wearing the captain's arm-band and marking his first start at St. Mary's in almost three years.

The big-Swede pleased the St.Mary's crowd with a couple of good early touches as both sides started to get a feel of the ball.

A noisy Northam crowd had plenty of travelling West Ham fans to compete with, but it was the home fans that seemed more vocal in the opening spell.

More to follow 

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