Match Day Official

Al Nassr vs Al helal 2-2 highlights & All Goals al nassr fc ronaldo first match & Goals 2023 HD
Using app 'Match Day News'
http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.premierleague.matchdaynews

Off the back of an emphatic victory in their opening 2022 World Cup fixture, England will endeavour to boost their hopes of securing top spot in Group B when they lock horns with USA at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on Friday evening.

The Three Lions began their campaign by hitting Iran for six on Monday, while the Stars and Stripes were forced to share the spoils with Wales in their opening clash.

Following memorable highs of reaching the World Cup semi-finals four years ago and then the final of Euro 2020, optimism surrounding Gareth Southgate's squad had dipped heading to Qatar after a disappointing winless UEFA Nations League campaign.

Watch live this game using http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.premierleague.matchdaynews
app

Raheem Sterling hits hat-trick in easy Manchester City win at Norwich

This was a contest for 31 minutes, and a fairly good one at that. Then Raheem Sterling sublimely beat Angus Gunn with the first goal of his hat-trick and, after that, any doubt over the outcome was purely for dreamers. Manchester City do not give games up from there and with every passing week the prospect of a title battle looks more remote.
Pep Guardiola may outwardly fear one but that would require his team to make a misstep, and then at least one more. They have taken 43 points from the last 45 available: it is not exciting fare for most onlookers outside their circle but it is controlled, clinical, consummate and often crushing. The margin of victory reflected their domination but they would not have been flattered to leave with even more.
Norwich’s fight against relegation will not stand or fall on nights like this, even though taking a scalp of City’s size would have done wonders for their momentum. Dean Smith might rue the moment, 18 minutes in and with the game goalless, when Grant Hanley headed Pierre Lees-Melou’s cross against the inside of a post. It came amid a ding-dong set of early exchanges but, even then, the sense lingered that the home side’s best chance of creating a serious contest had passed.
City had already struck the woodwork themselves through Bernardo Silva, while the otherwise excellent Ilkay Gündogan fluffed a free header. That was the problem for Norwich: their clear chances would always be few, while it took City little effort to turn on the taps. A helping hand was certainly not necessary, so, while Sterling’s curled opener from 18 yards was superbly taken, it was galling that he was given possession by Max Aarons’ failure to cut out Kyle Walker’s cross.
“For his confidence it will be massive,” Guardiola said of his scorer. “The first goal was brilliant: when Raheem executes without thinking he is excellent. In general he was active and made good touches.”
The other two of consequence were tap-ins, nodding City’s third across the line from a yard after Rúben Dias had headed back across and then following up after Gunn had saved his penalty in the dying seconds. Smith was furious that the spot kick had been awarded, calling Andre Marriner’s decision to punish Hanley’s challenge on Liam Delap “pathetic” and saying he had taken it up with him in person after full-time, but Norwich’s goal difference appears so far gone that it will matter little.
They were Sterling’s first goals of the calendar year, and the hat-trick was his first since the 5-0 win at Brighton in July 2020. City have rampaged through the last two seasons without the forward needing to be at his most potent and, if this proves the catalyst for a concerted spell of form, there will be even less hope for everyone else.
Norwich could still hold some at half-time here and, at one goal down, Smith would have wished them to stay competitive for as long as possible. But the game was sealed within 90 seconds of the restart when, in his words, the hosts “forgot our principles”.
It was more that they got lost in the muck: Phil Foden had met Gündogan’s cutback with an awkward effort off his thigh that Gunn repelled, and then battled to dig the ball back out again as it squirmed around the six-yard box. Eventually he squeezed in a shot that deflected off Brandon Williams and, in crossing the line by a foot, rendered Hanley’s last-ditch clearance futile.
“We started the second half on the front foot and it helped us a lot to score in the first minutes,” Guardiola said. “Our behaviour and concentration was good. All the time it looks easy but it is difficult to do our job and we did it again.”
Just as they have done it again, and again, and again. Guardiola was again at pains to talk up the threat of Liverpool, who are 12 points behind with two games in hand. “They won’t drop many points for the quality they have,” he said. “It’s the best squad they have had in the last decade. We’ll have to win a lot of games.” Perhaps, but they are making that look easy.

