West Ham snapped their two-game losing skid as Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek each scored a goal in the Hammers’ 2-0 victory over Premier League bottom dwellers Sheffield United on Saturday.
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After suffering back-to-back defeats to Manchester City and Liverpool, West Ham were treated to a rebound fixture against one of four sides still seeking their first win of the campaign, a Sheffield United side fresh off an 8-0 hammering at the hands of Newcastle last weekend.
Bowen got on the end of a cut-back cross from Vladimir Coufal to open the scoring in the 24th minute, negating perhaps the Blades’ best period of play in the game. Coufal’s cross cut through three defenders inside the penalty area, as the Sheffield United defense casually jogged back to defend the counter-attack.
Not long later, in the 37th minute, Michail Antonio held the ball up atop the penalty area and found a path to feed it to Soucek as he made the late-arriving run into the box. Soucek danced over the ball and around a defender before sweeping it past Wes Foderingham for a 2-0 lead that the visitors would never threaten to overturn.
Early days, but situation already dire for Sheffield United
Not only are they bottom of the table and without a win, with the PL’s worst goal difference after seven games (-14), but the advanced numbers are just as harsh on Sheffield United. Coming into matchweek 7, only Burnley, who had played one less game due to postponement, had generated less xG; they were a full 2.0 worse than anyone else in terms of xGA; and their xGD (-10.8) dwarfed Fulham (-7.6) in 19th. Those numbers will only reflect worse at weekend’s conclusion.
What’s next?
West Ham will try to make it two wins in a row next Sunday (9 am ET), when they host Newcastle in east London, but first it’ll be a trip to Germany to take on Freiburg in the Europa League on Thursday. Sheffield United will continue their quest for their first win of the season on Saturday (10 am ET), away to Fulham.
Player ratings - West Ham vs Sheffield United
West Ham vs Sheffield United, final score: 2-0
Goalscorers: Jarrod Bowen (24'), Tomas Soucek (37')
24th minute — GOAL — Jarrod Bowen puts West Ham 1-0 up
37th minute — GOAL — Tomas Soucek finishes in traffic for 2-0
How to watch West Ham vs Sheffield United live, stream link, time
Kickoff: 10am ET, Saturday (Sept. 30)
TV channel: Peacock
Stream: Watch on Peacock Premium
West Ham starting lineup
Focus on West Ham
Jarrod Bowen continues to play electric football and the Irons are a handful when Michail Antonio is also firing forward with a host of fun players around the duo. But it’ll be continued impressive play from new additions James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez that keep West Ham comfortably in the top half of the Premier League.
OUT: Aaron Cresswell (hamstring)
Sheffield United starting lineup
Focus on Sheffield United
It’s difficult to fault Heckingbottom given the injury list that’s added to the obstacles presented by the sales of Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye and the loan returns of James McAtee and Luke Thomas. Cameron Archer looks the real deal in trying to fill the holes in attack, but he’ll need help but Benie Traore, Gustavo Hamer, and others.
OUT: John Egan (knee), Rhian Brewster (thigh), John Fleck (leg), George Baldock (calf), Daniel Jebbison (groin), Ben Osborn (groin), Max Lowe (ankle), Rhys Norrington-Davies (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: William Osula (muscular)
