West Ham 2-1 Wolves: Bowen winner hands boost to Lopetegui and heaps pressure on O'Neil

[ad_1] Julen Lopetegui got here out on high within the battle of the under-pressure managers as West Ham beat Wolves 2-1 on the London Stadium.

Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen had been heading in the right direction within the second half both aspect of Matt Doherty’s strike handy the Hammers an enormous enhance – and plunge Wolves boss Gary O’Neil into enormous bother.

The defeat leaves Wolves 4 factors adrift of security in nineteenth, with the Irons now 9 factors away from the drop zone.

Each managers went into the sport, dubbed ‘El Sackico’ beneath enormous stress and that appeared to unfold onto the pitch throughout a tetchy opening that lacked high quality.

The one second of be aware got here ni the ninth minute when followers confirmed their help for injured striker Michail Antonio, who stays in hospital after being concerned in a automotive crash on Saturday.

However each may simply have gone in at half-time in entrance after two enormous probabilities for either side within the closing 10 minutes earlier than the break.

The primary got here the best way of the away aspect, with Toti Gomes one way or the other lacking the goal after two sensible passes from Jorgen Strand Larsen and Matt Doherty.

It was then the Hammers’ flip to overlook a gilt-etched probability, with defender Kostas Mavropanos unable to maintain his shot down after former Wolves captain Max Kilman had headed a nook again throughout aim.

The hosts went forward shortly after the break via a well-known supply – Soucek from a nook.

The Czech midfielder made their tenth nook of the sport depend as he scored his fourth aim of the season after heading Jarrod Bowen’s sit back throughout aim and over Gomes on the far nook.

Tomáš Souček with a HUGE aim for West Ham! ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/cyyIWkAs1q

— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 9, 2024

Mohammed Kudus thought he had doubled West Ham’s lead after ending off Bowen’s ball throughout from the left however a prolonged VAR test deemed the aim to be offside, handing a lifeline to Wolves and O’Neil.

Wolves had been left livid on the denial of a penalty with simply over 20 minutes remaining after Emerson tripped Goncalo Guedes contained in the field, however nothing was given after one other VAR test.

However it didn't matter as Doherty scored an enormous aim, discovering the online with a positive left-footed end after Rayan Ait-Nouri’s supply.

Matt Doherty places Wolves BACK into the combo! 🐺🔥 pic.twitter.com/Pe58XxTWhE

— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 9, 2024

However O’Neil’s reprieve was all too short-lived as, with Wolves nearly solely simply ending their celebration, Bowen opened his physique and located the nook for an enormous aim.

West Ham are again in entrance once more!

Jarrod Bowen with a contact of sophistication 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/mr7ZAYmGiV

— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 9, 2024

Wolves had been denied two extra penalties earlier than West Ham had the ball within the web once more, just for one other Kudus effort to be chalked off.