Chelsea crowned world champions after Kai Havertz penalty sinks Palmeiras

The quest is finally over. Chelsea can say that they have won the lot under Roman Abramovich. They were determined not to fly home empty-handed this time and, 10 years on from losing the final of the Club World Cup to Corinthians, the celebrations were joyous once the full-time whistle had confirmed that Chelsea had not stumbled again against stubborn Brazilian opponents.
Perhaps it had to be this way. Stodgy in attack, there was a predictability to Chelsea leaving it late on a tense evening at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. They were hardly banging on the door as the end of extra-time approached and Palmeiras, who were after their first world crown, must have thought that they had done enough to earn a penalty shoot-out.
Disciplined and dangerous, Palmeiras had made their magnificent fans proud. Chelsea, though, were not interested in a fairytale ending. Thomas Tuchel’s side kept going and they would be rewarded for their persistence when Kai Havertz, one of Abramovich’s biggest investments, saw a chance to make more history in a blue shirt.
César Azpilicueta, the first Chelsea player to have won every major club title, had just won a penalty after seeing his volley handled by Luan. There were three minutes left and Havertz, who scored the winner in last season’s Champions League final, was ready. The 22-year-old German nervelessly sent Weverton the wrong way and although Chelsea had laboured for long spells, they had managed not to fluff their lines in front of Abramovich.
This, the 21st trophy of the Abramovich era, meant a lot. Tuchel looked satisfied with life as he chatted away to Marina Granovskaia, the Chelsea director, after full-time. Abramovich was also down on the pitch, no doubt reflecting on the wisdom of hiring one of the most accomplished managers around a year ago.
This was the third trophy of Tuchel’s reign and the German, who had to miss the semi-final against Al-Hilal after testing positive for Covid-19 last week, was relieved that his journey was not for nothing after he finally made it to Abu Dhabi on Friday night.
“I was several times on my way to the airport and on my way I was called back as the test was not yet negative,” Chelsea’s manager said. “I arrived for dinner on Friday. Today we told the players this was a fantastic opportunity. So many young boys dream to be in this final and we reminded ourselves that we were once that boy.”
Tuchel understood the significance of winning it for Abramovich. “We met shortly on the pitch and I said ‘Congrats’ and he said ‘Congrats’ to me,” he said. “I said ‘It is for you – your input and passion made it possible’. The trophy is for him.”
It did not come easily. Chelsea were edgy and could not hold on after Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring with a fine header in the 55th minute. Palmeiras, who finished with 10 men after Luan saw red for fouling Havertz, were a constant nuisance and levelled when Thiago Silva’s handball allowed Raphael Veiga to equalise from the spot.
This was an occasion to savour, even if Fifa’s official cheerleaders would not be swayed from their doomed attempts to silence the Brazilian din with their overblown pre-match entertainment. Memo for Gianni Infantino: Palmeiras’s 15,000 supporters needed no help creating an atmosphere. The noise was deafening long before kick-off and initially there was a sense of Chelsea trying to draw the sting, their approach seemingly to calm the crowd by taking few risks on the ball.
The plan felt too controlled. Tuchel had taken no chances, disappointing Kepa Arrizabalaga by starting Édouard Mendy in goal, but Chelsea lacked urgency. The attacks were forced and the sense of foreboding grew when Mason Mount was forced off with damaged ankle ligaments.
Palmeiras, well-drilled by Abel Ferreira, took confidence from Mount making way for Christian Pulisic. The Copa Libertadores champions had their moments. Dudu, a willing runner up front, twice went close in the first half .
Forced to improve, Chelsea went ahead after finally stretching the play. Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kanté had set a sharper tempo in midfield, Callum Hudson-Odoi reached the byline before crossing with his weaker left foot and Lukaku headed past Weverton after bullying Luan.
Soon, though, the Palmeiras fans were roaring again. A long throw spread panic in the Chelsea defence and it was difficult to know what Silva was complaining about when Scott Beath pointed to the spot after consulting the VAR monitor. The Brazilian defender had clearly handled the ball and Chelsea were back to square one when Veiga beat Mendy from 12 yards.
Desperate for a spark, Tuchel made some surprising changes after seeing Pulisic waste a good chance. Lukaku and Hudson-Odoi made way for Timo Werner and Saúl Ñíguez, while the introduction of Malang Sarr and Hakim Ziyech for Andreas Christensen and Kovacic saw Chelsea ditch their 3-4-2-1 system for 4-2-4 during extra-time.
Palmeiras grew weary. Gaps appeared and Chelsea broke through when another VAR check confirmed that Azpilicueta’s volley had been handled by Luan. Havertz put the penalty away and Chelsea were world champions at long last.

