Jarrod Bowen and Thomas Souk struck to help West Ham and Julen Lopetegui to a 2-1 win over Wolves in what was seen as a must-win for the Hammers boss, while putting pressure on Gary O’Neill.
In a night of drama, tension and controversy, West Ham captain Bowen emerged as the hero at the end of an 18-minute second half when he scored three goals. VAR calls were made. The game also saw two more shots disallowed and the officials denied two penalty appeals by the Wolves.
“Some big decisions had a huge impact on the outcome,” a frustrated O’Neill said afterwards. “I thought we should have had two penalties and it was a clear foul on (Santiago) Bueno on the second goal.
“I understand how difficult it is for the officials, but you need some of it to go your way. Some really big calls didn’t go our way. A lot of things went against us “.
The stakes were high throughout the night, with the number 9 hammering Michail Antonio, who underwent surgery following Saturday’s car crash, but in football terms it appeared to be a significant success for Lopetegui, whose job appears to be on the line;
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Tomas Soukek has revealed that Michail Antonio spoke to West Ham’s squad via video call ahead of their 2-1 Premier League win against Wolves.
It’s also a damaging defeat for Wolves boss O’Neill, who himself is under pressure as his side remain second bottom of the table and four points off safety.
O’Neill can point to a long list of controversial calls that have gone against him during his tenure, and there were more on Monday night when West Ham’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka, rather than Wolves’ Totti, appeared to be the last was touching to the ball before the game.The corner was awarded, from which the unknown Suchek headed.
VAR helped Wolves when Mohamed Kudus thought he had a shot but was clearly offside and the striker saw another effort in similar circumstances in the closing minutes. Emerson brings Goncalo Guedes to the ground as he runs into the West Ham area. PGMOL later said VAR believed the contact was outside the box, but O’Neill was adamant it continued inside the area.
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West Ham and Wolves fans applaud in the 9th minute as they show their appreciation for Michail Antonio who was involved in a car crash on Saturday.
Wolves equalized seconds later when Doherty headed in Ryan Ayte-Noory’s low pass, but his first goal celebration in a year was short-lived when Bowen put the Hammers in front almost instantly with a turn and low finish.
He held up Antonio’s shirt in celebration and the West Ham fans chanted the missing striker’s name as their side finally saw off an important win which they hope will put them nine points clear from the drop zone.
Wolves point to a possible foul on Santiago Bueno by Kostas Mavropanos 11 seconds before Bowen’s goal, while another VAR call was made late on against Wolves when Mavropanos was cleared to trip Jean-Ricque Bellegarde in the box. VAR ruled it clear and obvious not a mistake by the referee.
Joao Gomez missed a great chance to put them in front in the first half, but their flimsy defense was exposed again and Mavropanos missed his good opener in the first 45 before After the break, the damage was done. O’Neill was furious with Suchek for the open mark.
At the full-time whistle, captains Bowen and Mario Lemina clashed, with Lemina later shoving his teammates and coaching staff at the end of a high-pressure night.
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Things heated up 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 Mikhail and his family. The last few days, especially the last days, he deserves it. He is a special person for us. I am sure he will overcome this bad moment and will come back today the best thing we can do is get the win for him.
“We don’t start well in the first half. Scoring a key goal, which is always important. The team showed a good attitude (after the equaliser). Having that attitude will help us get more points.
“We deserved to win, we had a lot of chances, a lot of corners. We overcame one bad moment.”
O’Neill. The decisions were just against us
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Wolves boss Gary O’Neill says Santiago Bueno was “flagrantly fouled” moments before Jarrod Bowen’s winner at the London Stadium.
Wolves boss Gary O’Neill.
“We gave ourselves a chance to get something out of the game. You could see the guys were still 100 percent committed and ready to fight and give it their all. Losing our marking in a corner that apparently wasn’t a corner.
“We didn’t find a way to turn it around in our favor today. But some decisions went against us in the big game. Some decisions that looked pretty obvious went against us.”
On Mavropanos’ challenge in Bueno before Bowen’s goal. “It’s a clear violation against Santi Bueno and there’s no way the ball is still in the same area. They will find reasons, and of course they will, and I understand there will be gray areas and formulations. the rule can be interpreted differently, but it is a clear foul against Bueno seconds before the goal.
About Guedes’ penalty call. “I don’t think Gueds is out of the box. Definitely going to review it and have an honest conversation with them.”
“Emerson also got a yellow card so that would have been a big turning point in the game.”
Yelling about Bellegarde’s penalty. “It’s probably not clear and obvious, but he fumbled twice. I think the umpire should give it like the first one.”
“How is that not a foul?” – Carragher on West Ham’s key goal decisions
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher on Socek’s goal.
“It’s not a corner, but you can’t criticize the officials there. You talk about it going against you, it comes out of Van-Bissakan. Wolves need to defend the pitch better.”
About Bowen’s goal.
“For me, Mavropanos jumps for the ball and he fouls the defender on the floor.
“He jumps for the ball, tries to get it, and he just jumps on the defender’s back. How is that not a foul?”
