Jarrod Bowen knows one victory over Tottenham Hotspur will not erase the disappointment that has been the 2024/25 Premier League season.
But the West Ham United captain also knows one victory over Spurs is no less important for everyone associated with the Club.
When that victory would also take West Ham above Tottenham in the Premier League table, taking three points from Sunday’s derby at London Stadium is the only aim on Bowen and his teammates’ minds.
Writing in his column in the 132-page Official Programme, which you can order online HERE, the Irons’ leading scorer said the squad cannot dwell on the frustration of conceding goals and losing points late in recent matches, but instead can only focus on performing at a higher and more consistent level in future fixtures - starting against Spurs on Sunday.
“Every derby match is special for everyone associated with both clubs and, as players, the games themselves have that extra intensity which makes them exciting to play in,” he wrote.
“We know how disappointing our season has been and that one win over Spurs will not make up for our inconsistent performances and results, but we can only win the next game and our next game is against Spurs, so we want to win it. If we do, we’ll not only win a local derby, but we’ll also go above them in the table.
“To be honest, we should be above them in the table now, but we’ve got to say that we have not picked up the points we should have done, particularly over the last couple of months.
“We’ve got ourselves into some good positions in a number of games and either not won or lost them. Our last two have been sickening, and I don’t need to remind you what happened in them.
“All I can say is that we have got to be better, and got to be focused until the end of every game we play, because the Premier League is the toughest league in the world and if you are not on it, all the time, you will be punished.
“Spurs might have had a disappointing Premier League season themselves, but they’ve still got lots of very good players in their squad, and if we don’t give one hundred per cent effort and commitment and focus, they will punish us too.
“We were hurt by what happened at Brighton last weekend and we don’t want to feel that same way at full-time on Sunday.
“As captain, someone who has played here for over five years and as a member of a West Ham-supporting family, I know how frustrated you feel about the way we have performed this season. It is way below the standards we set ourselves, I can assure you.
“But talk is cheap when results are not up to scratch and the only way we can prove how much we care, and how good we are as players, is by going out there and performing and giving you something to get behind and cheer.
“I know from my time here that, when we’re playing well and you’re in full voice, then this stadium is a fortress for us, and we want it to be one again on Sunday.”
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