West Ham 4-2 Brentford: Jarrod Bowen scores hat-trick in Premier League win
Brentford #Brentford
West Ham manager David Moyes says he will leave discussions over a new contract until the end of the season, but has no plans to “be going away”.
Moyes had been coming under pressure from some supporters after a poor run of results, but watched his side bounce back in style with a 4-2 win against Brentford, led by Jarrod Bowen’s first career hat-trick.
Moyes steered West Ham to the Europa Conference League title last season, their first major trophy for 43 years.
Asked about discussions over a new deal, Moyes said: “When you get to my age you can sign contracts whenever you feel ready to do so.
“It’s probably getting pushed more by the media than anyone else. We’re all happy to wait until closer to the end of the season.”
Asked whether he wanted to be part of more big wins at London Stadium like on Monday night, he told Sky Sports: “I’ll not be going away, that’s for sure.
“I enjoy it here, the club has been good to me. We have really enjoyed the football over the years. When you think we were a relegation team not so long ago and now we are up around Europe.”
West Ham had not won a game in 2024 before Monday night, with their last fixture at London Stadium a 6-0 loss to Arsenal that saw hundreds of home fans leave at half-time.
But the Hammers responded in style as they went 2-0 up inside 10 minutes against the struggling Bees.
Bowen got his first goal in the fifth minute with a strike that went in off the post, before the England forward scored again two minutes later as he slotted in Vladimir Coufal’s pass.
Neal Maupay swiftly halved the deficit with a scooped finish, then Brentford had claims for a penalty waved away when Mohammed Kudus nudged Sergio Reguilon over inside the box.
A nervous spell followed as Brentford threatened to level but Bowen headed home his third midway through the second half, much to the relief of the Hammers fans.
Emerson capped a perfect night for West Ham, taking a touch before lashing a fantastic strike into the top corner from 25 yards, and although Yoane Wissa scored a second for Brentford it was not enough to deny the hosts victory.
West Ham move up to eighth in the Premier League while Brentford stay 16th, five points above the relegation zone.
Bowen delivers much-needed win for Moyes
Jarrod Bowen’s goals were his first in 2024
As well as last year’s success in Europe, Moyes has regularly had his side battling in the top half of the table, but he has come under pressure recently following a run of poor results.
The 6-0 loss to Arsenal was followed by a 2-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, which led to some fans holding up banners calling for him to go.external-link
It prompted Moyes to defend his record at the club, but there is no doubt he needed a positive result and performance against Brentford to avoid further calls for his departure.
He could hardly have hoped for a better outcome, and had Bowen to thank for that.
The former Hull City attacker has been deployed more as a striker under Moyes this season and has responded with his best scoring form in the Premier League, with this treble taking him on to 14 goals in the Premier League this season.
Loss leaves Brentford looking over shoulder
Like West Ham, Brentford’s recent form has been poor, with just two wins in their past 11 Premier League games before this defeat.
They dropped a place on Monday without kicking a ball after Everton’s penalty for breaching Premier League financial rules was reduced from 10 points to six after an appeal, moving the Toffees above Thomas Frank’s side.
Brentford are five points above the relegation zone but could not have got off to a worse start in their bid to claim a much-needed win with the two early West Ham goals.
They did improve after Maupay got a goal back but another two quickfire strikes after the break ended their hopes of a fightback and leaves them nervously looking over their shoulder.
It does not get any easier for Brentford with Chelsea at home and Arsenal away over the next two Saturdays.
“The frustration is we performed badly overall,” said Bees boss Frank.
“It seems after a very good performance against Manchester City, it’s two steps back again. It’s an inconsistent season so far.
“These players have a fantastic mentality and work ethic but we didn’t have a high enough performance today.”
Player of the match
EmersonEmerson
West Ham United
Squad number33Player nameEmerson
Squad number23Player nameAreola
Squad number14Player nameKudus
Squad number5Player nameCoufal
Squad number15Player nameMavropanos
Squad number19Player nameÁlvarez
Squad number10Player nameLucas Paquetá
Squad number20Player nameBowen
Squad number7Player nameWard-Prowse
Squad number28Player nameSoucek
Squad number2Player nameJohnson
Squad number9Player nameAntonio
Squad number4Player nameZouma
Brentford
Squad number23Player nameLewis-Potter
Squad number11Player nameWissa
Squad number1Player nameFlekken
Squad number16Player nameMee
Squad number24Player nameDamsgaard
Squad number8Player nameJensen
Squad number13Player nameM Jorgensen
Squad number7Player nameMaupay
Squad number15Player nameOnyeka
Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
Squad number27Player nameJanelt
Squad number30Player nameRoerslev
Squad number22Player nameCollins
Squad number20Player nameAjer
Squad number17Player nameToney
Squad number12Player nameReguilón
Line-upsWest Ham
Formation 4-2-3-1
23Areola
5Coufal15Mavropanos4Zouma33Emerson
28Soucek19Álvarez
14Kudus7Ward-Prowse10Lucas Paquetá
20Bowen
Substitutes
Brentford
Formation 3-5-2
1Flekken
13M Jorgensen20Ajer16Mee
23Lewis-Potter15Onyeka6Nørgaard8Jensen12Reguilón
17Toney7Maupay
Substitutes
Referee:Simon Hooper
Attendance:62,450
Live Text
Match ends, West Ham United 4, Brentford 2.
Second Half ends, West Ham United 4, Brentford 2.
Ivan Toney (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Kurt Zouma (West Ham United).
Foul by Nathan Collins (Brentford).
Vladimír Coufal (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Ivan Toney (Brentford) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Emerson.
Attempt saved. Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Nathan Collins.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Kurt Zouma.
Attempt blocked. Mads Roerslev (Brentford) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Ivan Toney (Brentford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Keane Lewis-Potter with a cross.
Substitution, West Ham United. Ben Johnson replaces Mohammed Kudus.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Kurt Zouma.
Attempt blocked. Christian Nørgaard (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ivan Toney.
Offside, Brentford. Yoane Wissa is caught offside.
Edson Álvarez (West Ham United) is shown the yellow card.
Yoane Wissa (Brentford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Edson Álvarez (West Ham United).
Attempt missed. Mohammed Kudus (West Ham United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Edson Álvarez.