Jarrod Bowen fires warning at Leeds United with FA Cup and Premier League relegation battle verdicts
The fates of Leeds United and West Ham will be intertwined between now and May.
Jarrod Bowen and West Ham have their eyes on the FA Cup trophy having secured their quarter-final meeting with Leeds United on Monday night.
Leeds were involved in an FA Cup quarter-final draw for the first time in 23 years on Monday evening after beating Norwich City 3-0 over the weekend. Goals from Sean Longstaff, Gabriel Gudmundsson and Joel Piroe capped off a dominant performance against Championship opposition.
Monday’s draw pitted Leeds against the winners of last night’s final fifth-round tie, with West Ham knocking out Brentford on penalties following a 2-2 stalemate after extra-time. Daniel Farke’s side will head to the London Stadium on the weekend of April 4/5 with a semi-final trip to Wembley up for grabs.
"Leeds are a really good side and will want to do well in the FA Cup as well, but we saw what we did at home today against a Premier League side so that is whenever it is,” Bowen told TNT Sports following Monday’s win. "It was important to put in a good performance.
“We knew it was going to be a difficult game. Every FA Cup game we've had has gone to extra-time now, but we want to get to the final. We want silverware at this club. Of course we've got a long way to go yet but tonight is a really big night for everyone involved.”
Leeds and West Ham will both be desperate to reach Wembley but there are more pressing matters to address right now. The pair are currently locked in a battle to remain in the Premier League with three points separating the 18th-placed Hammers and Farke’s Whites in 15th.
Premier League the focus for West Ham and Leeds United
Both have enjoyed good recent runs of form, with Leeds looking solid since November while West Ham have clawed themselves back towards safety more recently. The Hammers are now level on points with Nottingham Forest and just one point short of crisis-ridden Tottenham Hotspur.
Before next month’s FA Cup meeting, Leeds and West Ham have two massive Premier League games to focus on before the March international break. The Whites face Crystal Palace and Brentford while Bowen’s side are up against Manchester City and Aston Villa.
“We have two really big games before the international break that we want to go and get maximum points from,” the West Ham captain added. "It's a special feeling. I go back to the QPR game [in the third round] where, I don't want to say our season started, but we knew that was the chance to really turn the season around and give us confidence and belief.
“We have done that in the Premier League, we have picked up points and good results, and tonight was the same. Now it's about rest because 120 minutes isn't good for anyone. We go and rest, play at the weekend [vs City], play Aston Villa and hopefully go into the break with two results."