While Soungoutou Magassa will dominate the West Ham headlines on a night when Jarrod Bowen found his form again, there may have been an unsung hero of Thursday’s 1-1 draw at Manchester United.
Jarrod Bowen is now eight games without a goal in the Premier League. This is the captain’s longest barren run since the 2022/23 season.
But, while he would neither score nor provide an assist as West Ham United left it late to make it successive Old Trafford visits without defeat, the chaos Bowen created inside the home penalty area provided the platform for Soungoutou Magassa to cancel out Diogo Dalot’s opener on 83 minutes.
That was Magassa’s first in the Premier League.
On a night when Magassa earned Gary Neville’s admiration with an ‘all action’ display across all thirds, Bowen came off corner duty, flicked on Andy Irving’s delivery, and helped funnel the ball into the path of the £14 million summer signing from Monaco.
And some credit, Bowen said post-match, should go to Mark Robson.
Jarrod Bowen hails Soungoutou Magassa and highlights Mark Robson role in West Ham United draw
Nuno Espirito Santo’s assistant coach took the captain’s nagging on board, and allowed him to position himself at the front post for flick-ons with Irving taking responsibility for the set-piece instead.
Ruben Amorim highlighted the ‘massive’ importance of set-pieces in his pre-match build up.
This season, more than any in recent memory, has seen countless games decided by corners, free-kicks, and the occasional long throw. That is how West Ham’s equaliser would come about. A left-footed Irving cross, a Bowen flick, and a Magassa finish after Noussair Mazraoui had cleared the ball off the line into his path.
“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 him. 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 arm around him and help when he needs us to. And he just shows his quality on the pitch.”
Nuno Espirito Santo pays Jarrod Bowen tribute after Manchester United fightback
This was Magassa’s first Premier League goal, on only his fourth start in the competition.
Nuno said patience was needed with the ex-Monaco youngster. Starting successive games for the first time since late-September and early-October, the France Under-21 international is clearly getting used to the pace of English football at last.
After reports from Italy claimed that West Ham have responded to a Napoli approach by slapping a £15 million price-tag on his head, this was quite the riposte to his doubters and the rumour-makers.
“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.
“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.”
Magassa reflects on his ‘amazing’ Old Trafford equaliser
This was actually Magassa’s first league goal since he scored in the Championnat National 2 – the fourth-tier of French football – for Monaco’s reserve team in 2021/22.
“The feeling is amazing. We played a good game as a team. We all fight for everyone. I’m happy to score my first goal in the Premier League,” Magassa smiled.
“It was a very good point, an important point for the team in the championship, and we’ve got to fight. I want to play, to give my best for the fans, the club, the coach and my team-mates, and I want to continue like that.”
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