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Sam Allardyce must be a shoo-in for the Premier League's Manager of the Month award after his West Ham team secured a fourth successive win against a toothless Southampton at the Boleyn this afternoon.

It's been eight years since Alan Pardew became the most recent West Ham manager to receive that particular accolade but Allardyce - whose record for February reads played four, won four with a goal difference of nine to one - must surely be poised to receive the latest award when it is announced.

Today was a typical Allardyce performance in that Southampton enjoyed a colossal 69 per cent of possession yet left Upton Park on the wrong end of a 3-1 result, as the Hammers made the most of the scant opportunities they were awarded by a Saints side who, prior to today, had conceded just 13 goals from 14 away fixtures in the BPL this season.

And despite enjoying 25 shots at goal, the visitors failed to work West Ham's in-form 'keeper Adrian who had very little to do as 80 per cent of Southampton's efforts on goal ended up everywhere but their intended destination.

Although they went on to squander a whole host of opportunities during the game, the Saints took the lead after just eight minutes when Maya Yoshida rose unmarked to nod home a Steven Davis free kick - awarded for a Adam Lallana dive - from the right of the penalty area.

However the Hammers were back on level terms just 12 minutes later when a delicious through ball by Kevin Nolan was converted by Matt Jarvis. The winger, who has endured a frustrating season took Nolan's lofted pass down with a sublime first touch before toe-poking the ball under the advancing Artur Boruc.

Just three minutes later West Ham took the lead for the first time in the game when Carlton Cole, enjoying an extended run in the side due to Andy Carroll's suspension scored from inside the six-yard box having seen his initial effort crash back off the woodwork.

Having survived a string of scares after the break, West Ham scored the killer third when Kevin Nolan pounced from close range to register his fifth goal of the month with a volley from three yards out, after Carlton Cole's header fell perfectly for the Hammers captain.

The captain's return to form - Nolan has scored five of West Ham's nine goals this month - couldn't have been better timed. This latest win takes United back into the upper half of the Premier League and, just as importantly, some seven points clear of the relegation zone.



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