EXTRA TIME

Ending 2021 In Style

December 31, 2021 at 6:04 am Leave a comment

West Ham United saw out 2021 in style, recovering from conceding early to thrash Watford 4-1 at Vicarage Road on Tuesday. West Ham’s victory at Watford was not just the perfect way for the Hammers to end 2021, but the climax of a record-breaking year for the Club. (WHUFC)

Tomáš Souček and Saïd Benrahma scored within two first half minutes of one another to turn the game on its head following Emmanuel Dennis’ beautiful opener for the hosts.

The Hammers kept their foot on the gas after the break and scored further goals through Mark Noble (penalty) and Nikola Vlašić to set the seal on a fantastic away day on which in-form Jarrod Bowen put in another Man of the Match performance. The brilliant right winger played his part in three of his team’s four goals at Watford, assisting Tomáš Souček’s equaliser, winning the penalty converted by Mark Noble for the Hammers’ third, then crossing Nikola Vlašić to net a late fourth.

It was the latest in a series of virtuoso performances from Bowen, who turned 25 in the week before Christmas and is now up to eight assists and five goals for West Ham this season. Only Mohamed Salah has achieved more goal creating actions than Jarrod Bowen in the Premier League this campaign (𝟭𝟲, @pitchfooty). It could have been six goals, too, had referee Darren England not ruled out his second half strike for a foul by Souček following a VAR review.

And by the way: “Mr. West Ham” Mark Noble is the only player in the Premier League to score in each calendar year from 2007 to 2021!

Watch the best of the action again in the video player:

Record breaking year 2021

The Irons collected more points (73), recorded more victories (22) and scored more goals (73) in the Premier League than in any previous calendar year.

Only four clubs won more games and scored more points and only three scored more goals than West Ham did in 2021, illustrating the improvements made in manager David Moyes’ second year in charge since returning to east London on 29 December 2019.

By contrast, in the 12 months prior to Moyes’ return, the Hammers won just 12 Premier League matches, collected just 44 points and scored just 46 goals.

When you factor in the UEFA Europa League and two domestic cup competitions, West Ham have played 53 times in 2021, winning 29, drawing nine and losing just 15, scored 91 goals and conceded only 57 for a +34 goal difference.

Come on you Irons!

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