Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek struck to help deliver West Ham and Julen Lopetegui a much-needed 2-1 victory over Wolves in what had been billed as a must-win match for the Hammers boss – and at the same time piling the pressure on Gary O’Neil.
On a night of drama and tension, West Ham skipper Bowen emerged as the hero at the end of a wild 18-minute second-half spell which saw three goals scored and two big VAR calls made. The game also saw two further strikes ruled out and two Wolves penalty appeals turned down by the officials.
The stakes were put into perspective throughout the night by shows of support to Hammers No9 Michail Antonio, who has had surgery after a car accident on Saturday, but in footballing terms this appears to have been a significant success for Lopetegui, whose job seemed to be on the line.
It is also a damaging defeat for Wolves head coach O’Neil who is himself under pressure, with his side still languishing second-bottom in the table and four points from safety.
He can name a long list of controversial calls which have gone against him during his tenure and there was another on Monday night, with West Ham’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka rather than Wolves’ Toti appearing to get the final touch on the ball before the corner was awarded which unmarked Soucek looped in his header from.
VAR did come to Wolves’ rescue when Mohammed Kudus thought he’d tapped in but was clearly offside – and the attacker saw another effort struck off in similar circumstances in the final minutes. But the visiting coaching staff were aggrieved when the officials in Stockley Park didn’t recommend an on-field review when Emerson bundled Goncalo Guedes to the ground as he ran into the West Ham box.
Wolves were level just seconds later, though, with Matt Doherty guiding in Rayan Ait-Nouri’s low cross – however, his celebrations for his first goal in a year were short-lived with Bowen almost instantly putting the Hammers back in front with a trademark twisting run and low finish.
He held aloft an Antonio shirt during his celebration and the West Ham fans sung the absent striker’s name as their side saw out an important victory which they hope will be a launchpad. They are now nine points above the drop zone.
Wolves may point to a potential foul from Kostas Mavropanos on Santiago Bueno earlier in the move for that Bowen goal, while yet another VAR call went against Wolves late on, with Mavropanos cleared of felling Jean-Ricner Bellegarde in the box.
Joao Gomes missed a great first-half chance to put them in front but their frail defence was again exposed, with Kostas Mavropanos missing a good opening of his own in that first 45 before the damage was done after the break. The full-time whistle saw clashes between both sets of players at the end of a high-pressure night.
More to follow…
