West Ham moved up to fourth in the Premier League as they inflicted a sixth consecutive defeat on bottom club Norwich at London Stadium.
Jarrod Bowen set the Hammers on their way, nodding in Vladimir Coufal’s inviting cross seven minutes after his earlier effort was ruled out by VAR, with Nikola Vlasic deemed to be offside and interfering with Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul.
David Moyes’ side were far from at their best but they still created enough openings to put the game beyond the visitors well before Bowen registered his second by turning in Arthur Masuaku’s cross in the 83rd minute.
Bowen also twice hit the woodwork and Michail Antonio blazed over from close range after brilliantly turning Norwich captain Grant Hanley.
On a disappointing evening for the visitors, Adam Idah went close to levelling with the score at 1-0, but saw his drive pushed on to the post by home goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Bar that attempt, however, Dean Smith’s side offered little in attack and have now failed to score a top-flight goal for 540 minutes.
Bowen underlines England credentials
After half an hour of this contest there was little to choose between either side, with the pre-match pyrotechnics arguably offering more excitement than the attacking play on show.
However, the Hammers clicked into gear shortly after, with Moyes barking out instructions and urging his players to provide more intensity.
Bowen’s first disallowed goal of the evening only served as a warning to Norwich, who quickly fell behind in the 42nd minute when he rose above Ben Gibson to direct a header into the bottom left corner.
The former Hull forward has been a revelation since arriving at the club just under two years ago in a £20m deal and produced the kind of performance that is only likely to underline his credentials as a prospective England player.
As someone who can create and score, he has been directly involved in an impressive 16 goals in all competitions this term – the most by an English player.
The only complaint that could be levelled at Bowen against Norwich was that he didn’t add to his two-goal tally, clipping an effort on to the bar and firing against the right-hand post when well placed.
Norwich’s dismal run continues
Only six sides in Premier League history have accumulated fewer points than Norwich after 20 games.
And if their dismal run continues for much longer their hopes of survival look forlorn even if they are still currently within touching distance of fellow strugglers Watford, Newcastle and Burnley.
Smith’s side were neat and tidy in possession but produced just three shots on target, with Idah’s the only one of any note.
Aside from Teemu Pukki, who has scored five times this season, only three other players have registered a top-flight goal.
Unless the Canaries can add some firepower to support their Finland international frontman it is difficult to envisage them pulling off a great escape in their remaining 18 fixtures.
Player of the match
BowenJarrod Bowen
West Ham United
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Squad number20Player nameBowenAverage rating
9.12
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Squad number41Player nameRiceAverage rating
8.17
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Squad number10Player nameLanzini
Average rating7.70
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Squad number3Player nameCresswell
Average rating7.68
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Squad number1Player nameFabianski
Average rating7.67
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Squad number8Player nameFornals
Average rating7.63
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Squad number15Player nameDawson
Average rating7.50
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Squad number5Player nameCoufal
Average rating7.50
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Squad number9Player nameAntonio
Average rating7.42
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Squad number11Player nameVlasic
Average rating7.34
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Squad number23Player nameDiop
Average rating7.25
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Squad number26Player nameMasuaku
Average rating6.94
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Squad number7Player nameYarmolenko
Average rating6.76
Norwich City
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Squad number35Player nameIdah
Average rating5.70
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Squad number5Player nameHanley
Average rating5.29
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Squad number1Player nameKrul
Average rating5.20
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Squad number2Player nameAarons
Average rating5.08
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Squad number21Player nameWilliams
Average rating5.06
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Squad number22Player namePukki
Average rating4.95
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Squad number17Player nameRashica
Average rating4.77
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Squad number11Player namePlacheta
Average rating4.76
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Squad number23Player nameMcLean
Average rating4.65
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Squad number4Player nameGibson
Average rating4.64
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Squad number20Player nameLees-Melou
Average rating4.43
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Squad number46Player nameRowe
Average rating4.33
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Squad number10Player nameDowell
Average rating4.14
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Squad number18Player nameTzolis
Average rating4.02
Line-ups
West Ham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Fabianski
- 5Coufal
- 15Dawson
- 23Diop
- 3Cresswell
- 10Lanzini
- 41Rice
- 20Bowen
- 8Fornals
- 11VlasicSubstituted forMasuakuat 78′minutes
- 9AntonioSubstituted forYarmolenkoat 88′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Yarmolenko
- 13Areola
- 26Masuaku
- 31Johnson
- 33Král
- 40Oko-Flex
- 42Alese
- 46Ekwah
- 50Ashby
Norwich
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Krul
- 2Aarons
- 5Hanley
- 4Gibson
- 21Williams
- 20Lees-Melou
- 23McLean
- 11PlachetaSubstituted forDowellat 65′minutes
- 35IdahSubstituted forRoweat 75′minutes
- 17RashicaSubstituted forTzolisat 72′minutes
- 22Pukki
Substitutes
- 3Byram
- 10Dowell
- 15Kabak
- 18Tzolis
- 19Sørensen
- 28Gunn
- 30Giannoulis
- 42Gibbs
- 46Rowe
- Referee:
- Simon Hooper
- Attendance:
- 59,775
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, West Ham United 2, Norwich City 0.
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Second Half ends, West Ham United 2, Norwich City 0.
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Arthur Masuaku (West Ham United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Pierre Lees-Melou (Norwich City).
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Attempt missed. Kieran Dowell (Norwich City) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Brandon Williams with a cross.
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Foul by Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United).
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Kieran Dowell (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Vladimir Coufal (West Ham United).
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Jonathan Rowe (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Andriy Yarmolenko (West Ham United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Vladimir Coufal.
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Substitution, West Ham United. Andriy Yarmolenko replaces Michail Antonio.
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Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Jonathan Rowe.
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Offside, West Ham United. Aaron Cresswell tries a through ball, but Michail Antonio is caught offside.
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VAR Decision: Goal West Ham United 2-0 Norwich City (Jarrod Bowen).
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Goal! West Ham United 2, Norwich City 0. Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Arthur Masuaku.Goal awarded following VAR Review.
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Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Brandon Williams (Norwich City).
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Foul by Pablo Fornals (West Ham United).
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Kenny McLean (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, West Ham United. Arthur Masuaku replaces Nikola Vlasic.
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