Southampton 3 West Ham 0 By Rob King, PA Sport

Egil Ostenstad sparked West Ham fury with the goal that launched bottom club Southampton's romp at the Dell just two minutes after the Norwegian came into the action.

Ian Pearce was booked in the protests to referee Mike Riley after the home substitute bundled Kevin Davies' header out of Ludek Miklosko's hands and over the line for his first goal of the season in the 54th minute.

But little more than 10 minutes later Hammers were dead and buried thanks to fine goals by Davies and Jason Dodd, giving the hard-pressed Saints only their second win of the season.

Southampton fans, hardly excited by reports of a £5million bid to bring Paul Merson south from Middlesbrough, staged a pre-match muted protest urging chairman Rupert Lowe to spend big to save the club's Premiership status.

But many kept the yellow cards in their pocket, waiting to see what newmanager Dave Jones could do with his first full-strength squad, boosted by Matthew Le Tissier and Ken Monkou back, new signing Carlton Palmer making his Dell debut and Simon Charlton's first start of the season.

England coach Glenn Hoddle chose this game above all others to spend his last Saturday afternoon before Rome, suggesting he may recall Le Tissier - unfairly blamed for the Italy defeat in February - to reinforce his World Cup squad next weekend if Rob Lee and Co are forced out.

He missed his best moment, an 87th minute half-volley that took a great save from Miklosko to keep out.

The signs had been encouraging for Saints even in a dismal first half. Dutchman Monkou should have scored in the 10th minute when Le Tissier picked him out clear in front of an open goal but he placed his header a foot wide of the right hand post from eight yards.

Southampton came agonisingly close again after 27 minutes with a brave diving header by Kevin Davies, which flew up off the turf against the underside of the crossbar. Kevin Richardson drilled the rebound wide from 18 yards.

West Ham, who had won here just once in nine previous visits, brought back two old boys, Eyal Berkovic, the little Israeli whose every touch earned taunts of 'Judas' by fans disappointed he did not stay on the south coast, and Iain Dowie.

It was no surprise that the threat came from the former - nine blank outings this season had stretched Dowie's run to 25 games without a goal since his Coca-Cola Cup double against Nottingham Forest last October - and it was 18 months since he scored in the Premiership.

Berkovic put a couple of shots wide, while Hartson's strength ensured agreat tussle with Monkou but it was Ostenstad's arrival which swung thegame.

Ahead, Saints grew in confidence and Davies almost weaved through. The 21 year old bargain from Chesterfield then had a header cleared off the line by Miklosko and Impey from the resulting corner.

But he found the target after 65 minutes when Benali, taking Le Tissier's pass, threaded the ball in to him and he swivelled on a tanner to open up a gap, his right foot doing the rest from ten yards for his fifth goal of his first Premiership season.

Less than four minutes later it was all over when Dodd controlled the ball deep in midfield. He does not score many - just six in 202 previous appearances - but they have often been spectacular and this was no different as from 35 yards he speared a stupendous shot into the top right hand corner.

Teams

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Charlton (Benali 37), Palmer, Monkou, Lundekvam, Le Tissier, Oakley (Slater 73), Evans (Ostenstad 52), Davies, Richardson.

Subs Not Used: Williams, Taylor.

Booked: Richardson.

Goals: Davies 65, Dodd 68, Ostenstad 54.

West Ham: Miklosko, Breacker, Unsworth, Ferdinand, Pearce, Impey, Lomas, Berkovic, Bishop, Dowie (Moore 59), Hartson.

Subs Not Used: Potts, Omoyinimi, Rowland, Forrest.

Booked: Pearce, Breacker.

Att: 15,212

Ref: M A Riley (Leeds).