Wolves failed to convince Julen Lopetegui to stay at Molineux last year but kept him in the current job. Tearful defending from the silverware cost Gary O’Neil’s side yet again and, with West Ham barely playing with much style, they may continue to defer a call on Lopetegui’s future after seeing their opponents spilled for opportunistic goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen.
In the final analysis, it remains to be seen that West Ham’s delay was inevitable given that defeat here would have brought an end to an unpopular manager’s unpopular regime. They are in an odd place – nine points above the bottom three, in fifth place seven times – and the overall vibe is discouraging. This did little to excite the home crowd and, although it was important for Michail Antonio to recover, he recovered. After his horrific car crashWest Ham think it’s kidding themselves to drag themselves down to flattering Wolves.
When this defeat proved the end of O’Neil. Wolves created chances, faked an equalizer from Matt Doherty’s penalty and had two big penalty attempts averted, but the Walls were closing in. O’Neil, who spoke of his side’s display, is running out of time to prove he can stave off relegation. .
The problem with Wolves, who remain in the bottom three, is that they have the worst defensive record Supreme League. West Ham needed just two minutes to respond to Doherty’s strike, bending in Bowen’s winner, and it would be the point when O’Neil’s boots were broken.
“Whenever it ends I’ll be a proud, incredulous job,” the Wolves manager said. “The players give me everything at the end of the season. I was devastated. The supporters were devastated. “
The pain of defeat was so intense that Marius Lemina broke out at full-time, with Bowen scrambling, things almost boiled over. Lemina’s team had to pull him, and the midfielder also had an altercation with Shaun Derry, one of O’Neil’s assistants. “Mary is calm now,” O’Neil said.
This night was held in great emotion after the fall of Antony. Despite his continued survival, fans can’t help but wonder if he will play again after suffering a broken leg.
Anthony was certainly able to talk to his teammates via video link before kicking off. For West Ham, though, the absence of the record Premier League goalscorer weighed heavily. They gave him the most important summits, and without him it is difficult to consider the future.
Those lung-busting runs have been a constant feature since the now 34-year-old joined from Nottingham Forest in 2015. Supporters love Anthony’s instincts and West Ham missed his presence in the first half. After the last week, Lopetegui decided not to steal the defeat at Leicesterthey saw few signs of identity developed under the Spanish. The ball was sluggish and Wolves were not put under serious pressure before half-time.
O’Neil received encouragement from his side of his training and work. Wolves sat in a narrow low and, when it was open to the West Ham, Chrissenci Summerville’s cross bar found Carlos Soler, Rayan Aït-Nouri’s shot blocked the boundary.
West Hamus flashed, and suddenly made the Wolves tremble. Bowen and Mohammed Kudus tried Sam Johnstone. Constantine left Mavropanos out of close quarters.
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Wolves are wary of them 4-0 defeat by Verton. However, they were to take the lead when Jørgen Strand’s pass sent Larsen Doherty beyond Emerson Palmieri on the right. João Gomes somehow drove Doherty’s cross at the far post.
West Ham were stronger. After a slow start, they rallied at half-time, winning Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s controversial corner. Bowen’s delivery was high, there was no marking, and Soucek headed it past Johnstone.
Wolves wobbed after a fifth successive concession from the set. West Ham, playing with renewed enthusiasm, were soon denied a second, converting Kudus offside with Bowen’s cutback.
The wolves now looked terrible. O’Neil made positive changes, the introduction of Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Gonçalo Guedes changed the flow. Wolves were furious when Guedes was denied a penalty by Emerson, who was on the books. West Ham got away with another when they beat Mavropanos Bellegarde.
Wolves were not to be, even after Doherty’s Aït-Nouri cross surrounded Lukasz Fabianski. Two minutes later West Ham were kicked out by the other side. O’Neil saw a foul on Santiago Bueno, but the play continued and Kudus found Bowen, who deflected a weak challenge from Guedes and curled a beautiful shot beyond Johnston.
A fighter and a warrior, he said of Anthony Bowen. Now the West Ham captain ran behind the goal to pull out his shirt in honor of the striker. The story unfolded. Wolves had further chances but O’Neil’s luck ran out and Lopetegui stuck – for now.