West Ham earn crucial win to increase pressure on Wolves boss O’Neil

West Ham secured a hard-fought Premier League victory over struggling Wolves, providing some relief for under-pressure head coach Julen Lopetegui.

The defeat, however, will likely intensify scrutiny on Wolves manager Gary O’Neil, as his team remains 19th in the standings following a third consecutive loss.

Tomas Soucek opened the scoring for West Ham with a second-half header from Jarrod Bowen’s corner.

Wolves responded through Matt Doherty’s impressive finish from Rayan Ait-Nouri’s cross, but Bowen restored West Ham’s lead with a composed effort during a chaotic second half.

The match featured several contentious moments. Mohammed Kudus’s goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR review, while Wolves were aggrieved that Emerson’s shove on Goncalo Guedes did not result in a penalty.

They were further incensed by Bowen’s winning goal, which followed an apparent foul by West Ham defender Konstantinos Mavropanos on Wolves centre-back Santiago Bueno.

The victory moves West Ham to 14th place, nine points clear of the relegation zone.

The job security of both Lopetegui and O’Neil was a key narrative leading up to a match humorously dubbed “El Sackico” on social media.

Another significant storyline was the recovery of Michail Antonio, who is recuperating from a serious car accident.

In a tense opening half, the absence of Antonio’s finishing prowess was evident as West Ham, supported by tributes from players and fans, struggled to capitalize on early chances.

Bowen, Carlos Soler, and Mavropanos all had opportunities to score but were thwarted by a resolute Wolves defense, which has conceded the most goals in the league this season.

However, Wolves’ defensive frailty on set pieces proved costly once again, as they conceded their eighth goal from a corner just eight minutes in.

The sequence leading to the corner was controversial, with Wolves’ captain Mario Lemina adamantly claiming the ball had gone out off Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Replays later supported Lemina’s assertion, adding to Wolves’ frustrations.

Lemina’s anger spilled over at full-time in a heated exchange with Bowen, earning him a booking as teammates stepped in to defuse the situation.

Wolves were left feeling aggrieved by several contentious decisions, while West Ham, who benefited from a similarly disputed penalty in a previous win against Manchester United, relished their good fortune in a potentially season-defining match.