Chelsea V Palmeiras : Club World Cup final!

Preamble

It’s almost ten years - December 2012 in fact - when Chelsea got to the final of this tournament and lost to Corinthians in Japan. This time, in Abu Dhabi, they face another team from Sao Paulo, Palmeiras, coached by Abel Ferreira, not to be confused with the Hollywood film director Abel Ferrara, and one in the more tough traditions of Brazilian football. With Chelsea not exactly flowing with goals this could be what is politely referred to as an intriguing tactical battle. Thomas Tuchel, Covid test permitting, will be in the dugout as the club try to add this prestigious yet oddly superfluous trophy to their cabinet. It matters greatly to South American clubs but only the English clubs when they win it, not that it wouldn’t be a great disappointment to lose in the final for Chelsea.

The teams

Chelsea: Mendy, Christensen, Thiago Silva, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Hudson-Odoi; Mount, Havertz, Lukaku. Subs: Kepa, Bettinelli, Alonso, Chalobah, Sarr, Jorginho, Saul, Barkley, Kenedy, Ziyech, Werner, Pulisic
Palmeiras: Weverton; Rocha, Gómez, Luan, Piquerez; Danilo, Zé Rafael; Dudu, Veiga, Scarpa; Rony. Subs: Benjamin, Jorge, Wesley, Mayke, Deyverson, Lopes, Atuesta, Cerquiera, Navarro, Jailson, Mateus, Marcelo

Kick-off is 4.30pm UK time.

Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez help Manchester City breeze past Brentford

Manchester City are intent on making their title defence a procession. Their lead is now 12 points and though Liverpool can cut it back to nine with a game in hand by beating Leicester on Thursday, Pep Guardiola’s team have a relentlessness that may propel them far into the distance.
The manager often speaks of the significance of how his side “arrive” in February, when the business phase of the campaign begins. On this evidence City are hitting their best rhythms with the spring months beckoning: precisely as he wishes.
Riyad Mahrez and Kevin De Bruyne were the game-winners, but it was another impressive all-round effort that enthused Guardiola, the master team-builder. This is City’s supreme strength: no single player is ever relied upon, as is underlined by the lack of a traditional No 9 being made a non-issue by Mahrez, Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling all contributing seven league goals. De Bruyne is next highest with six.
The display had the Brentford manager, Thomas Frank, characterising City as the “best team in the world”, though Guardiola denied this. “Chelsea are – they won the Champions League – and Palmeiras [the Copa Libertadores winners],” he said. “It is important at this stage to have 60 points. Liverpool have two games in hand, after they play, we will see the gap. There’s 14 games to play with tough games like today. Look at what can happen, Tottenham lost at home to Southampton.”
Guardiola’s style is to talk up every opponent in quasi-awed terms, as if his team of A-list talents may struggle against them. This is often the precursor to them going out and giving them a schooling. So it was for Brentford, who were made unwilling ball-chasers pushed to near their area by City’s yo-yo-like ball retention.
John Stones, stepping forward from right-back, prompted one move that involved Rodri, Sterling, and Mahrez before a corner was claimed. Sterling next won a free-kick which resulted in another corner taken by the Algerian. Once again Brentford scrambled it clear only for Mahrez, moments later, to deliver another. All of this had David Raya’s goal resembling a dam City might burst imminently. Yet at the other end Mathias Jensen threatened the hosts, as a rare foray ended with a snap-shot that nearly beat Ederson.
Sterling and Stones had replaced Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker, each of whom, according to Guardiola, had been “perfect” on the night out on Sunday, a video clip of which had gone viral and caused the manager to defend them. Mahrez, also present then, had been included in a team that was arguably full strength apart from the missing right-back and the former Aston Villa man.
To reach the half-hour here and not concede is an achievement, though Brentford could be thankful that João Cancelo blasted over from close range after Raya had parried a Mahrez cross-shot. This was followed by Phil Foden chipping a ball over traffic for Sterling, who missed narrowly with an acrobatic volley. De Bruyne’s free-kick then found Rúben Dias, who teed up Aymeric Laporte. The centre-back’s chest-down-and-shot was only marginally off-target.
Dias’s next act was to give Ederson a scolding for not claiming the ball when rushing out: City’s captain hoofed clear, and the goalkeeper was informed that next time he should be given a shout. This was instantly forgotten, though, as City took the lead.
A chief plank of Guardiola’s attack-play is a run along an inside channel of the area. Sterling utilised the ploy, Mads Roerslev fouled him, and Darren England awarded a spot-kick. It was the 23rd Premier League penalty Sterling had won, a record. Mahrez followed Saturday’s conversion against Fulham with an eighth consecutive success from the spot since missing against Liverpool four years ago.
City, though, might have entered the dressing room with the scores level after a Stones slip had Rico Henry drawing a sharp save from Ederson. Brentford were still in the contest but City’s 74.5% first-half possession told the story. And when Henry tapped the ball out for a corner, after which Cancelo let fly from 25 yards, it seemed the pattern would continue. The Portuguese’s effort drew Guardiola applause. A surge from Stones that evaded Brentford defenders, before he looked to slip in Mahrez, was also deserving of praise.
City continued to purr, a whirl of movement in sky blue. Positions were interchanged, the ball swapped between them as if Brentford were training ground mannequins. Yet a slender lead holds no guarantee and suddenly Roerslev was teeing up Frank Onyeka. Only the powder-puff nature of his attempt prevented there being an equaliser.
But disaster struck for Brentford when Raya steered a pass out straight to Sterling. The latter took aim and though the goalkeeper saved, De Bruyne made no mistake. Guardiola did a jig of delight – this, surely, was the win secured.
He spent the remainder of the contest ensuring there was no complacency from his men. That may be the only way City fail to retain their crown. But Guardiola has them so well drilled it seems unlikely.

