Southend vs West Ham

Nuno Espírito Santo's decision to make all 11 substitutions on the 65-minute mark changed the rhythm of the game. The wholesale changes — including the introduction of James Ward-Prowse, who had also featured in West Ham's midweek friendly against Colchester — meant the team lost some cohesion. While the changes gave fringe players valuable minutes, it also broke the flow of a side that had been pressing for a second goal.

Konstantinos Mavropanos (West Ham) — The centre-back scored the equaliser with a commanding header from a Bowen corner and was a threat throughout from set-pieces. His growing partnership with Max Kilman at the heart of defence will be one to watch in pre-season.

Harry Cardwell (Southend) — The Southend striker showed composure from 12 yards to put the hosts ahead, firing a powerful penalty low past Hermansen.

K. Lamadrid (West Ham) — The young midfielder was given a free role in the first half and was everywhere, dropping deep to receive the ball and linking play effectively. He also struck the post with a left-footed effort.

Player of the match: Konstantinos Mavropanos.

West Ham dominated possession and territory in the second half, but the raft of substitutions after the hour mark disrupted any sustained attacking rhythm. Southend, organised and compact, limited clear-cut chances despite being pinned back for long spells. The 1-1 scoreline was a fair reflection of a game where both sides had spells of control without converting sustained pressure into a winner.

For West Ham, this was the first of several pre-season friendlies as they build towards the 2026/27 season. The Hammers are next in action on Wednesday 22 July 2026 against Stevenage. Nuno Espírito Santo will have been encouraged by the first-half shape and the Mavropanos-Bowen set-piece combination, but will want to see more ruthlessness in front of goal.

For Southend, this was a solid workout against Premier League opposition. The Shrimpers, who sold out the 2,753 away allocation for West Ham fans, will take confidence from matching a top-flight side over 90 minutes.

A standard pre-season friendly with both sides getting what they needed: minutes in legs, a look at combinations, and a run-out for squad players. Mavropanos's set-piece threat and Bowen's delivery remain a potent weapon for West Ham, while Southend showed they can compete physically against higher-level opposition. The draw was the right result.