Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek struck to give West Ham and Julen Lopetegui a much-needed 2-1 win over Wolves in what was billed as a must-win match for the Hammers boss – while increasing the pressure on Gary O'Neil.
On a night full of drama, tension and controversy, West Ham captain Bowen emerged as the hero at the end of a wild 18-minute spell in the second half, which saw three goals scored – with Matt Doherty equalizing for Wolves after Soucek's opener – and two big goals. VAR calls made. The match also saw two strikes ruled out and two Wolves penalties dismissed by the referees.
“Some big decisions had a huge impact on the outcome,” a frustrated O'Neil said afterwards. “I thought we should have had two penalties and it was a blatant foul [Santiago] Bueno in the build-up to their second goal.
“I understand how difficult the job is for the referees, but you need some of that to go your way. Some very big decisions we couldn't get done. The first goal, possibly not even a corner. A lot of things went wrong against us.”
The stakes were put into perspective all evening by messages of support for Hammers number 9 Michail Antonio, who underwent surgery following a car accident on Saturday, but in footballing terms this appears to have been a significant success for Lopetegui, whose job appeared to be at the end of the be a line.
It is also a damaging defeat for Wolves head coach O'Neil, who is himself under pressure with his side still in second place in the table and four points away from safety.
O'Neil can name a long list of controversial calls that have gone against him during his tenure, and there were more on Monday night, with West Ham's Aaron Wan-Bissaka instead of Wolves' Toti appearing to get the final touch on the ball before the match . A corner was awarded, from which the unmarked Soucek netted his header.
VAR did come to Wolves' aid when Mohammed Kudus thought he had tapped in, but he was clearly offside – and the attacker saw another attempt scored in the closing minutes under similar circumstances. But the visiting coaching staff were offended when the referees at Stockley Park did not recommend an on-pitch review as Emerson Goncalo pushed Guedes to the ground as he encountered the West Ham box. PGMOL later said VAR believed the contact had been outside the box, but O'Neil was confident it continued in the area.
Wolves were level just seconds later, with Doherty guiding Rayan Ait-Nouri's low cross. However, his celebration of his first goal in a year was short-lived, with Bowen putting the Hammers back in front almost immediately with a trademark spinning run. and low finish.
He held up an Antonio shirt during his celebration and West Ham fans chanted the absent striker's name as their side finally secured an important win that they hope will be a springboard. They are now nine points above the drop zone.
Wolves will point out a possible foul by Kostas Mavropanos on Santiago Bueno 11 seconds before that Bowen goal, while late in the evening another VAR call went against Wolves, clearing Mavropanos of felling Jean-Ricner Bellegarde in the penalty area by stepping on his foot. The VAR ruled that it was not a clear error by the referee.
Joao Gomes missed a great chance in the first half to put them ahead, but their weak defense was once again exposed, with Mavropanos himself missing a good opening in that first 45 before the damage was done after the break. O'Neil was annoyed by the loose marking on Soucek before the opener.
At the full-time whistle, captains Bowen and Mario Lemina collided, with Lemina later pressing his own teammates and coaching staff at the end of a high-pressure evening.
Lopetegui: We dedicate this victory to Antonio
West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui:
“We are happy, we dedicate the victory to Mikhail and his family. It was tough the last days – the last week – especially the last days. He deserves this. We love Michail very much, he is a special person for us I'm sure he will overcome this bad moment and come back. The best we can do today is get the win for him.
“We didn't start well in the first half. We scored a goal, which is always important. The team showed character and a good mentality [after the equaliser]. Having this kind of mentality 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'Neil: Clear decisions were against us
Wolves boss Gary O'Neil:
“We gave ourselves the chance to get something out of the match. You can see that the boys are still 100 percent committed and ready to fight and give everything. We probably overachieved the match with good chances and good moments And then we left ourselves We lost our mark in a bend, which apparently wasn't a bend. I heard it came last from Wan-Bissaka.
“We didn't find a way to turn it in our favor today. But some decisions also went against us in a big game. Big moments. Some decisions that looked pretty easy went against us.”
On Mavropanos' challenge on Bueno for Bowen's goal: “It's a blatant foul on Santi Bueno and there is no difference phase. The ball is still in the same area. They will find reasons, and of course they will do, and I There will be gray areas and the wording of the rule can be interpreted in many different ways. But that is a blatant foul on Bueno in the seconds before the goal.”
On Guedes' penalty: “I don't think Gueds is outside the box. The contact certainly continues in the box. Absolutely. I will assess it and have an honest conversation with them.” [PGMOL].
“Emerson is also on a yellow card, so that would have been a big turning point in the match.”
On Bellegarde's penalty: “It's probably not clear and obvious, but he tripped twice. I think the referee on the pitch should give it, same as the first.”
“How is that not a violation?!” – Carragher on key decisions for West Ham goals
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher on Soucek's goal:
“It's not a corner, but you can't criticize the referees there. You talk about things that go against you – it comes from Wan-Bissaka. Wolves need to defend the set-piece better.”
About the Bowen Goal:
“For me, Mavropanos jumps in front of the ball and makes a mistake on the defender on the ground. He doesn't react too much and then Bowen scores not long after.
“He jumps for the ball, he tries to grab it and he just jumps on the back of the defender. How can that not be a foul?!”
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