- Lukasz Fabianski collided with Southampton's Nathan Wood during the first half
- The Polish veteran was duly replaced by his West Ham colleague Alphonse Areola.
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West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski had to leave the field on a stretcher after suffering a painful head injury.
The Hammers traveled to Southampton on Boxing Day looking for a victory to boost morale and relieve some of the pressure on Julen Lopetegui against the 20th team in the table.
However, with the score set 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.
Afterwards, Fabianski was left lying on the ground in clear discomfort and the match was quickly stopped.
After a long wait of around seven minutes, the goalkeeper was finally stretchered off and doctors rushed to the scene to treat the Hammers star.
His counterpart, Aaron Ramsdale, reacted equally quickly, arriving on the scene to control Fabianski in an elegant gesture by the Saints stopper.
Lukasz Fabianski had to leave the field on a stretcher after suffering a head injury on Boxing Day
The Polish veteran collided in the air with Southampton's Nathan Wood during Thursday's match.
The incident caused a long delay before Fabianski was replaced by teammate Alphonse Areola.
Fabianski was covered with a blanket and had a head brace placed to minimize damage caused by the collision.
Both visiting and home fans applauded as the player was carried from the pitch towards the tunnel.
After the nasty collision, Amazon Prime cameras focused and refused to show replays of the incident, and Alphonse Areola was brought in as his colleague's replacement.
With half-time delayed at St Mary's as a result of the long stoppage, good news filtered through during the interval.
According to Prime Video coverage, the goalkeeper did not go to the hospital, but was monitored on the field.
The former Arsenal stopper, 39, has made 11 appearances in the Premier League this season, conceding 16 in that time, during a difficult first half of the season from West Ham.
It happened during a game in which Fabianski once again belied his age, having made an impressive save on Saints star Paul Onuachu moments earlier.
With Lopetegui under pressure amid the Hammers' poor start to the campaign, the visitors had already suffered something of a setback early in the match.
Aaron Ramsdale (left) ran to the scene to check on his counterpart during the delay.
Fabianski has been having a good game and made a crucial save to deny Paul Onuachu the ball.
Fabianski has played 11 games for Julen Lopetegui's team in the League this season
Summer arrival Max Kilman was forced off early in the half after suffering what appeared to be a fitness issue, and was replaced by Jean-Clair Todibo.
After drawing 0-0 with Fulham in west London, Thursday's clash was Saints' first with Ivan Juric on the bench.
The Croatian manager was hired last Friday to replace the departed Russell Martin, and his high intensity and solid defensive outlook were showing the first signs of permeating Southampton's game.
After an hour of holding off the Hammers, Jarrod Bowen finally made the breakthrough, hitting the back post from a pass from Niclas Fullkrug.