Kieran Trippier’s stunner for Newcastle leaves Lampard’s Everton in trouble

Eddie Howe welcomed five new players to Tyneside last month but as impressively as three of them performed here Newcastle’s manager received a reminder that Allan Saint-Maximin remains the brightest light in his attacking firmament.
The French winger’s extraordinary powers of improvisation and incision turned Frank Lampard’s Premier League debut as Everton manager into an uncomfortable night which leaves the Merseysiders on the edge of real relegation trouble.
Thanks not only to Saint-Maximin but excellent performances from Howe’s new full-backs, the outstanding Kieran Trippier and Matt Targett, Newcastle won their third game of the season, hauling themselves out of the bottom three and up to 17th. Ominously for Lampard, Everton sit only one point and one place higher.
The nights may be starting to get a little lighter but, whenever Jordan Pickford, touched the ball it felt as if the clock had been turned back to pantomime season. To Newcastle fans, villains do not come bigger than Everton’s former Sunderland goalkeeper and they subjected to him to some pretty relentless high-decibel booing. By way of variety, there were repeated, rather rude, choruses referring to his Wearside heritage but Pickford simply responded by reminding everyone that his kicking is very good indeed.
Bar picking the ball out of the back of his net, Lampard’s goalkeeper did not have too much to do during a somewhat scrappy first half low on fancy footwork. If competitiveness and commitment were most certainly not lacking, the game cried out for a couple of central midfielders capable of controlling the tempo and shaping the play. It would have been wonderful to see Lampard roll back the years and show his Everton players precisely how to do it but in the absence of a time capsule capable of transporting him back more than a decade, Everton’s manager at least had his new signings Donny van de Beek and Dele Alli warming the bench.
Alli stepped off it in the 25th minute, replacing the injured Demarai Gray but St James’ Park was more excited about the sight of Bruno Guimarães, Howe’s new £35m Brazilian from Lyon, warming up.
As the ground echoed to chants of “Bruno, Bruno,” the scoring began, with two own goals registered in swift succession. First Jonjo Shelvey hacked the promisingly inventive Anthony Gordon down, conceding a free-kick. Gordon took it himself and when Alli redirected the ball out back into the box, Mason Holgate’s shot was blocked on the line by Fabian Schär only to end up deflecting in off Jamaal Lascelles.
Briefly, Newcastle’s captain looked broken but redemption beckoned. When Joe Willock won a corner, Trippier delivered a defence deceiving dead ball and, although Lascelles’s header hit the bar, it rebounded off Holgate before flying past Pickford.
By then Everton had been seriously weakened by an injury to Yerry Mina which saw the key right sided component of Lampard’s back three hobble off. Jarrad Branthwaite trotted on but his lack of experience showed as Chris Wood was allowed a free header. Despite Newcastle’s £25m centre-forward directing it, benignly, straight at Pickford, it was not long before Saint-Maximin crossed with menace. After connecting with that delivery the unmarked Joelinton would surely have scored had the former forward turned left-sided midfielder not got his feet in an awful tangle.
Given that Joelinton’s eventual shot somehow ended up hitting him on the head it seems destined to become one of those comedic cameos used to liven up the “what happened next’ segment of televised quiz shows.
No matter, Newcastle scored 10 minutes into the new half. Their second goal began with Alli’s forfeiture of possession prefacing another cross from Saint-Maximin and when Michael Keane’s failure to make a headed clearance left Pickford stranded, Ryan Fraser was in the right place at the right time to hook the dropping ball home.
As Howe swivelled on his heels, pumped his fists and urged Newcastle fans to “come on” those home supporters yet again had reason to be grateful to Saint-Maximin. The French winger’s adhesive control in the tightest of areas had conjured Fraser’s first goal in a Newcastle shirt and, for all Howe’s £90m-plus January transfer market spend, Saint-Maximin remains the player most integral to his side’s survival chances.
By the hour Lampard had been forced to use all three substitutes. Delighted as the “free Donny” campaigners must have been to see Van de Beek finally stripped for action and running onto the pitch as André Gomes’s replacement, the Manchester United loanee could have chosen an easier game in which to make his Everton debut.
After so many weeks and months of being unfathomably overlooked by two managers at Old Trafford the Netherlands international was hurled into the deep end of a midfield war zone in which every 50-50 ball was contested with the utmost ferocity.
Shortly after Wood correctly had a “goal” disallowed for offside, Fraser created the third for Trippier. When the one time Bournemouth winger’s dribble was rudely interrupted by Allan’s crude lunge, Trippier stepped forward to take the resultant 25-yard free-kick.
Howe says he bought the England right back from Atlético Madrid last month as much for his crossing and dead-ball abilities as his defensive qualities. Sure enough Trippier vindicated such judgment by spotting a c***k in Everton’s wall and leaving his stellar technique to do the rest.
All that remained was for Guimarães to make a rapturously received 89th minute-debut on a night when a toe injury restricted Howe’s fifth January buy, Dan Burn to the bench.

