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Fed up Bowen sees the positives

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Jarrod Bowen could hardly have been more fed up with coming away from Old Trafford point-less after enjoying so much of the game – notably in the second period,

It couldn’t have been much more frustrating and in such circumstances, we need to move on and look at Palace on Sunday

Only a sprawling De Gea denied Michail Antonio, Kurt Zouma and Declan Rice. Craig Dawson fired wide from the edge of the area. Saïd Benrahma tested the Manchester United keeperr, while Bowen himself was also denied.

The England forward, who returned to action after missing the UEFA Europa Conference League win over Silkeborg IF on Thursday with an ankle knock, somehow saw his effort deflect off Harry Maguire and wide.

And afterwards Bowen said: “I don’t know how we didn’t get something out of that game,” “That second-half performance was a massive positive for us.

“In the first half, we were a bit sloppy, but in the second half, you saw the levels we want to be at every game. There were lots of chances, the keeper making saves, even my chance at the end.  

“Sometimes when it is not falling for you, those are the fine margins that decide the game [don’t go your way]. We did everything but score – no one would disagree that we deserved something from this game.”

Bowen against Manchester United

Bowen though was adamant the Irons can take confidence from the performance.

“We have got to look at the positives,” added Bowen. “There is losing the game and playing badly and there is losing the game and playing at a really high level which I think we did.

“We have gone to [difficult] places and we have put our authority on the game. We controlled the game – and in the second half against Manchester United, we did that again.

The Hammers will be gutted to fall to defeat in their final away Premier League match before the break but Bowen praised the support of the travelling Claret and Blue Army.

“You see the numbers the fans come in,” added Bowen. “They will be as disappointed as us not to get something from the game because I feel like we deserved it.

“But they know what has been built here – and the progress we are making, I don’t doubt that they are with us. Because they are with us. Fans included are a massive part of this Club going forwards.”

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Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!"

Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon