West Ham United skipper Jarrod Bowen felt Danny Ings’ last-gasp leveller at Fulham on Saturday was reward for the team’s refusal to give up.
The Irons looked to be on course for a 1-0 defeat when they still trailed to Raúl Jiménez’s first half strike as they headed into the fifth of five indicated second half stoppage time minutes.
But Bowen and Ings had other ideas, as the No20 collected Vladimír Coufal’s quickly-taken throw-in and cut back for Ings, who took a smart touch and finished inside Bernd Leno’s near post.
It secured a fourth point of the new campaign for the Hammers, following on from the victory at Crystal Palace last month, and left the east Londoners feeling buoyant ahead of yet another derby against Chelsea at London Stadium next week.
“It wasn’t our greatest performance, we know that,” Bowen admitted. “But when you don’t play well and you come away with a point you’re always happy. This is a hard place to come to, we’ve been here many times and conceded a lot of goals.
“They cause teams trouble at their home, so [as long as] it was 1-0, we knew we’d get that moment if we kept fighting to the end.
“We did that and coming away with a point after the performance we put in, I think it’s a really good point for us.
“We know that we can improve performance-wise, so to go into Chelsea next week not losing today is good.
“We’ve had some great games with them over the years, so everyone will definitely be up for it.”
Back to Saturday’s drama and Bowen was delighted for his teammate Ings, who has had to be patient for the chances to show his quality since arriving in east London from Aston Villa in January 2023.
But Bowen always has faith that the No18 will deliver when the opportunities fall his way, and Ings was ruthless in scoring the leveller in west London.
His first touch took the ball away from the desperately covering defenders, after Coufal’s quick thinking caught the Cottagers unaware, and his second speared the ball into the net, squeezing it between Leno and the near post.
It sparked wild celebrations in the Away end, and Bowen says those kind of moments show the spirit in the team.
“Ingsy took the chance beautifully,” the captain continued. “I don’t think anyone has ever doubted his quality, we see it every day in training. What we’re trying to create here is when you’re not in the starting eleven, when you come on the pitch it’s about making an impact.
“We will need everyone in the season. It’s a long season with a lot of games – different games – and they all require big moments. He came up with that big moment today, so I’m buzzing for him.
“I knew as soon as Vladi picked the ball up that there was the space to go into and try to create something. I kind of saw Ingsy at the back and knew I could pick him out, and then the rest is down to Ingsy. It was a beautiful touch and finish.
“You saw all the lads, all the bench as well, it’s what it means and it symbolises what we are as a Football Club. We’re a group, we’re tight-knit and we enjoy those moments with the fans.”