Tuchel absence 'big challenge' for Chelsea at Club World Cup

Chelsea assistant Zsolt Low said Tuesday the absence of Covid-hit Thomas Tuchel presents a "big challenge" for the European champions at the Club World Cup.

Tuchel missed Saturday's FA Cup win over Plymouth after testing positive for the virus and has been unable to fly to Abu Dhabi ahead of the semi-final against Asian champions Al Hilal.

"It's a big challenge that Thomas is not here, but we try to do as well as possible," said Low, who is overseeing the team alongside Arno Michels while Tuchel isolates.

"We're in constant contact with Thomas, a lot of meetings together, we use voice calling all the time. We record the training and send it to him. We try to make it like he's here with us."

Tuchel could join the squad in time for the final on Saturday if Chelsea overcome Al Hilal, but for now the German is limited to interacting with his squad remotely.

"It can be very difficult for him to sit in front of the TV with all the emotions and impressions he has," said Low, who also worked under Tuchel at Paris Saint-Germain.

"He's absolutely a coach who likes to be with the team and give them a lot of energy."

Low added: "We hope the next test is negative and he can travel as fast as possible.

"We have text messages, phone calls and video calls. We want to give him the feeling he's with us, he's there 24 hours a day.

"We cannot copy him, he's one of the best coaches in the whole world. We have to share it among the coaching staff."

- Mendy in contention -
Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to keep his place in goal on Wednesday, but Edouard Mendy could replace the Spaniard once he arrives after winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.

"Mendy arrives later today or tomorrow. We will see how he is, how tired he is. He has to arrive first, we have to check him, we have to talk to him," said Low.

"We will see in a few days whether there is a possibility he plays."

However, England defender Reece James, who is nursing a hamstring injury, will play no part in the UAE despite travelling with the team.

European clubs have won each of the past eight Club World Cups, a run that began after Chelsea lost the 2012 final 1-0 to Corinthians in Japan.

Cesar Azpilicueta, the Chelsea captain, is the only player in the squad who was part of the team that finished runners-up a decade ago.

