WEST HAM’S upturn in form has certainly benefited from the pace of Jarrod Bowen – the fastest player in the league on the weekend.
Clocking in at a rapid 22.3 miles per hour top speed, the 23-year-old was even joined by fellow Hammer Issa Diop on the podium for the Premier League’s quickest players.
In West Ham’s 2-2 draw at Newcastle, the centre-back hit 21.7mph to sit joint-third in the division’s weekend leaderboard.
The Magpies were forced to fight back from a goal down on two occasions at St James’ Park as David Moyes’ side continued their fight against relegation.
Having beaten Chelsea in midweek, the draw moved West Ham four points clear of the relegation zone.
And speedster Bowen played a major part in both games, nabbing a pair of assists against the Blues before setting up Michail Antonio’s opener on Tyneside.
The striker has revelled in racing onto January signing Bowen’s low crosses after darting down the wing on his supposedly weaker right foot.
Since arriving from Hull for an initial £18million, the wide-man has scored once in eight games with the Hammers losing all five of the matches that he has not contributed a goal or assist to.
Joshua King took second place on the top speed leaderboard for the weekend after Bournemouth’s 5-2 defeat to Manchester United.
A solid 21.9mph edged the Norwegian past Shane Long and Tariq Lamptey, who shared third with Diop on 21.7mph.
Bournemouth striker King scored in a heavy defeat at Old TraffordCredit: AP:Associated Press
Shane Long helped his Southampton side to a massive win off the benchCredit: Reuters
Long, 33, was his usual effervescent self after coming off the bench for the last 20 minutes of Southampton’s 1-0 win over Manchester City.
Like West Ham, Brighton continued to push clear of relegation with the 1-0 beating of Norwich.
Teenager Lamptey, who joined from Chelsea in January, has impressed on the South Coast and can boast two clean sheets in his three outings for the Seagulls.
Lampard denies Chelsea were ‘let down by the defenders’ despite his team succumbing to shock 3-2 defeat to West Ham, squandering chance to go third in Premier League
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
