Jarrod Bowen scored a hat-trick as West Ham beat bogey side Brentford 4-2 to ease the pressure on David Moyes.
The Hammers won their first match of 2024, with Bowen scoring his first goals since before Christmas, to end a miserable run of eight games without a victory which had prompted more questions about the manager’s future.
Played five, lost five was their sorry Premier League record against Brentford, the only team of the 43 Moyes had faced in the top flight and not previously beaten.
Four of the best as we defeat the west ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/07QPlpFRdg
— West Ham United (@WestHam) February 26, 2024
Finally the rot was stopped as Brentford, already plunged deeper into the relegation scrap earlier on Monday following Everton’s points deduction being reduced from 10 to six, suffered another defeat – their 12th in 15 matches since beating West Ham at home in November.
Where this West Ham have been for the past two months is anyone’s guess. They should have led after only three minutes when James Ward-Prowse flicked on Vladimir Coufal’s cross, only for Tomas Soucek to blaze over from six yards out.
But moments later they did go ahead when Ward-Prowse sent Emerson Palmieri down the left wing.
The Italian defender pulled the ball back for Bowen, who took a touch before lashing his shot past Mark Flekken.
Bowen, who had not scored a Premier League goal in seven matches, suddenly had two inside the first seven minutes.
This time Coufal found the England hopeful 10 yards out and he calmly slotted past Flekken to double the lead.
But the Bees were stung into action and responded in the 13th minute through Neal Maupay, who stole in to score his fifth goal in as many starts against the Hammers.
West Ham looked for a third before half-time, but Soucek missed his kick in front of goal, fit-again Lucas Paqueta volleyed wide and a Mohammed Kudus drive was held by Flekken.
It had not been a particularly niggly half, but Maupay, Brentford’s premier wind-up merchant, seemed to say something which riled Hammers coach Kevin Nolan as they came back out of the tunnel, with Bees defender Mathias Jorgensen separating the pair.
Ivan Toney was inches away from an equaliser when he just failed to get a touch to an inviting cross from Keane Lewis-Potter.
Instead, in the 64th minute, Bowen completed his treble – the first by a West Ham player at the London Stadium – with a simple header from Kudus’ cross.
Home keeper Alphonse Areola saved a Frank Onyeka volley down low at his near post before the Hammers grabbed their fourth in style.
Another Kudus cross was headed out to Emerson, 20 yards out, and the full-back launched a rocket past Flekken into the top corner.
Bees substitute Yoane Wissa pulled another back late on and Areola denied Toney in stoppage time as West Ham held on for a win which was almost as impressive as it was unexpected.
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Gyokeres vs Madueke Man Utd : Hey Arteta !! Come and take a look at our shop. EPL transfer market Thoughts Lionel Messi Never had a PRIME. His Entire Career is PRIME! Toni Kroos: “I’m not going back, and Real Madrid knows it.. " Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur be like.. Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Ju...
Marcus Rashford could be edging closer to a Man Utd exit.Juventus want to sign Marcus Rashford. Juventus want to sign Marcus Rashford this summer and have made the wantaway Manchester United forward their priority transfer target, according to reports. The Serie A giants join Barcelona in the frame as Rashford prepares to leave United permanently after around two decades at the club.Juventus have ...
The two clubs were close to doing business last summer - could that be the same case this time around?Alexander Isak has been linked to a Newcastle exitLiverpool and Newcastle United could find themselves tangled up in a transfer tug-of-war for the second consecutive summer. Rewind 12 months and the pair were reportedly close to agreeing a move that would’ve seen two big-name stars transfer ...
AC Milan are reportedly evaluating a group of six forwards as potential additions to bolster their attack ahead of the new season, with Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson among the names under serious consideration. Despite Chelsea maintaining a firm stance that the striker is not for sale unless a substantial offer is made, Milan are confident Jackson may be attainable, especially given the player&#...
Brentford win race to bring Henderson back to Premier LeagueJordan Henderson is set for a Premier League return, with Brentford winning the race to sign the 35-year-old former Liverpool captain. Following his short stint at Ajax, Henderson prioritised a move back to England, and will join the Bees on a two-year deal. The free agent completed his medical over the weekend, with an official announcem...
Chelsea FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier LeagueChelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic is reportedly set for a £25 million ($34m) Bournemouth move with a five-year contract in the works after the two clubs reached a "total agreement". The move comes after Bournemouth accelerated talks with Chelsea earlier this week as they seek to fill the void left by Kepa Arrizabalaga’s return to Stamford B...
Liga MX preview Toluca begins its title defense, América aims to reclaim the throne, and Cruz Azul builds a dream team.FBL-MEX-TIGRES-TOLUCAKey matchups to watchThe wait is over - the Apertura 2025 kicks off this weekend with a triple-header featuring Puebla vs Atlas, FC Juárez vs América, and Tijuana vs Querétaro. This season promises high-level action as Liga MX clubs continu...
Levi Colwill Chelsea Nottingham ForestChelsea defender Levi Colwill is confident that the Blues can beat PSG in the Club World Cup final, as they are 'not Inter Milan or Real Madrid'.WHAT HAPPENED?Chelsea face PSG in the Club World Cup final on Sunday and the Ligue 1 giants are in truly incredible form. Having won the Champions League final with a stunning 5-0 thumping of Inter Milan, they then th...
Lionel Messi Kylian Mbappe Club World Cup 2025 trophyThe ultimate guide to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. FIFA has rolled out a brand new format for the Club World Cup, with the 2025 edition marking the beginning of an overhaul that will shake up club football across the globe.In recent years, the Club World Cup has been a highly exclusive tournament, with just seven teams from six confederations t...
CWC Top 7 playersGOAL takes a look at the seven best players of the tournament, including big moments from Saudi Arabia and Brazil starsThe Club World Cup final is set: Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain take the pitch on Sunday, with a champion set to be crowned in FIFA's expanded 32-team competition.As the tournament comes to a close, it's time to highlight some specific player performances. Al Hil...
- 1 Lionesses captain Leah Williamson strips down to her underwear
- 2 Man Utd make shock move to Calvert-Lewin
- 3 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 4 Harry Kane, that's awful! England captain's error costs Bayern as Desire Doue & Ousmane Dembele send NINE-MAN PSG into Club World Cup semi-finals in feisty clash that sees Jamal Musiala suffer sickeni
- 5 New coach confirms Modric move to Milan
- 6 Bayern ready to rival Arsenal for Eberechi Eze and target move for Chelsea flop after losing Jamal Musiala to injury
- 7 From Maura to Maya, the stars show swimwear with sky-high cuts
- 8 Dominic Calvert-Lewin in talks with Newcastle as Man United circle
- 9 Kylian Mbappe left stunned on Real Madrid bench as Gonzalo Garcia matches Cristiano Ronaldo record with goal against Dortmund at Club World Cup
- 10 Marcus Rashford trains alone after returning to Man Utd for pre-season despite being given extra time off by Ruben Amorim to find new club