"I'm really motivated. Losing that one in 2012, it hurt a lot and this is the only competition that the club hasn't won. I think to win it for the first time for the club is huge," said Azpilicueta.

"I think it has a great meaning for everybody. For the fans, we are representing Europe, and we have to evaluate how difficult it is and the journey we've had to have to make it here."

Azpilicueta has won every trophy on offer bar the Club World Cup since joining Chelsea in 2012, and appreciates he may not get another chance to complete the set.

"This kind of tournament is not like a normal cup that you play every year. Every competition we enter we want to win. And this is a rare one that we didn't play in the last 10 years," he said.

"I think everybody's very aware how difficult it is and that we cannot miss the chance."

Jarrod Bowen strikes West Ham back to winning ways against Watford

Jarrod Bowen of last season might not even have still been on the pitch. It is not that his 68th minute strike – the difference between West Ham and Watford on an otherwise nondescript night – was particularly late. But if a criticism could be labelled at the forward, it was his lack of endurance; Bowen completed 90 minutes eight times in 2020/21.
A summer spent running in potato fields and mixing cement with his Dad has done the trick as this was his 14th consecutive full stint (plus an additional 30 minutes at Kidderminster).
His seventh Premier League strike of the season keeps West Ham’s European dream alive, halting a run of successive defeats. The sense though, is that much rests on Bowen – touted for an England debut in March – and Declan Rice if they are to avoid fading away.
Watford have problems of a different kind. They have not won in 11 and have failed to score in their past three. Worryingly Emmanuel Dennis has done little of note since he was prevented from joining Nigeria at the Afcon on a technicality.
Kurt Zouma’s widely anticipated exclusion on animal cruelty grounds failed to materialise. On Monday a video emerged showing Zouma kicking and slapping his cat. Surrey police and the RSPCA have launched a jointed investigation and the player has issued an apology.
This was West Ham’s first home game since seven-year-old Isla Caton tragically passed away following a five-year battle with Neuroblastoma. The club and supporters raised vital funds towards her treatment, and there was a moving message from mum Nikki pre-match, followed by applause before kick-off and in the eighth minute.
The first half, however, was less attractive although Roy Hodgson might have taken some pleasure from proceedings as Watford were impressively organised. Their season to date can be measured in degrees of chaos but Hodgson’s appointment has already led to an obvious shift.
Three in attack has been dispensed with in favour of two banks of four. And having begun with a point – plus a much-needed first clean sheet of the season – at Burnley, Hodgson made two changes. Top-scorer Emmanuel Dennis returned from suspension, while Tom Cleverley’s inclusion for Ken Sema narrowed the midfield further.
And the visitor’s clearest opening of the half came when Cleverley nipped the ball from a driving Declan Rice. Hassane Kamara overlapped on the left, stood up a cross at the far post but Juraj Kucka could only climb and plant his far post header wide. Moussa Sissoko would later drag a wrong-footed effort away from goal.
At times it felt like West Ham were playing at half speed. The spark David Moyes implored them to find from within for their push for Europe was absent. And that spilled over to the stands, the bowl largely silent aside from boos from the visiting fans when Zouma was near the ball.
The host’s only moment of note came when Jarrod Bowen shrugged off Samir’s attention and played an exquisite reverse pass to Saïd Benrahma. The forward’s first shot was blocked by a combination of Ben Foster and Craig Cathcart, his follow-up striking the outside of the post. Martin Atkinson had earlier been disinterested in howls for a back pass when Samir stretched to beat Michael Antonio to the ball.
The second period started with no additional urgency. Vladimir Coufal’s long throw was only half cleared and after a little head tennis, Benrahma controlled with his chest on the edge of the box. His volley was sweetly struck but always dipping over.
Antonio was again largely anonymous and by right should have been replaced. Moyes’ problem though is a lack of alternatives; it is now 915 days and counting since the club last signed a forward.
It felt like a breakthrough would need to be forced, with Bowen starting to drop deeper to do so. And it finally came served with a large side of good fortune. Having collected the ball just inside the Watford half, Bowen pushed forward and shot from distance. Foster was preparing to save comfortably but was wrong-footed by a deflection off Samir.
Bowen almost put the result beyond doubt late on, his cut inside ending with the ball striking a post with Foster getting the faintest touch. Watford came closest to an equaliser when Joshua King flashed a ball across the six-yard box; Dennis was nowhere to be seen.
Football the West Ham way it was not but it will do.