WEST HAM 3 BOWEN TAKES West Ham debut boy runs the show to shatter Saints
SOUTHAMPTON 1
JARROD BOWEN finally won a Premier League game at the tenth-time of asking – and received glowing praise from West Ham boss David Moyes.
The ex-Hull City hitman has been a fringe contributor to the struggling Londoners’ cause since his £18million arrival in January.
But yesterday Moyes finally let Bowen off the leash, and the Hammers were rewarded with the 23-year-old scoring a wonderful opener.
That was the spark for this vital victory over Southampton – with further efforts from Sebastien Haller and Michail Antonio breathing new life into West Ham’s relegation scrap.
The standing ovation that Bowen, on his full debut, received from all corners of an unusually buoyant London Stadium when subbed in the 78th minute said everything about his electric display.
Little wonder Moyes was so chuffed with the forward, whose previous nine topflight appearances had all ended in defeat.
The Irons supremo, with a first win in nine lifting his side out of the drop zone, beamed: “Jarrod scored a great goal. For his opening full debut, he did very well.
“I hope this shows I know a little bit about bringing a boy through and picking the right moment to play him.
“I don’t want him to be the one under pressure. There are games that will suit him and some that won’t. Today was always going to be his chance.
“We are trying to get a top Premier League player for the next seven years. There has to be a bit of time that goes towards his development.”
Bowen was equally thrilled with his exploits, declaring: “I think that’s the way it went in my dreams last night.”
Moyes’ front line of Bowen, Haller and Antonio was brave and adventurous – and underlined that getting maximum points was vital.
Having gone so close to stopping Liverpool in the Premier League last Monday, there was a new sense of optimism around the place.
That was evident as they went for Saints’ jugular right from the off – a show of intent which was welcomed by the crowd. It was just what Moyes wanted – a united front on the pitch and in the stands.
That was part one of his masterplan sorted. Now all that was required was a goal.
And that duly arrived in the 15th minute when Pablo
Fornals put Bowen through to chip over Saints keeper Alex McCarthy.
With the worst home record in the top flight, and having binned a whopping 22 points from winning positions this season, West Ham could still not relax.
And on 31 minutes we saw why when Southampton, who started ten points better off than their opponents, equalised through Sofiane Boufal.
Credit to West Ham for not letting their heads drop – and five minutes before half-time they regained the lead.
Haller won a bouncing ball and when Antonio sent a looping cross to the far post, the Frenchman was there to beat McCarthy – and end his nine-game goal drought.
The Saints brought on top scorer Danny Ings but before he could have any impact, the Hammers established a crucial two-goal cushion.
Fornals claimed his second assist with a clever pass for Antonio, who with just the keeper to beat grabbed his second goal of the season.
Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “The three goals we conceded were a joke. Any of my players who think we’re already safe have a problem.”
■■West Ham picked up their third win in their last 14 games in the league (D2 L9), with all three against south-coast rivals (Southampton, twice, and Bournemouth).