Jarrod Bowen: West Ham given confidence boost after Southampton win

Nayef Aguerd's first-half header rocketed West Ham to the heady heights of 14th after starting the day in the bottom three.

It was far from pretty, but after an opening 25 minutes bordering on the torturous, Aguerd nodded in Thilo Kehrer's free-kick which proved to be the winner.

Bowen said: "It gives us lots of confidence. We've got games coming up thick and fast and it's important to get results like we did today. You take that momentum into the next game and that's what we'll look to do at home to Newcastle."

On the nearly four-minute wait for VAR to confirm the goal, Bowen added: "We wanted that goal so much to kind of relieve us a little bit but we waited long enough and then Nayef got to celebrate again. I'm really happy for him to get the goal, then we hung on well and got an important three points…

"We knew they'd be coming again and try to get an equaliser so it was important for us to try to get a second goal to kill the game off. No one scored but we dug in well, defended well.

"It was a high-pressure game, there were a lot of nerves because we understand how important a game this is for the club. We dealt with it well, especially after scoring, we controlled the game. They had a couple of spells but we dug in there and got a massive three points."

West Ham goalscorer Aguerd said on Sky Sports: "I'm so happy. As a defender I always say if we have a chance to help the team we will do it. I'm very proud of what we showed in front of our fans.

"We still have games but it's three points. Now we have Newcastle on Wednesday, every game at home is important, every game is a final.

"We know it's our weapon, set-pieces, we work very hard on them in training. It was a great delivery and I was there to touch the ball and I'm happy."

Lukas Fabianski added: "It's a very important three points but still the table is so, so tight and I think we have to get as many points as we can, especially when we play at home.

"It was very important today. There are many games left and we need to do our best to get as many as we can."

David Moyes admitted results are more important than performances for West Ham after the win.

"I'm really pleased about the result. We did what we had to do," said Moyes.

"We have played better than that and not won this season, but today was all about the result. We've had it before this season and the players have dealt with it."

With Leicester the latest club in a congested relegation battle to swing the axe - the news of Brendan Rodgers' departure filtered through during this match - only Moyes and Steve Cooper at Forest of the clubs in the bottom half of the table have kept their jobs this season.

"Look, I'm in a results business, I have to get results," added Moyes. "There's no protection to stop me losing my job.

"I'm really disappointed for Brendan, he's a super manager. I don't think he'll be out of work for long.

"In the life of a football manager there will be parts of your career where you're not doing so well.

"I can understand the panic, I think expectation can be greater at some clubs. I'm fortunate with the owners I've got here."

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