Chris Sutton praised Jarrod Bowen on BT Sport’s Europa League highlights show (21/10, 22:41) after beating Genk, and claimed he helps make West Ham United a ‘massive’ threat.
The Hammers beat Genk 3-0 at the London Stadium on Thursday to maintain an unbeaten start to the group stage. David Moyes’ side are also yet to concede a goal, after prior wins over Dinamo Zagreb and Rapid Vienna. Winning both 2-0 in their debut in the group stage.
West Ham impressed Sutton with the amount of danger they posed from all areas against Genk, but Bowen particularly shone. The former Hull winger took the game to the Blauw-Wit as a de facto striker, with Moyes resting Michail Antonio.
Bowen struggled to lead West Ham’s charge in the first-half, and missed chances to punish Genk for their defensive errors. He stunningly spurned an opening by missing the ball in the 26th-minute, but responded in the 58th to score.
Sutton lauds West Ham danger men
Bowen impressed Sutton against Genk, despite the West Ham forward’s quieter showing in the first period. The former Chelsea striker named Bowen as one of the Hammers’ danger men, and lauded the threat he, Antonio, Said Benrahma and the Irons can pose in games.
“[Bowen’s] a versatile player,” Sutton said. “I think his best position is off to the right-hand side, he loves to run in-behind and stretch backlines. But he can play as a central striker and David Moyes has that option now of resting Antonio, who has injury issues.
“[Bowen] gets a bit fortunate here [for his goal]. I think the ‘keeper should do better. But he’s a player high in confidence, as all the West Ham players are. They’ve got the likes of Benrahma, Bowen, Antonio; they are a massive, massive threat. Strong in all areas. [They also have Declan] Rice and [Tomas] Soucek in the middle of the park, they’re going places.”
Did Bowen produce enough against Genk?
Moyes may have wanted to see more from Bowen with West Ham resting their £7m striker Antonio against Genk. Ben Johnson did well to find the £96k-a-week winger eight-yards out and his air shot could have come back to bite as the Hammers struggled to take control.
But the Blauw-Wit could not take advantage of the miss, with Craig Dawson giving the Irons the lead in the first-minute of first-half stoppage-time. Finding space in the visitor’s penalty area to meet Aaron Cresswell’s delivery. Before Issa Diop crashed another of the full-back’s crosses in after 57-minutes, via the underside of the crossbar.
Bowen then atoned for his earlier miss by scoring West Ham’s third against Genk within 72-seconds of Diop netting. Robbing Kristian Thorstvedt of possession out wide and drilling a low effort past Maarten Vandevoordt. Marking Bowen’s second goal of the season so far across all competitions, after his first against Brentford earlier this month.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
