West Ham 2-0 Sheffield United: Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek’s first half strikes see David Moyes’ side ease to victory at London Stadium as pressure mounts on Paul Heckingbottom

• Jarrod Bowen’s opener heaped pressure on Sheffield United at London Stadium 
• Tomas Soucek added another before half-time as West Ham came out on top 
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David Moyes won his 666th game as a Premier League manager and the devil on his shoulder might have been tempting him to torment a Sheffield United side wallowing in ineptitude.

Unlike Newcastle’s epic eight last week, West Ham settled for a more modest two goals, both of which were aided by the visitors’ defending. Jarrod Bowen scored when none of the six defending bodies in the box picked him up. Tomas Soucek scored after Gustavo Hamer gifted away the ball in midfield.

You would not blame Paul Heckingbottom for wondering whether hell will freeze over before his team pick up a Premier League win of their own. Certainly this was another laborious outing for their supporters who made this 350-mile round trip amid a train strike.

Their team remain winless, with Heckingham having received assurances from club owner Prince Abdullah and chief executive Stephen Bettis after last week’s 8-0 loss to Newcastle. He hopes that is not the kiss of death it often turns out to be.

Only one team in Premier League history had lost by eight or more goals and then won their next game, and United never looked like matching the Wigan team of November 2009.

 

Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek were on the socresheet as West Ham won yet again

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While United are drowning, West Ham’s season is going swimmingly. They are up to seventh with their only losses of this campaign coming to juggernauts in Manchester City and Liverpool. Next up is a Europa League trip to Freiburg on Thursday.

West Ham won a corner within 30 seconds and there was an immediate hum of anticipation inside the London Stadium. In James Ward-Prowse, they have a set-piece nonpareil, and his cross nearly found the head of Kurt Zouma. After four minutes, James McAtee tried and failed to let the ball trickle out for a goal-kick. Bowen stole it from him before teeing up Soucek, who blazed over from 10 yards when he ought to have scored.

There were supporters wearing Carlos Tevez masks at the London Stadium in a nod back to May 13, 2007. That was the day West Ham survived relegation at the expense of Sheffield United.

Tevez scored the winner at Old Trafford despite a controversial row surrounding his registration, a rule breach for which West Ham were fined £5.5million by the Premier League.

Perhaps we should not be surprised that the visitors did not feel like doing West Ham a favour when Lucas Paqueta dropped down injured, therefore. They played on and Cameron Archer would have scored, were it not for a magnificent diving block by Nayef Aguerd.

In the 15th minute, West Ham won another corner. Ward-Prowse’s cross found the head of Bowen, who forced Wes Foderingham into an instinctive one-handed save. Luke Thomas then cleared Aguerd’s rebound off the line.

In the 24th minute, nice intricate play by West Ham left Vladimir Coufal free down the right flank. His ball into the box was met by Bowen, who side-footed stylishly into the bottom corner. It interrupted the away supporters who were singing: ‘How s*** must you be? We’re drawing away.’

This was Bowen’s fifth goal of the season and his first at the London Stadium. Gareth Southgate was at Villa Park to watch Ollie Watkins score a hat-trick. But with the next England squad named on Thursday, Bowen cannot do much more to enter the frame.

West Ham scored again before the break with a goal which summed up how sorry this United side is looking. Hamer clumsily gave away the ball in midfield. It led Michail Antonio to feed the surging Soucek, who beat Foderingham for 2-0.

United had to give their travelling support something to cheer in the second half. Vini Souza’s attempt was blocked crucially by Coufal, before Alphonse Areola was needed to smother Anel Ahmedhodzic’s header. There were other chances, but none too troublesome for West Ham.

In six minutes of stoppage time, the away supporters sang: ‘How s*** must you be? It’s only 2-0.’ They are coming to terms with their position at the bottom of the Premier League and having fun with it, though it is becoming increasingly difficult to see when and where a United win will arrive for Heckingbottom.

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