Without a win in their opening two games in the Championship, Nuno Espirito Santo will be feeling the pressure as his West Ham side have the distraction of a tough trip to Southampton in the second round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday.
Throwing away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Burnley in their first game back in the second tier, the Hammers went on to lose 2-1 to Charlton Athletic in their first home match of the league campaign on Saturday.
Southampton started their Championship season with a 2-1 defeat at Watford, but responded well last weekend to bag their first three points of the campaign.
With an excellent home record in all competitions, Tonda Eckert's Saints should be confident they can add to the Hammers' woes on Tuesday evening in the EFL Cup.
Best Bet - Southampton to win @ 31/20
Alternative Bet - Under 2.5 total goals @ 23/20
Bet Builder - Both teams to score - No & Divin Mubama anytime goalscorer @ 9/1
Best Bet: Southampton to win @ 31/20
While teams are still finding their feet in this fledgling stage of the season, there must be some concern around the halls of the London Stadium following the start to the campaign.
West Ham are quickly learning a swift return to the Premier League is no guarantee and while Nuno and his team try to figure out how to adapt the team to the second tier, they next have a EFL Cup distraction to contend with.
Southampton have a largely settled side and the consistency in the dugout with Eckert will also benefit them.
Saints have been excellent at home of late, going 14 games unbeaten on their own patch in all competitions.
With that in mind and considering the Irons have won just one in their last five visits to St Mary's, the hosts are a great price to claim the win in regular time on Tuesday.
Alternative Bet: Under 2.5 total goals @ 23/20
While Southampton are fancied to secure their place in the EFL Cup third round, don’t expect a high-scoring thriller at St Mary's in this one.
Games between these sides have tended to be low-scoring affairs, and it might just be a single goal that decides the outcome on the south coast.
Going for the under 2.5 total goals would have landed in all of the last four meetings between these sides and that trend is backed to continue this week.
Both teams to score - No
Divin Mubama anytime goalscorer
Pays 9/1
This Bet Builder continues with the theme that this will be a low-scoring encounter, without both teams getting on the scoresheet.
In four of the last six meetings between these sides at St Mary's, going for both teams not to score would have landed.
Meanwhile, Manchester City loanee Divin Mubama looks like good value to get on the scoresheet.
Having bagged a couple in pre-season, Mubama bagged a goal off the bench for Saints at the weekend and the 21-year-old is fancied to continue that form against the Hammers.
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Southampton earned a 2-0 win at Colchester United in the EFL Cup first round
West Ham beat Portsmouth 3-1 to progress to the second round of the EFL Cup
The last meeting between Southampton and West Ham in April 2025 ended in a 1-1 Premier League draw
West Ham have won just one of their last five visits to St Mary's in all competitions (1W, 3D, 1L)
Southampton are unbeaten in their last 14 home games in all competitions
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.