Bree would not be the only full-back to register a first-half stunner, however. Kyle Walker-Peters replaced Joel Veltman in the XI and marked his first start since the draw with Queens Park Rangers by rifling the ball into the top corner as West Ham halved the deficit from the most unlikely source.

But, after a period of lengthy Hammers dominance and some superb, last-ditch Saints defending, the team from the South Coast broke down the other end and nabbed a third. Lewis Dobbin, like Matsuki 32 minutes earlier, prodded in after Hermansen’s initial save fell straight at the feet of a visiting player.

West Ham, having threatened to fight back from 2-0 down, will now need to recover from a 3-1 deficit to overtake Swansea City in top spot this afternoon.

West Ham United need to emulate Huddersfield Town and Everton comebacks

Dimitri Payet still has fond memories of his time at West Ham. And his 90th minute winner at Goodison Park a decade ago is surely one of the moments he looks back on with sepia-tinged nostalgia.

Everton, like Southampton ten years later, took the lead early on that day. Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring, and Aaron Lennon struck another just before the hour. However, West Ham would fight back brilliantly, albeit aided by a Kevin Mirallas red card.

Michail Antonio and Diafra Sakho turned a 2-0 deficit into a level game from the 78th to the 81st minute, laying the foundations for Payet’s stoppage time heroics.

That was the last time West Ham won a league match in which they had found themselves 2-0 down. To find the last time West Ham won a league match from any kind of two-goal deficit, you have to go back to March 2019.

Following an opener from Mark Noble, Huddersfield Town scored three unanswered goals through Karlan Grant and a Juninho Bacuna brace. Angelo Ogbonna and Javier Hernandez pulled the Hammers level, before Chicharito struck again four minutes into time added on.

Repeating that will be the aim for West Ham today, as Nuno’s side look to avoid their first Championship defeat since Charlton Athletic triumphed here in mid-August.