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Bowen’s winner gives Lopetegui a boost and puts pressure on O’Neill

Rachel05 mins


Julen Lopetegui came out on top in the battle of managers under pressure as West Ham beat Wolves 2-1 at the London Stadium.

Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen were on target in the second half either side of Matt Doherty’s strike to give the Hammers a huge boost – and land Wolves boss Gary O’Neil in huge trouble.

The defeat leaves Wolves four points adrift of safety in 19th place, with the Irons now nine points clear of the drop zone.

Both managers went into the game, with the name ‘El Sackico’ under enormous pressure and this appeared to spill over onto the pitch during a tough opening that lacked quality.

The only moment of note came in the ninth minute when The fans showed their support for the injured striker Michail Antoniowho remains in hospital after being involved in a car accident on Saturday.

But both could easily have gone in front at half-time after two huge chances for both teams in the final 10 minutes before the break.

The first came the way of the visitors, with Totti Gomes missing the target after two brilliant passes from Jørgen Strand Larsen and Matt Doherty.

Then it was the Hammers’ turn to miss a golden chance, with defender Kostas Mavropano unable to keep his shot after former Wolves captain Max Kilman headed in a corner behind goal.

The home side took the lead shortly after the break through a familiar source – Suchek from a corner.

The Czech midfielder scored his 10th corner of the game as he grabbed his fourth goal of the season after meeting Jarrod Bowen’s header across goal and over Gomes in the far corner.

Mohamed Qudous thought he had doubled West Ham’s lead after finishing Bowen’s cross down the left, but a lengthy VAR review ruled the goal offside, giving Wolves and O’Neill a lifeline.

Wolves were furious at being denied a penalty with just over 20 minutes remaining after Emerson tripped Goncalo Guedes in the box, but nothing was awarded after another VAR review.

But it didn’t matter as Doherty scored a huge goal, finding the net with a fine left-footed finish from Ryan Ait-Nouri’s delivery.

But O’Neil’s reprieve was all too short as, with Wolves almost done with their celebration, Bowen opened his body and found the corner for a huge goal.

Wolves were denied two more penalties before West Ham found the ball back in the net, only for another Kundous effort to be disallowed.



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