Jarrod Bowen strikes West Ham back to winning ways against Watford

Jarrod Bowen of last season might not even have still been on the pitch. It is not that his 68th minute strike – the difference between West Ham and Watford on an otherwise nondescript night – was particularly late. But if a criticism could be labelled at the forward, it was his lack of endurance; Bowen completed 90 minutes eight times in 2020/21.

A summer spent running in potato fields and mixing cement with his Dad has done the trick as this was his 14th consecutive full stint (plus an additional 30 minutes at Kidderminster).

His seventh Premier League strike of the season keeps West Ham’s European dream alive, halting a run of successive defeats. The sense though, is that much rests on Bowen – touted for an England debut in March – and Declan Rice if they are to avoid fading away.

Watford have problems of a different kind. They have not won in 11 and have failed to score in their past three. Worryingly Emmanuel Dennis has done little of note since he was prevented from joining Nigeria at the Afcon on a technicality.

Kurt Zouma’s widely anticipated exclusion on animal cruelty grounds failed to materialise. On Monday a video emerged showing Zouma kicking and slapping his cat. Surrey police and the RSPCA have launched a jointed investigation and the player has issued an apology.

This was West Ham’s first home game since seven-year-old Isla Caton tragically passed away following a five-year battle with Neuroblastoma. The club and supporters raised vital funds towards her treatment, and there was a moving message from mum Nikki pre-match, followed by applause before kick-off and in the eighth minute.

The first half, however, was less attractive although Roy Hodgson might have taken some pleasure from proceedings as Watford