West Ham’s Bowen scores winner against Watford

West Ham have played more games than all their rivals in the top-four battle, but after consecutive league defeats they are right back in the mix for Champions League qualification.

"We know how important tonight was even if it was an ugly game," Bowen said. "All we can do is focus on ourselves.

"We have a lot of games coming up so it is important to take maximum points."

The build-up to the game had been overshadowed by West Ham having to issue a statement condemning their defender Kurt Zouma after a video on social media showed him kicking his pet cat.

Zouma, who apologised for his actions which caused outrage and potential punishment by West Ham, was in the starting line-up but was booed by large sections of the crowd.

He was kept busy in the first half as Watford belied their lowly position to play the better football, although chances were few and far between with West Ham coming closest when Said Benrahma struck the woodwork from a rebound.

Big three points tonight ✊

The highlights from West Ham United 1-0 Watford ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/9PPP1EQ1KV

— West Ham United (@WestHam) February 8, 2022

The second half was not a great deal better, but West Ham will not care as they pocketed three valuable points.

And it was Bowen, their most reliable forward of late, who did the trick again when he took aim from 25 metres and his shot struck Watford defender Samir to leave Foster wrong-footed.

It was Bowen's sixth goal in as many games and he almost doubled the lead late on but his powerful strike was kept out by Foster.

Watford's Tom Cleverley was denied by Lukasz Fabianski late on as the visitors sought an equaliser but they are now winless in 10 league games and in 19th position.

Reuters