BBC pundit in awe of West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen after his double against Everton
Danny Murphy lavished praise on West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen after his double against fellow strugglers Everton earned the Hammers an all-important three points.
With both clubs coming into this game in a seven-game winless run, the pressure was on for both David Moyes and Frank Lampard to get a result, but the former came out on top thanks to Bowen’s first-half double sent the Hammers to a 2-0 triumph.
It was Bowen’s third and fourth goals of a rather disappointing campaign for the England international, but he will certainly be hoping his great performance in a crucial game can kickstart his season again.
And Murphy certainly believes so, analysing and praising the forward for his heroic showing.
Speaking on BBC Match of the Day [21 January, 14m:45s], he said: “In terms of Bowen, he was at it, he looked from the minute one he was looking to get in behind, he was coming off that right-hand side like he knew hadn’t been playing that well and scoring many goals and he wanted to make an impression today.
“That’s the Jarrod Bowen we saw last season. Scoring goals, I think he got 12 last season, now he’s up to four but it was the sharpness with and without the ball.
“Everything, he had good awareness, this is without the ball, we know David Moyes likes this, anticipating the poor touch from Idrissa Gueye, he wants it back there, he doesn’t get it, but it’s that sharpness in his game.
“Best performance I’ve seen from him in a while, and that will give him a huge confidence boost for the next few games.”
Timely
Considering the Hammers’ poor form throughout the campaign, Bowen’s return to form was absolutely timely for Moyes and the club as a whole.
In all honesty, by his remarkable standards, it’s been a disappointing and lacklustre showing by the 26-year-old, hence his omission from Gareth Southgate’s England World Cup squad.
But when the club needed him most, in a crucial and pivotal encounter for their season, he came up trumps. And Bowen proved the difference maker once again, with a true winger’s performance.
He indeed looked like the player he was last season. Energetic, ambitious, sharp and full of running, and that”s what ultimately led to his two well-taken goals. A hero’s performance from a player who will no doubt use this performances as a catalyst to show his rampant form once again.
How desperate the Hammers need him in tip-top fettle again.