West Ham United edged out Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1
The London Stadium.
The Hammers’ victory not only provided a much-needed boost for manager Julen Lopetegui but also left Wolves’ Gary O’Neil precariously close to the managerial exit.
The first half was as lively as a rainy Tuesday in Stoke, with both teams seemingly more interested in a leisurely kickabout than a Premier League showdown. However, the second half sprang to life in the 54th minute when Tomas Soucek was left as unmarked as a free sample at a supermarket, nodding in a looping header to break the deadlock.
Wolves responded in the 69th minute with Matt Doherty channelling his inner acrobat, executing a sublime scooped volley to level the score. But before Wolves fans could finish their celebratory pints, Jarrod Bowen danced through a defence that parted like the biblical Red Sea, slotting home the winner just three minutes later.
The match wasn’t without its soap opera though. A touching tribute was paid to Michail Antonio, recovering from surgery after a car accident, with Soucek dedicating his goal to the sidelined striker.
Post-match, tensions boiled over as Wolves’ Mario Lemina and Bowen engaged in a scuffle that had all the grace of a drunken tango, resulting in both receiving bookings.
This result nudges West Ham up to 14th place, providing Lopetegui with a temporary reprieve from the managerial guillotine. Meanwhile, Wolves remain entrenched in 19th, with O’Neil’s position looking shakier than a jelly on a rollercoaster.
It was a night where West Ham found their rhythm, Wolves hit a sour note, and the managers’ fates swung like a pendulum. As the saying goes, it’s a funny old game—unless you’re Gary O’Neil.