Jarrod Bowen might not have ended his now-eight-game Premier League goal drought, but the West Ham captain would certainly have his say during Thursday’s valiant 1-1 draw away to Manchester United.
In fact, it was only the defensive brilliance of Noussair Mazraoui who denied Jarrod Bowen from drawing the Hammers level late on.
A front-post flick looked destined to nestle into the bottom corner before Mazraoui, a former West Ham United target of course, cleared it off the goalline in the nick of time. Unfortunately for him, and much to the visitors’ relief, Mazraoui’s clearance fell straight into the path of Soungoutou Magassa.
Bowen was full of praise for Magassa at full-time. On a night when Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jean-Clair Todibo stood strong and Alphonse Areola once again repelled a series of set-pieces, it was the £14 million summer signing from Monaco who became the most unlikely of heroes in a real coming-of-age performance.
His first league goal, in fact, since representing the Monaco reserves in the fourth tier of French football back in 2021/22.
Bowen’s own performance, meanwhile, was a timely riposte to his critics. From his position high on the Old Trafford gantry, Gary Neville saw the West Ham supporters air their frustration towards the suddenly goal-shy skipper with an audible groan.
Bowen, it’s fair to say, would turn that desolation into delight only a few moments later.
Gary Neville saw Jarrod Bowen win back the West Ham fans at Old Trafford
As West Ham desperately attempted to claw their way into the game, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side won a corner in the 71st minute.
There is nothing more frustrating than a set-piece slapped tamely into the nearest defender. So when Bowen’s cross was cleared easily at the front post, the response from the visiting fans was more than understandable.
“The West Ham fans up in that corner were really unhappy with the delivery, as he [Bowen] will be,” Red Devils legend Neville said after West Ham wasted an opportunity to put pressure on Senne Lammens’ goal.
Bowen helped create Soungoutou Magassa’s equaliser away to Manchester United
When the Hammers were awarded another corner with 83 minutes on the clock, this time Bowen handed over the responsibility to substitute Andy Irving. He had been badgering assistant coach Mark Robson to let him cause chaos in the box from set-piece situations.
And Bowen’s belligerence paid off, flicking on Irving’s corner seconds before Magassa swept home.
“Irving came on and he is a left-footer. I am always on to ‘Robbo’ to get me in the box and try to score from corners and it nearly worked an absolute treat,” a relieved Bowen said, speaking to BBC Sport.
“Not many people pick me up in the air. I’m 5ft 9 or something like that, so not the tallest. But I made that run, got the flick and I thought I scored. I was gutted that it didn’t go in but to then see Soungou there and put the ball into the back of the net, I’m so delighted.
“I’m sure it has been frustrating for [Magassa]. He wants to play more but he comes into training every day with a smile on his face. His English is getting better, and his quality on the pitch is improving.
“He is coming to a new club, a new country, new teammates, new league, so for me and the team it is good to support him, put our arms around him and help when he needs us to. And he just shows his quality on the pitch.”
Nuno Espirito Santo makes a ‘special mention’ to West Ham captain
Bowen hasn’t scored a Premier League goal since Everton in Nuno’s first match in charge. This is now his fifth-longest run without one since joining West Ham from Hull City half a decade ago. But while his wait goes on, this was a vastly-improved performance.
Bowen danced through three Man United defenders at one point before his shot was deflected into Lammens’ arms. He very nearly set up a dramatic late winner, too, only for his teasing cross to drift untouched across the face of goal.
“It’s always nice [for a player to score his first goal]. It increases his confidence. But not only Magassa, I think all of the team played really well. The defence was OK. We created situations,” Nuno said after West Ham moved to within two points of 17th-place Leeds.
“Special mention to Jarrod, who did an amazing job for the team. We are very pleased to have him as a captain.“It’s really difficult to build with the urgency of the results, and the situation that we’re in. But it’s another step, there’s still a long way to go, a lot of things to improve. As long as there’s commitment and belief, we’re going to do it.
“I think it was a good game. Knowing that we face a very tough opponent full of talented players, and that we were able to contain them.
“In the second half, we controlled the game, we dominated. We created chances. The game could have gone both ways. But I’m very pleased with the work that the boys did today.”
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