London Stadium was awash with emotion in the build-up to this game as West Ham fans paid tribute to club legend Billy Bonds, who passed away aged 79 at the end of November.

An enormous banner of Bonds lifting the FA Cup – which he won twice as a West Ham player – appeared in the stand bearing his name as the two teams made their way on to the pitch, while former team-mates Trevor Brooking and Alvin Martin – accompanied by Bonds’ two daughters – laid a floral tribute inside the centre circle before kick-off.

The home fans had already celebrated the opening goal by the time they rose to their feet for their now customary fourth-minute round of applause in Bonds’ honours – but they were no longer celebrating at full time.

Bowen was West Ham’s greatest threat, becoming only the second player to reach 100 Premier League goal involvements for the club after Michail Antonio, but the Hammers’ defensive frailties came back to haunt them as they conceded more than one goal in a top-flight home game for the seventh time this season.

Their only clean sheet of the campaign so far came in a 3-0 victory at Nottingham Forest, who pulled five points clear of the Hammers in the table with a comfortable win over Tottenham at the City Ground on Saturday.

Things may be about to get even worse for West Ham, who travel to in-form Manchester City next weekend.