I’M FOREVER BOWEN BUBBLES
Jarrod hat-trick earns Hammers their first win of 2024
JARROD BOWEN netted a superb hat-trick to ease the pressure on David Moyes and cap a terrible day for Brentford.
And the West Ham striker’s first goals since Christmas – and his personal best Premier League tally – saw him renew his claim for an England place ahead of Ivan Toney at Euro 2024 this summer.
The west London club had dropped a Premier League place before kick-off after Everton’s points deduction was cut yesterday.
And the Bees never recovered from conceding two early goals to Bowen and have now let in 48 this season, two more than in the whole of the last campaign.
Neal Maupay netted his fifth goal in five Premier League starts against West Ham – and kept up his equally consistent record of winding up opponents by getting into a half-time spat with Hammers assistant manager Kevin Nolan.
But it was a better night for Moyes, who saw his side win their first game of a troubled year, and also record a first-ever Premier League victory over
Brentford at the sixth attempt. West Ham, who had gone eight games without a win, were better with Lucas Paqueta back in the side after his calf injury and without the suspended Kalvin Phillips.
The ‘Moyes Out’ banner did not get another airing last night.
West Ham had needed a good start after conceding six to Arsenal in their last home game and the London Stadium was far from full.
But in a frantic opening, Tomas Soucek had already scooped over from six yards before Bowen broke his goal drought in the fifth minute.
Edson Alvarez dispossessed Frank Onyeka and slick passing from James Ward-prowse to Emerson created the chance for the England striker to beat Mark Flekken.
Amid the noisy celebration, Bowen ran to the crowd with his finger on his lips.
West Ham were 2-0 up after only six minutes and 16 seconds, their quickest ever start in the Premier League.
Brentford gave away the ball again and Bowen fed Mohammed Kudus before Coufal’s cross was converted by the former Hull star.
Continuing scoring at that rate would have seen West Ham rack up nearly 30 goals but the Bees found the net next after 13 minutes.
Keane Lewis-potter played a neat angled ball to Maupay, who lifted his clever shot over Konstantinos Mavropanos and Alphonse Areola into the roof of the net.
The 27-year-old Frenchman has now scored six in nine in all games since the turn of the year.
Bowen completed his hat-trick – and scored his 14th Premier League goal of the season – by nodding home Kudus’ 63rd-minute cross.
Full-back Emerson then upstaged him by smashing home the goal of the game with a long-range shot into the top corner six minutes later.
Substitute Yoane Wissa scored for the visitors after 82 minutes before Areola saved a Toney header in injury-time as the Hammers stood firm.