West Ham United face a frightening journey to Tyneside to face high-flying Newcastle United within the Premier League this night, with the contrasting fortunes between the respective golf equipment plain to see this season.
Around about this time final yr, the Hammers have been battling amongst the division’s elite for a second successive marketing campaign, whereas additionally getting ready for the knockout part of the Europa League. Meanwhile, off the again of their Saudi-backed takeover, Newcastle have been displaying the primary indicators of a resurgence beneath Eddie Howe after spending the opening months of the marketing campaign fearing relegation.
Fast monitor to the current and the tables have been turned, with Irons supervisor David Moyes in a dangerous place after a stark decline which has left his aspect simply one point and two places above the drop zone, whereas the Magpies have soared to the higher echelons of the Premier League and sit third after 20 matches, with only one defeat within the present top-flight marketing campaign.
The 59-year-old will certainly be desperately looking for a treatment to treatment West Ham’s current woes, and whereas Newcastle have swiftly emerged as a formidable pressure, optimism might be taken from the Hammers’ earlier outing within the prime flight, when Everton have been defeated 2-0 on the London Stadium.
Courtesy of a brace from Jarrod Bowen, the east London outfit certainly sank the lowly Toffees and took a major step away from rapid hazard. The menace of relegation may very well be additional dimmed if Howe’s aspect might be bested at St James’ Park for the first time this season.
In order to bypass the resolute Newcastle defence – the Toon have shipped simply 11 league objectives this time period, the lowest in the top flight – Bowen must certainly take centre-stage and look to harness his rekindled goalscoring contact, offering the magic wanted to unlock the sturdiest defence within the league.
Will Bowen rating at St. James’ Park?
Yes
No
The £60k-per-week machine has scored eight objectives from 28 matches throughout all competitions, however solely discovered the online 4 occasions within the Premier League. However, having also scored towards Derby County within the FA Cup on Monday night time, the 26-year-old boasts three objectives from his previous two appearances.
Following a outstanding league season on a person foundation in 2021/22, when Bowen scored 12 objectives and arrange one other 12, Moyes wants him to as soon as once more deliver that high quality to the fore.
West Ham’s collective offensive drive has usually been missing this time period, with solely three teams scoring fewer Premier League objectives, and Moyes will certainly be looking for the reply to pump fluidity and cohesion again into the fold.
The early signings of rekindling that former vigour are rising, with Bowen seemingly returning to his free-flowing finest, having started every league match thus far in 2022/23.
His common Sofascore league score of 6.88 within the present marketing campaign is a substantial dip from the spectacular 7.09 score from final time period, however his performances towards Everton and Derby supply a sign that he’s about to take flight.
Hailed as “unbelievable” by Liverpool supervisor Jurgen Klopp previously, Bowen is serving because the catalyst for the Irons’ resurgence. Against a defence as miserly as Newcastle’s, he merely must begin this night if West Ham are to harbour any practical hopes of inflicting a uncommon defeat on their high-flying hosts.
On present type, he may be one of many few gamers to strike real concern into the Magpies’ defence.
