Saïd Benrahma doubles up as West Ham bounce back to thrash Norwich
David Moyes targeted a return to Europe for West Ham after they bounced back from their recent heartbreak in Germany and reignited their push for a top-six finish with a thumping win at Norwich.
The Hammers arrived here licking their wounds after their painful Europa League semi-final defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt three days earlier. But Norwich, condemned to relegation after losing at Aston Villa last weekend, were woeful, with the goalkeeper Tim Krul having a nightmare.
Manchester United’s 4-0 humiliation at Brighton has left the door open for West Ham to snatch sixth place and qualify for the Europa League again next season. And thanks to Norwich’s generosity they are now three points behind United with a game in hand and superior goal difference.
Moyes said: “I think considering all the things that happened in midweek and how our emotions were, it was a really good result.
I thought the team started very well and gave us a decent platform to go and work from.
“To say Thursday was a big blow wouldn’t do it justice. So to get us back today with that result was great credit to the players.
We could’ve played better, could’ve scored more goals. But we got the job done and got three good points.
“Let’s be fair, we’ve got Manchester City and Brighton to play, and Brighton have just beaten Manchester United, so that’s why I thought today was really important.
But we’re back in it, back in there fighting and trying to be sixth or seventh with a bit of luck, and hopefully we can be back in Europe.”
Krul was badly at fault for goals from Saïd Benrahma and Michail Antonio to leave his side 2-0 down after half an hour.
West Ham were three up by halftime thanks to Benrahma’s second, before Manuel Lanzini added the fourth from the penalty spot after a handball by Jacob Sørensen.
Jarrod Bowen set up the first three goals to become the first West Ham player to register 10 goals and 10 assists in a season since Paolo Di Canio 22 years ago.
The Norwich manager, Dean Smith, admitted his side’s defending let them down badly again.
“We know we are in the Championship next season and if you give goals like that away and give teams a head start it’s going to be tough,” he said. “Tim’s our most experienced Premier League player, he knows when he’s made a mistake and he’ll hold his hands up.
“The third goal sums up where we were, where our minds are. You can feel sorry for yourselves but we didn’t get any pressure on and the goal came from that.”