Jarrod Bowen's hat trick gives West Ham victory and leaves Brentford in trouble | first division

No one could accuse David Moyes of not providing enough entertainment. Only Brentford, perched precariously above the bottom three after their fifth defeat in six games, had cause for complaint. Thomas Frank will have focused less on the return of West Ham's creative charm and more on his defense's meek attempt to deal with a resurgent Jarrod Bowen.

It promises to be a nervy end to the season if Brentford continue to score goals at such an alarming rate. West Ham, delighted to finish a mini crisis which had raised doubts about Moyes' future, were rampant. Bowen's first hat-trick for the club was enough for West Ham to end a run of eight games without a win in all competitions and move up to eighth place.

It was natural that the memory of West Ham capitulation to Arsenal in their previous home game he was suspended in the air at the moment of kick-off. However, there was pressure on Moyes, whose hopes for a new deal stay in balance, it was hard to tell during a frantic initial outburst from his side. This, after weeks of constipated football, was West Ham's finest hour; muscular and intense, aggressive when the ball was there to win, quick to counter-attack and armed with a front three ready to punish the first hint of Brentford's sloppy defending.

The visitors were not as confident without Ethan Pinnock leading their back three. They should have conceded the goal after four minutes, but Tomas Soucek shot from close range, but they ignored the warning. Frank Onyeka looked too heavy when a pass came to him in the center of the field. In came Edson Alvarez and out went West Ham, making their way through the midfield, the anticipation rising when James Ward-Prowse found Emerson Palmieri and the left-back returned the ball to Bowen.

Everything seemed clear and decided. West Ham had more balance with Lucas Paquetá ready to start for the first time since early January. Bowen, who hadn't scored in seven games, took a touch and shot before anyone could bring him down. Mark Flekken, the Brentford goalkeeper, had no chance to stop the striker's shot from hitting his near post.

Brentford looked stunned. They soon lost possession again and were unable to regain their form as West Ham broke down. It was too easy for Mohammed Kudus to send Vladimir Coufal behind the overstretched Sergio Reguilón. The West Ham right-back had enough time to cross for Bowen to score his 13th league goal of the season, his most in a single campaign.

However, West Ham would not make it easy for him. Their concentration dropped in the 13th minute, Kurt Zouma missed a pass and Emerson weakened in the tackle. Brentford was alive. Ivan Toney played a clever pass to Keane Lewis-Potter and the full-back released Neal Maupay. Konstantinos Mavropanos was not close enough to the striker when his shot beat Alphonse Areola.

The game calmed down after Maupay's goal. Brentford had a penalty appeal rejected when Kudus pushed Reguilón and Paquetá wasted two presentable chances. Toney's touches hinted at a threat.

The contest was on the line, the tension was evident when Kevin Nolan, West Ham's first team coach, confronted Maupay before the start of the second half. Brentford, increasingly bold, began to threaten. Toney came close to finding Lewis-Potter's cross.

West Ham got nervous. Emerson struggled with Lewis-Potter, although Brentford struggled to create clear-cut chances. Álvarez protected West Ham's four and Mavropanos and Zouma were strong in the air.

Able to relax, West Ham began to attack again. Kudus, turning and turning, resumed his torture of Reguilon and crossed toward Bowen. All alone in the six-yard box, he headed a simple header past Flekken.

Brentford tried to respond, Onyeka tested Areola at his near post, but his resistance was over. His defense was all over the place after Ben Mee limped off. Frank, who could have done it without losing another player to injury, could only grimace as West Ham attacked again and Emerson completed the rout with a stunning strike from 20 yards. Yoanne Wissa's late consolation meant little, even if the defending left Moyes shaking his head.