Rice earns West Ham 1-1 draw at Southampton

West Ham's Declan Rice gestures towards his teams fans after the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and West Ham United and at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, England, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — Declan Rice denied Ralph Hasenhuttl a vital win as West Ham drew 1-1 at Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Saints manager had come under increasing pressure after a run of four straight defeats in the league.

A first Premier League goal from Romain Perraud gave Southampton hope of a victory that would have lifted it out of the bottom three until Rice’s intervention.

The hosts took the lead in the 20th minute when Tomas Soucek sliced an attempted clearance from a throw-in. Referee Peter Bankes got in the way of Jarrod Bowen as he tried to intercept the ball before Perraud hit a low drive which deflected in off Ben Johnson.

West Ham's Declan Rice, left reacts as Southampton's Stuart Armstrong controls the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and West Ham United and at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, England, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

West Ham’s equalizer arrived in the 64th courtesy of the Hammers skipper.

Rice played a one-two with substitute Said Benrahma before the England midfielder bent a superb effort past Gavin Bazunu from the corner of the box.

Hasenhuttl, clearly needing to stem the tide of West Ham attacks, sent on four substitutes: Stuart Armstrong, Sekou Mara, Samuel Edozie and Ibrahima Diallo.

The changes almost paid off but Diallo’s long-range shot flew narrowly over and Lukasz Fabianski saved from Edozie.