West Ham’s challenge for a place in the top four is in danger of falling apart. After defying expectations for so long, David Moyes’s side can barely do anything right at the moment. They have become easy to play against and their need for defensive reinforcements to arrive in January could not have been more glaring during this defeat to Southampton, who delighted in exposing West Ham’s weaknesses without Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna holding everything together at the back.
The problem for Moyes is that there are no simple solutions. West Ham have not been as solid since losing Ogbonna and Zouma to injury – the absence of Aaron Cresswell at left-back has also taken a toll – and it is hard to see them keeping up with
Arsenal,
Tottenham and
Manchester United if they fail to sign a commanding centre-back next month.