Norwich 0-4 West Ham: Jarrod Bowen gets hat-trick of assists as Said Benrahma scores twice in Carrow Road win

Match report as West Ham thrash Norwich 4-0 at Carrow Road; Said Benrahma nets either side of Michail Antonio's first West Ham goal since January 1; second-half Manuel Lanzini penalty rounds off an emphatic West Ham win

Wednesday 11 May 2022 10:57, UK

Jarrod Bowen grabbed a hat-trick of assists as West Ham strengthened their claims for a place in next season's Europa League with a crushing 4-0 win at Norwich.

Said Benrahma scored either side of a fortuitous goal for Michail Antonio, with Manuel Lanzini adding a fourth from the penalty spot to move the Hammers three points behind sixth-placed Manchester United.

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Bowen set up West Ham's first three goals, taking his assist tally for the season to 10.

But West Ham will be concerned by injuries sustained by goalscorers Antonio and Benrahma, which meant neither could complete the match.

Manchester United's 4-0 defeat at Brighton has left the door open for West Ham to snatch sixth place and qualify for the Europa League again next season. Thanks to Norwich's generosity they are now three points behind United, with a game in hand and a superior goal difference.

How West Ham crushed Norwich

Krul was badly at fault for Benrahma's opener and Michail Antonio's goal that left his side 2-0 down after half an hour.

Benrahma's first arrived in the 12th minute when he collected Bowen's cross on the left of the Norwich penalty area. The Algerian's shot deflected off the knee of Max Aarons but Krul still should have stopped it, only for the ball to squirm out of his grasp and roll in.

Things got worse for Krul on the half-hour mark when Bowen slipped Antonio through on goal. Krul came off his line and stuck out a hand to nick the ball away, but succeeded only in nudging it back into the striker's path, leaving covering defender Sam Bryam on the deck and Antonio, who scored four on his last trip to Norwich two seasons ago, tapping into an empty net.

West Ham should have had a third moments later but Bowen volleyed wide from six yards. But they did not have to wait long, as in first-half stoppage time Bowen set up his third goal of the match, reaching the byline and pulling the ball back for Benrahma to lash home from 15 yards.

Norwich thought they had pulled one back at the start of the second half when Byram bundled the ball in from a corner, but the VAR spotted a handball and the goal was ruled out. Instead a handball at the other end piled on the misery for the Canaries, the ball hitting the arm of Jacob Sorensen and Lanzini tucking away the penalty as West Ham comprehensively kept their hopes of a return to Europe alive.

Moyes: We're back in hunt for European place

West Ham manager David Moyes said: "I think considering all the things that happened in midweek and how our emotions were, it was a really good result.

"I thought the team started very well and gave us a decent platform to go and work from.

"To say Thursday was a big blow wouldn't do it justice, how we feel. So to get us back today with that result was great credit to the players.

"We could've played better, could've scored more goals. But we got the job done and got three good points. Let's be fair, we've got Manchester City and Brighton to play, and Brighton have just beaten Manchester United, so that's why I thought today was really important.

"But we're back in it, back in there fighting and trying to be sixth or seventh with a bit of luck, and hopefully we can be back in Europe."

What's next for West Ham?

West Ham host league leaders Manchester City on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, as the visitors chase a third consecutive title with Liverpool breathing down their neck; kick-off at 2pm.