By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
“I bet he can’t do it on a rainy night in Stoke.”
We’ve all heard the football cliché, one that suggests elite players, or even prima donnas, might struggle to step down from the pampered settings of the Premier League.
There’s also another saying, usually attributed to boxers who’ve had a modicum of success. So the line goes: “It’s hard to go for a run at 4am when you sleep in silk sheets.”
And whilst last night’s trip to Bolton wasn’t particularly cold or rainy, I do think it was a test for some of our international players who might decide they don’t much fancy the hustle and bustle of the Championship.
It was whilst watching West Ham toil that I began wondering who would step up in a game where, an hour in, the two best performers on the pitch both wore the white shirts of Bolton Wanderers.
Bowen finally showed the difference
This was truly the time when Jarrod Bowen stood up and demonstrated why he is a level above the Championship.
The captain’s performance also justified West Ham’s decision to tweak his contract and get him to commit his immediate future to staying in East London.
Bowen stepped up and showed his class against Bolton
When West Ham really needed it, Bowen stepped up and showed his quality. When the game was hanging in the balance on two occasions, it was Jarrod who rescued his team.
Bowen, of course, put the Hammers ahead with the first goal of the game and then had to do it all over again near the end after Wanderers had clawed a couple back with the contest set at 2-2.
As reflected in our player ratings from Bolton, by the end he was oozing class and confidence.
Humble as ever, Bowen declared he’d needed some luck when speaking to reporters after the game: “It’s really pleasing. It’s never easy coming to a place like this.”
It’s always good to get a lead away from home, but we threw that away. At half-time, we had a bit of a reset, knowing what we had to improve. We had our chances, and got a bit of luck with the goal.”
Premier League quality finally tells
That’s now three wins on the bounce in the league for West Ham and a temporary perch at the top of the division.
But this was genuinely the first time when I thought the Premier League quality and international status of one of our players made the ultimate difference in a game which, up until that point, had proven to be very tight indeed.
And it was Bowen who did it.
But it’s not stoke is it so what are you talking about, idiot
Bowen performed at high level when his team needed him to make a difference. But also Engels had a good game and contributed to the win. He looks to have great potential and hopefully also has goals in him.
There has a been a few negative comments for Bowen recently.
We need to get behind our players.
To think there was some clown commenting here a little while back calling for Bowen to be dropped from the team.
I dont recall anyone suggesting Bowen was dropped…. what he needs is management because if Nuno flogs Jarrod 90 minutes after 90 minutes he is going to get badly injured
Bowen needs a rest now and again, beng on the bench ready to come on if needed.
To me Bolton more than Wrexham amd Millwall was the game to do it
Rested not dropped
The loyalty of staying with us in the championship, as did Trevor Brooking back in the day but in today’s game that kind of loyalty is virtually unheard of. That alone makes Jarrod Bowen an absolute West Ham legend in my eyes. That’s before he does anything on the pitch.
Maybe a while ago but he won’t have forgotten his time in championship.
Is Danny Dyer visiting any of the away grounds?
If not Millwall could be a good start game right up his street a bit feisty.
Time for Alvarez to put in an appearance.