Jarrod Bowen scored his maiden career hat-trick to inspire West Ham to their first win this calendar year at Brentford’s expense.
The 27-year-old’s trio of goals helped ease the pressure on under-fire David Moyes, who sang the praises of Ivan Toney in midweek before his own frontman came up with the goods at the London Stadium.
Emerson got in on the act with a long-distance stunner, as the Hammers ended an eight-game winless run to down the relegation-threatened visitors.
Hammers fans were desperate for a pick-me-up after Arsenal ran riot last time out on home turf, and Tomas Soucek was furious that he couldn’t provide it when he swiped over from five yards in a frenzy of early activity.
Supporters were still puffing their cheeks in frustration by the time Bowen avenged his team-mate just a minute later.
The forward was deadly with his finish, latching onto Emerson’s cut-back and firing in off the near-post to ease any early nerves.
With Brentford on the ropes, Bowen’s first Premier League goal since Christmas was swiftly followed by his second as he turned in Vladimir Coufal’s cross to crown a sweeping team move.
It was shaping up to be a long night for the Bees, who slipped down to 16th in the table before kick-off as a result of Everton’s reduced points deduction.
But Neal Maupay restored hope inside a quarter of an hour, channelling his superb individual record against West Ham to notch his fifth goal in seven head-to-head appearances.
Keane Lewis-Potter was the creator, sliding Maupay through before a first-time finish flew past Alphonse Areola and into the top corner.
A spat between hot-headed Maupay and West Ham coach Kevin Nolan broke out as teams re-emerged for the second period, but there was no danger of head-loss for the Hammers.
Bowen laid claim to the match ball and killed the game off just after the hour mark, with Mohammed Kudus’ pinpoint cross requiring a simple headed finish as Brentford’s back-line went to sleep.
The Bees’ hopes were fading by the time Frank Onyeka spurned their best chance since Maupay’s goal, steering Sergio Reguilon’s cross towards the near-post and forcing Areola into action.
Those hopes were decimated altogether when Emerson answered the crowd’s cries to shoot with a long-range rocket.
And while substitute Yoane Wissa pulled another goal back for Brentford by curling in from the edge of the box, the damage had already been done.
There will be no let-up for the Bees, who are only five points clear of the drop zone with Chelsea and Arsenal up next.
West Ham are up to eighth and will fancy cementing their top-half status in winnable upcoming clashes with Everton and Burnley.
