Jarrod Bowen alleviated the pressure on West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui with a brilliant goal, securing a crucial 2-1 victory that edged Wolves boss Gary O’Neil closer to the sack on Monday.
Jarrod Bowen relieved the pressure on West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui with a stunning goal that secured a crucial 2-1 win, pushing Wolves manager Gary O’Neil closer to the sack on Monday. The match, dubbed “El Sackico” due to the intense speculation surrounding the futures of both managers, saw Lopetegui gain some much-needed breathing room thanks to Bowen’s decisive strike. Bowen scored the vital winner in the second half at the London Stadium, just moments after Matt Doherty had equalized for Wolves following Tomas Soucek’s opener.
West Ham’s 2-1 victory marked their first win in three games, moving them nine points clear of the relegation zone. Meanwhile, Wolves, who suffered their 10th defeat in 15 league matches, remain four points adrift of safety.
Following last week’s 3-1 loss at Leicester, there were reports that Lopetegui had survived a board meeting regarding his position. However, the Spaniard, who took over from David Moyes during the offseason, knows he must build on this crucial victory over the team he managed during the 2022-23 season before he can truly relax.
“I don’t talk about the noise, I talk about football. If you ask me about football, I’ll answer. A win is always good for me,” Lopetegui said. “The fans have supported us a lot through tough times. I’m happy for them.”
For O’Neil, who played for West Ham from 2011 to 2013, the pressure is mounting. After hearing calls for his dismissal from Wolves fans during their 4-0 defeat at Everton on Wednesday, O’Neil now faces an anxious wait for a decision from the Wolves board. His future looks uncertain after another setback to their survival hopes.
“An awful lot of decisions went against us in big moments,” O’Neil said. “You need some of them to go your way, but they didn’t. I’m not concerned. The people above me are supportive, but the supporters want success. I understand I have to take responsibility.”
West Ham were also shaken by the news that their Jamaican striker Michail Antonio had been involved in a serious car crash, which left him needing surgery on a lower limb fracture. Antonio had to be cut from his Ferrari following the accident, with Lopetegui calling it a “miracle” that he survived.
“It wasn’t an easy week. We dedicate the victory to Michail,” Lopetegui said. Fans paid tribute by holding a minute’s applause for Antonio in the ninth minute, matching his shirt number.
The match itself saw a nervy first half, with both teams struggling for quality and composure. Wolves should have opened the scoring when Matheus Cunha’s precise pass set up Matt Doherty for a cross that Joao Gomes inexplicably missed from close range.
The miss proved costly as West Ham took the lead in the 54th minute. Tomas Soucek, unmarked at a corner, rose to head the ball past Sam Johnstone and give the Hammers the advantage.
Wolves were frustrated again when they were denied a penalty after Emerson appeared to push Goncalo Guedes in the box. But the visitors did find an equalizer in the 69th minute. Doherty met Rayan Ait-Nouri’s cross with a half-volley that flashed past Lukasz Fabianski.
However, West Ham quickly regained the lead, with Bowen scoring a superb goal in the 72nd minute. The England forward danced past defenders and calmly slotted the ball into the far corner, restoring his team’s advantage.
Bowen, who had dedicated the goal to Antonio, celebrated by holding up his teammate’s shirt in a heartfelt tribute.
In the dying moments, Wolves had another penalty appeal turned down when Konstantinos Mavropanos tripped Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, and Fabianski later denied Mario Lemina, sealing the win for West Ham and leaving O’Neil’s future hanging in the balance.
