Jarrod Bowen makes the difference with his only goal as West Ham secure a vital win over Watford to topple Manchester United off the top four.
West Ham re-entered the top four with a narrow win over Watford at London Stadium on Tuesday. The three points help them move ahead of Manchester United after the Red Devils dropped points in the crucial fixture against Burnley.
As the scoreline suggests, it was a hard-fought encounter for the home side, who were the better side of the two but had to bide their time before drawing first blood. The resolute defensive approach from Watford looked a shadow of its former indisciplined shape under the previous manager Claudio Ranieri.
While many could blame Roy Hodgson for being too passive with his approach, it had almost paid off against West Ham. The Hammers mustered a total of just three shots on target and were even close to conceding through a counter-attack in the second half.
In the end, their constant pressure paid dividends, though in a rather fortunate manner as Jarrod Bowen’s deflected effort in the 68th minute bamboozled Ben Foster in goal. Watford did try to push forward for a late equaliser but were unable to fashion out a clear cut goalscoring opportunity.
Here, at The Hard Tackle, we will run the rule over the West Ham players in this crucial win at home this weekend.
Lukasz Fabianski: 7/10
Lukasz Fabianski had very little to do as Watford could only muster one shot on target. It led to a quiet evening for the West Ham goalkeeper, who will be happy with the welcome, clean sheet. However, he did make a good save to deny Tom Cleverly and had to remain alert as the Hornets offered an occasional threat on the counter.
Fabianski showing why he is number one tonight.
— COYIrons (@COYIronscom) February 8, 2022
Vladimir Coufal: 7/10
Vladimir Coufal had a decent game on the right hand side of the West Ham backline. He wasn’t particularly troubled defensively and offered good support going forward.
Craig Dawson: 7.5/10
Craig Dawson had a rusty start to the game, but the defender settled into the proceedings as time progressed. His imposing frame at the back, coupled with his aerial prowess, was an asset to a West Ham backline that kept the Watford frontline fairly quiet.
Kurt Zouma: 7/10
Kurt Zouma received a cold welcome even by his own set of fans after being caught abusing his cat heading into this game. In terms of his performance against Watford, he was solid enough at the heart of the West Ham backline, helping the team keep the opposition at bay.
Aaron Cresswell: 7.5/10
Aaron Cresswell had a good game on the left hand side of the West Ham defence. The left-back got forward well, offering incisive crosses into the box and providing sustained attacking support on the flanks. Defensively, he was barely troubled by the likes of Juraj Kucka and Joshua King.
Tomas Soucek: 6.5/10
Back into the side after being rested against Kidderminster Harriers, Tomas Soucek offered the composure and work rate in the middle of the park. The Czech international created multiple turnovers, but couldn’t exactly dominate the affairs in midfield. There was a bit of room for improvement with his passing as well.
I can’t remember a game where Soucek has passed this poorly. Whole left side hasn’t been well but he’s put us in some awful spots #WHUWAT
— K A L E B (@kbrumby_) February 8, 2022
Declan Rice: 7.5/10
Declan Rice provided excellent support to Soucek in the double-pivot. The English international’s supreme defensive contributions were vital in nullifying any threat from Watford’s build-up play. Moreover, the youngster remained calm in possession, distributing the ball well and helping his team impose their dominance in the proceedings.
Jarrod Bowen: 8/10
Jarrod Bowen was the undisputed star of the show for West Ham in this crucial win over Watford. The former Hull City starlet was the most active player in the proceedings, often causing menace for the Watford defenders with his mazy runs and the ability to cut inside. While he was fairly lucky to score the opener, the winger was close to finding the second, only to be denied by the post.
Only Mohamed Salah has been directly involved in more Premier League goals this season than West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen ? pic.twitter.com/E8EmLFVNPv
— GOAL (@goal) February 9, 2022
Pablo Fornals: 6/10
Pablo Fornals was given the nod ahead of Manuel Lanzini in light of the Argentine’s slight fitness issue. However, the move didn’t pay off for David Moyes as the Spaniard endured a quiet game in the final third.
Said Benrahma: 6.5/10
Said Benrahma was much more involved in the proceedings than Fornals. The former Brentford starlet was even close to finding the opener in the first half, but Watford were quick to defend in numbers. His influence eventually faded as the game progressed, with the winger unable to create any real chances in the second half.
Michail Antonio: 6/10
Michail Antonio had a relatively quiet game as well, as he failed to catch the Watford defence off-guard. With the opposition playing in a low block, it made things difficult for the West Ham attacker to utilise his pace by running in behind the backline. It led to a fairly quiet evening for Antonio, who will be keen on making an impression in the next game.
Substitutes
Manuel Lanzini: 7/10
Manuel Lanzini was eventually called into action around the hour mark when he replaced Benrahma. The Argentine ace added more dynamism to the West Ham attack and made a positive impact on the proceedings.
