Bowen back to his best as Moyes’ boys ease through
Hammers head for Old Trafford after star man’s third goal in two games
WEST HAM will attempt to summon the spirit of Paolo Di Canio when they meet Manchester United in the FA Cup fifth round after this routine victory set up a tie at Old Trafford.
Since Di Canio’s goal in January 2001 gave the Hammers a memorable victory at the Theatre of Dreams, they have since failed to beat United in four attempts in the competition.
Goals in either half from Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio booked West Ham’s spot in the last 16 and though they will travel to United as underdogs, the fixture list for Erik ten Hag’s men will give them hope.
Around the time of that tie, United take on Barcelona in the Europa League and Liverpool in the Premier League, and are likely to be in the Carabao Cup final as well. They hold a 3-0 lead over Nottingham Forest in the semifinal, with the second leg at home tomorrow.
Even though they remain in trouble in the League, David Moyes’ side have now won three of their last four in all competitions, to ease some of the pressure on their manager. Though there is plenty of work to do to secure their top-flight status, at least Moyes’ star man from last season is rediscovering his touch.
Moyes admitted Bowen had been desperate to force his way into England’s World Cup squad, which had affected his form.
Yet the 26-year-old now has three goals in his last two matches, following a double in the win over Everton, and with captain Declan Rice named only among the substitutes here, Bowen seized the chance to take a senior role. And though Antonio has suggested he could leave the club this month, he also made a telling contribution.
West Ham’s struggles this season have been nothing compared to what Derby were facing last campaign, most of which they spent in administration.
A year ago to the day, fans marched through the city before a 2-2 draw with Birmingham when the Rams’ future was clouded by uncertainty.
Mercifully, things have been much brighter since local property developer David Clowes took control of the club last summer.
Derby’s only defeat in their last 19 matches was on penalties at Liverpool in the Carabao Cup and they are firmly in the hunt for promotion from League One. Much as West Ham fans would not like to hear it, this could be a Championship fixture next season.
For large parts of the first half, it resembled one, with neither side able to find rhythm in their attacking play.
Moyes made six changes to the team that began the 2-0 win over Everton which eased some of the pressure on the manager, while the home side kept faith with 10 of the 11 who won at Port Vale last week.
Given that consistency in selection, it was no surprise Derby made the brighter start.
Tom Barkhuizen escaped into the space behind Thilo Kehrer inside the opening minute and pulled the ball into the danger zone, where Tomas Soucek produced an important block to get his team out of trouble.
And in the 10th minute, Soucek was heavily involved in the move that led to West Ham’s opener.
After Antonio’s first shot rebounded off Craig Forsyth, the ball was worked back to the Hammers forward, who hooked it into the path of Soucek. Timing his late run into the box perfectly, the Czech headed across to Bowen, who volleyed in from close range.
Antonio had irked Moyes by hinting he could leave the club before today’s transfer deadline but there seems little chance of that, with both Danny Ings and Gianluca Scamacca injured.
Derby tried to respond but too often their moves were let down by a poor decision at the crucial moment.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing burst into the area in the closing minutes of the half only to turn down a blind alley with teammates well placed.
Trailing by only one, Derby were still in the game, but their chances of a comeback suffered a huge blow just four minutes after the restart. Curtis Davies found himself in a horrible tangle trying to cut out Pablo Fornals’ pass, and the ball fell perfectly for Bowen in the area.
Forsyth tried to intercept the cross but succeeded only in diverting it on to the head of Antonio, who directed it beyond Joe Wildsmith from inside the sixyard box.
Bowen then came close to a second when he fired against
Wildsmith from eight yards, and moments later he was inches away from sliding home a cross from Ben Johnson after good approach work from substitute Said Benrahma.
DERBY (4-2-3-1): Wildsmith 6.5; Smith 6, Davies 6 (Dobbin 63min, 6), Forsyth 5, Roberts 6; Bird 6.5 (Thompson 61, 6), Hourihane 5.5 (Rooney 71, 6); Mendez-Laing 5.5 (Springett 62, 6), Knight 6.5, Barkhuizen 6 (Cashin 62, 6); Collins 6. Booked: Smith. Manager: Paul Warne 6.5. WEST HAM (3-4-2-1): Areola 6; Kehrer 6, Ogbonna 6, Aguerd 6.5; Johnson 6.5, Soucek 7, Downes 6.5, Emerson 6 (Cresswell 78); BOWEN 7.5 (Mubama 78), Fornals 6 (Lanzini 87); Antonio 6.5 (Benrahma 64, 6.5). Scorers: Bowen 10, Antonio 50. Booked: Soucek. Manager: David Moyes 6.5. Referee: Thomas Bramall 6. Attendance: 25,308.