It was worth the wait for Jarrod Bowen.
The West Ham United forward had gone the length of his senior career – 327 games for Hereford United, Hull City and the Hammers without scoring a hat-trick, before claiming his first match ball in spectacular style on Monday night.
Bowen’s treble fired the Irons to a welcome 4-2 triumph over Brentford, ending a six-game Premier League run without a victory and reigniting our push for a fourth straight season of European football.
West Ham were at it from the off against the Bees at London Stadium, with Bowen scoring twice inside the first seven minutes to get them off to the perfect start.
Neal Maupay quickly pulled one back for the visitors, but Bowen’s third of the night – a 63rd minute header – and Emerson’s long-range fourth meant Yoane Wissa’s late strike was mere consolation.
It all added up to a night to remember for the Hammers’ No20.
“It’s an incredible night – a win, my first hat-trick and a reaction we needed from recent weeks – so a really good night,” he said.
“We’ve got to build on this, it’s one result that we’ve got to build on and keep winning games.
“It’s what we’ve probably lacked in recent weeks – getting those chances and putting them away ultimately. We haven’t been clinical enough, myself included, and tonight it was totally changed.
“We scored four and probably had lots more opportunities where we could score as well. A really good night.”
Not only was the treble Bowen’s first, it was also the first scored by a Hammers player at London Stadium.
Bowen was delighted to claim that piece of history, particularly as he had a large contingent of family backing him in east London.
“I didn’t know that no West Ham player had scored a hat-trick here,” he continued. “I knew that I hadn’t scored one before! There have been a couple of times when I’ve scored two and not got that third, both here and in my Hull City days, so tonight I’m really happy.
“I had all my family here as well and they chose the right game to come down to. They’re coming every week now!”
Next up is a trip to Everton on Saturday and Bowen is determined to show the four-goal display against the Bees is not a mere flash in the pan.
“We’ve been here a couple of times when we’ve won one game and haven’t gone on to win the next one. If you want to be a top team and go up to the level we want to go up to, we have to go to Everton and win,” he said.
“That has to be the mindset through the squad. We enjoy tonight – it’s been a long time coming – but we’re ready to work and go into the weekend at Everton away.
“It’s never easy, they’re fighting for their lives, they’re a really good side and they beat us here at home. So we want to go there and beat them.”
The Hammers welcomed Lucas Paquetá back following a spell out injured for Monday's game, and Bowen was thrilled to be reacquainted with him in attack.
The Brazilian linked up with Emerson superbly and the No20 was delighted to be part of the team display.
"Emerson’s goal was just incredible," he added. "I’ve never seen him do that and I think he’ll tell himself that!
"Having Lucas back was a real boost. You see what he does, not just with the ball but without it – he fights, the way he wins free-kicks, the way you can just tell he’s winding the opposition up, it’s massive for us.
"Mo, he was unlucky not to score tonight, but he put in a great ball for me and that’s the quality that we have.
"Tonight was a really good performance, from the defenders – you knew they were going to be direct with [Ivan] Toney up front and the balls into the box – and full credit to the manager because the preparation we’ve done this week against the long balls into the box, the long throw ins, the corners, it’s a massive part of their game and I thought we limited them tonight.
"They scored two goals, but the energy we put in meant we held in there and comfortably won the game."
