West Ham goalkeeper Łukasz Fabianski suffered a painful head injury and was forced off the field on a stretcher.
The Hammers travel to Southampton on Boxing Day looking for a morale-boosting win against a team 20th in the table to ease the pressure on Julen Lopetegui.
However, with the score deadlocked at 0-0, the Polish veteran appeared to collide with the elbow of Saints defender Nathan Wood as they both went for a high ball.
Fabianski then remained face down on the ground in obvious discomfort, and the match was quickly stopped.
After a long delay of around seven minutes, the goalkeeper was finally carried off on a stretcher and medics rushed to the scene to treat the Hammers star.
Equally quick to react was Aaron Ramsdale, who arrived on the scene to check on Saints stopper Fabianski, a classy gesture from the Saints stopper.
Łukasz Fabianski suffered a head injury on Boxing Day and was forced off the field on a stretcher
The Polish veteran collided in midair with Southampton’s Nathan Wood during Thursday’s match
The incident led to a long delay before Fabianski was replaced by teammate Alphonse Arreola.
Fabianski was covered with a blanker and his head was secured with a protective device to minimize damage from the crash.
Both visiting and home fans applauded as the players were carried off the field and down the tunnel.
After a terrible collision, Amazon Prime’s cameras malfunctioned and refused to show replays of the incident, and Alphonse Arreola was brought in to replace his colleague.
Half-time was delayed at St. Mary’s due to a long stoppage, but some good news came in between.
Prime Video reported that the goalkeeper did not go to hospital and was being monitored at the ground.
After the game, Hammers manager Julen Lopetegui provided an encouraging update, saying he had spoken to his players and that doctors believed they were feeling “better”.
“He had one major bruise around his head and neck and wasn’t very sure of his actions. Fortunately, the news is that he is talking, conscious and conscious. ” said Lopetegui.
“I’ve been talking to him. The doctors say he’s feeling better and is doing well. I’m positive about him.
Aaron Ramsdale (left) rushed to the scene to check the other party’s phone number during the delay.
Fabianski had a great game and made an important stop to deny Paul Onuachu.
Fabianski has appeared in 11 league games for Julen Lopetegui’s side this season.
“He showed that he has more or less regained his senses. It’s not scary. We were worried, but now his condition is better and we are positive because we were very worried.”
The 39-year-old former Arsenal stopper has made 11 appearances in the Premier League this season, conceding 16 goals in that time, after a difficult first half of the season with West Ham.
It happened during a game in which Fabianski, who had brilliantly stopped Saints star Paul Onuachu moments before, once again lied about his age.
Lopetegui has been under pressure with the Hammers suffering an early season slump, with the visiting side already experiencing some setbacks early in the game.
Summer signing Max Kilman was sent off early in the first half after complaining of what appeared to be a fitness issue, and was replaced by Jean-Clair Todibo.
It was his first encounter with Ivan Juric in the Saints dugout on Thursday after holding Fulham to a 0-0 draw in west London.
The Croatian manager was called up last Friday to replace the departed Russell Martin and has shown early signs that his high intensity and solid defensive outlook will permeate Southampton’s play.
After keeping the Hammers at bay for an hour, Jarrod Bowen finally made the breakthrough, firing in at the back post from Nicklas Furkrug’s flick-on to seal all three points.
