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.