Premier League

West Ham United: Journalist hands Jarrod Bowen 4/10 match rating for quiet display in opener

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Image for West Ham United: Journalist hands Jarrod Bowen 4/10 match rating for quiet display in opener

West Ham United were comfortably dispatched 2-0 in their Premier League curtain-raiser on Sunday.

A record crowd of 62,443 watched on at the London Stadium as the champions sent the Hammers to defeat on the opening weekend. 

Alphonse Areola, on as a substitute, upended Manchester City’s statement signing Erling Haaland in the area, as the Norwegian sensation dusted himself down to slot home the resulting penalty and give City the lead on 36 minutes. 

Haaland scored his second to kill the game off just when David Moyes’ charges started to look threatening midway through the second period.

Writing for the Evening Standard off the back of a ‘sobering start’ to the new campaign for the Hammers, Malik Ouzia couldn’t praise many of those in claret and blue, with most earning fives and sixes – but Jarrod Bowen was handed a team-low 4/10 match rating with the following comment: “Tore City apart here only three months ago but hardly had a kick today.”

TIF Thoughts on Jarrod Bowen and West Ham United…

Will West Ham improve on last season?

Yes

Yes

No

No

Indeed, a Bowen brace almost ended City’s title hopes back in May but the Sky Blues fought back from two goals down at half-time to draw 2-2 and earn a vital point.

The English forward was at his clinical best on that particular day, but often found himself chasing Joao Cancelo on Sunday.

Bowen had 27 touches compared to his marker – who led the game with 129 – and won just two of his nine duels. The 25-year-old completed just 50% of his passes, completed none of his three attempted dribbles and was dribbled past four times, while losing possession on 10 occasions (via SofaScore).

It won’t be a game he will look fondly back on, but after leading the side with 12 league goals last season, Bowen will see the trip to Nottingham Forest as a great chance to get off the mark next weekend.

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