West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen scored midway through the latter half to clinch a well-earned 2-1 Premier League home triumph on Monday over Wolverhampton Wanderers, whose sloppy defending let them down again as they sit second-bottom in the table.
Wolves allowed a goal three minutes after equalising to remain in 19th place with nine points from 15 matches, while West Ham are 14th with 18 points. The 38 goals Wolves have let in is the highest tally in the top tier this campaign.
The match included a minute’s applause after the ninth minute for 34-year-old Hammers forward Michail Antonio, who is recuperating in hospital following an operation on a broken leg sustained in a car accident on Saturday.
With both managers – West Ham’s Julen Lopetegui and Wolves’ Gary O’Neil – struggling to improve their teams’ disappointing form this season, the pre-match conversation revolved around whose position was more precarious.
After winning a series of set pieces in a goalless opening half, it was Lopetegui’s Hammers who took the lead in the 54th minute through Tomas Soucek from their 10th corner.
The Wolves defence left the Czech midfielder unguarded at the far post to direct a looping header across goal into the net, and he immediately sprinted to a TV camera, raising nine fingers in tribute to Antonio, who wears number nine for the Hammers.
The goal was the eighth Wolves have conceded from a corner and the 15th from a set piece excluding penalties this season – more than any other team in the division.
Wolves managed to equalise through Matt Doherty in the 69th minute with a brilliantly executed scooped volley into the net, shortly after their strong penalty claim was denied.
The parity was short-lived as Wolves’ defensive weaknesses were exposed once again, with Bowen cutting onto his left foot in the penalty area before striking the ball into the corner three minutes later.
Disheartened after conceding so quickly following their equaliser, Wolves failed to build any rhythm and, aside from a few ineffective off-target attempts, they rarely troubled the West Ham goal in the closing stages as the home side held on comfortably to secure the win.
Soucek revealed after the game that the team had spoken to Antonio via video call earlier on Monday.
“The goal was for him. I dedicated it to him. I said before the game I really wanted to score even more today. He’s been here since I arrived. He’s truly my favourite,” he told Sky Sports, adding he was eager to visit his recovering teammate.
Wolves boss O’Neil conceded he was under strain but maintained that his team were still giving their maximum effort.
“I’m a little frustrated for them, honestly, because it was a decent away display under immense pressure,” he told Sky Sports.
“I can only ask them to give what they give, and they’re giving absolutely everything, so I hope the supporters are still proud of what they witness from the players.”
