A couple of pints on the Lee & Stort boats pre-game set the scene for my trip to the London Stadium. The sun was out and the mood was good. My optimism was rewarded as West Ham secured a 3–0 win over Derby County climbing to eighth in the Championship table.
Bowen looked electric yesterday as the mood lifted
The second half became a procession. Derby’s only notable moments were two yellow cards, Alex Mowatt on 21 minutes and Mohammed Fuseini on 76 as they struggled to cope with our tempo. Yet at 1-0 fans were worried about “Nuno ball” and that West Ham would invite the Rams back in: We needn’t have worried.
Even Nuno after the game said “There is always that concern being just 1-0 up for so long, but at the same time if you can defend it well, a clean sheet is so important for us.”
It should be noted though that defensively, West Ham showed improvement. Mads Hermansen enjoyed a quiet afternoon and registered his first clean sheet of the season, with Derby producing zero shots on target. Meanwhile, Konstantinos Mavropanos also was impressive with 15 interventions and 9 duel wins.
It was Nuno’s substitutions that proved decisive, Edvin Austbø came on and immediately made an impact, sliding home from close range in the 87th minute to double the lead. Moments later, Mohamadou Kanté added the gloss, drilling in a stoppage‑time third at 90+5 after a neat assist from Austbø.
A dominant win, three goals, a clean sheet, and a statement that West Ham may now look like genuine promotion contenders, after two back to back wins.
The games keep coming and Nuno’s going to have to start shuffling the deck. Pablo was out with a knock, and Taty Castellanos limped off, while Magassa, Cornet and Alvarez didn’t even make the bench. Whether any of them surface in the coming games is anyone’s guess.
Bolton away next!
You didn’t mention the penalty that derby should of had,that might of completely changed the game?
Loving football again now var is absent.
Totally agree with you there Matt.
Too right Matt,
Bowen was class. His pass crea.Johnstone ted the opportunity for the first goal and it took a good block to stop a shot that was heading for the net. It seemed he was at the heart of most of our best moves throughout.
Interesting that those 2 Derby corners and Kilman controlling the ball with his hand in the box — very unintentional, but handball never the less — didnt give you the squeaky bum time Gonzo talked of
Certainly up until the 2nd goal, the mood where I was, the boys had failed to get a 2nd, and sods law would have it that Derby would bundle a ball into the net or someone would hit a wonder strike.
Fortunately that wonder strike came from Kante to send us all home happy, but Bowen had been guilty of thinking he was the only person who could score
Why does everyone keep on about Bowen? He was poor, didn’t beat a man all game and looks like he is running through treacle and got out paced by a passing butterfly. He hasn’t been remotely good since getting the captaincy but still people refer to him in every article. He had 7 shots but was set up countless times really well for those shots and either hit the player in front of him or dragged it wide when it was harder to miss. And the one he did get on target was weaker than a backpass.
Might be time for spec savers!
I take it you didn’t see him beat his man and cross the ball for the first goal then?
@Wjo1974. I have been thinking exactly the same as you regarding Jarrod Bowen. I admire and respect him highly for what he means to this club, along with his loyalty. However he has lost so much of his form and, as you pointed out, he has lost form alarmingly. No pace anymore, loses the ball easily and most of his shots are weak. He sometimes pulls out a corker but it’s scarce now. He doesn’t look too happy either so I wonder what is really wrong. We don’t want to lose him but just want our old Jarrod back!
Couldn’t agree more Hammeroo. I too am a huge admirer of the Bowen from a couple of seasons ago and consider him one of the most exciting players we have had in years but I am at a loss as to why every article or player rating seems to give him a free pass when he has been poor. Other players only have to make one miss placed pass and are slated.