Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek struck to assist ship 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 on the identical time piling the strain on Gary O’Neil.
On an evening of drama, stress and controversy, West Ham skipper Bowen emerged because the hero on the finish of a wild 18-minute second-half spell which noticed three objectives scored – with Matt Doherty equalising for Wolves both facet of two West Ham objectives – and two huge VAR calls made. The sport additionally noticed two additional strikes dominated out and two Wolves penalty appeals turned down by the officers.
The stakes have been put into perspective all through the evening by reveals of help to Hammers No 9 Michail Antonio, who has had surgical procedure after a automobile accident on Saturday, however in footballing phrases this seems to have been a major success for Lopetegui, whose job gave the impression to be on the road.
It is usually a harmful defeat for Wolves head coach O’Neil who’s himself beneath strain, together with his facet nonetheless languishing second-bottom within the desk and 4 factors from security. He can level to a number of key choices which value him and his facet right here.
O’Neil can title a protracted listing of controversial calls which have gone in opposition to him throughout his tenure and there was one other on Monday evening, with West Ham’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka reasonably than Wolves’ Toti showing to get the ultimate contact on the ball earlier than the nook was awarded which unmarked Soucek looped in his header from.
VAR did come to Wolves’ rescue when Mohammed Kudus thought he’d tapped in however was clearly offside – and the attacker noticed one other effort struck off in related circumstances within the remaining minutes. However the visiting teaching employees have been aggrieved when the officers in Stockley Park did not advocate an on-field evaluation when Emerson bundled Goncalo Guedes to the bottom as he bumped into the West Ham field.
Wolves have been stage simply seconds later, although, with Doherty guiding in Rayan Ait-Nouri’s low cross – nonetheless, his celebrations for his first purpose in a yr have been short-lived with Bowen virtually immediately placing the Hammers again in entrance with a trademark twisting run and low end.
He held aloft an Antonio shirt throughout his celebration and the West Ham followers sang the absent striker’s title as their facet in the end noticed out an vital victory which they hope will likely be a launchpad. They’re now 9 factors above the drop zone.
Wolves might level to a possible foul from Kostas Mavropanos on Santiago Bueno earlier within the transfer for that Bowen purpose, whereas yet one more VAR name went in opposition to Wolves late on, with Mavropanos cleared of felling Jean-Ricner Bellegarde within the field by stepping on his foot.
Joao Gomes missed a terrific first-half probability to place them in entrance however their frail defence was once more uncovered, with Mavropanos lacking a superb opening of his personal in that first 45 earlier than the injury was finished after the break. The complete-time whistle noticed captains Bowen and Mario Lemina clashing, with Lemina later pushing his personal team-mates and training employees on the finish of a high-pressure evening.
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Issues acquired heated after the full-time whistle between Jarrod Bowen and Mario Lemina
Lopetegui: We dedicate this victory to Antonio
West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui:
“We are happy, we dedicate the victory to Michail and his family. It has been tough the last days – the last week – the last days especially. He deserves this. We love a lot Michail, he’s a special person for us. I’m sure he’ll overcome this bad moment and come back. Today the best thing we can do is get the victory for him.
“The primary half we do not begin nicely. We rating a set-piece purpose, all the time vital. The crew confirmed character and good mentality [after the equaliser]. To have this sort of mentality goes to assist us obtain extra factors.
“We deserved to win, we had a lot of chances, a lot of corners. We overcame one bad moment.”
O’Neil: Easy choices went in opposition to us
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil:
“We gave ourselves a chance to get something from the game. You can see the lads are still 100 per cent committed and are willing to fight and give everything. We probably edged the game with good chances and good moments. And then we let ourselves down losing our marking at a corner, which apparently wasn’t a corner. I hear it came off Wan-Bissaka last.
“We did not discover a approach to flip it in our favour at this time. However a few of the choices went in opposition to us as nicely in an enormous sport. Huge moments. Some choices that appeared pretty straight ahead went in opposition to us.”
On the challenge from Mavropanos on Bueno before Bowen’s goal: “It is a blatant foul on Santi Bueno and there is not any manner it is a distinction part. The ball continues to be in the identical space. They are going to discover causes, and naturally they may, and I get there will likely be gray areas and the wording of the rule will be interpreted in many alternative methods. However that is a blatant foul on Bueno within the seconds earlier than the purpose. That is a blatant foul.”
“How is that not a foul?!” – Carragher on key decisions for West Ham goals
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher on the Soucek goal:
“It isn’t a nook, however you’ll be able to’t criticise the officers there. You speak about issues going in opposition to you – it comes off Wan-Bissaka. Wolves should defend the set-piece higher.”
On the Bowen goal:
“For me, Mavropanos is leaping for the ball and he fouls the defender on the ground. He would not react an excessive amount of after which Bowen scores not too lengthy after.
“He’s jumping for the ball, he’s trying to get it and he just jumps on the back of the defender. How is that not a foul?!”
