Julen Lopetegui got here out on high within the battle of the under-pressure managers as West Ham beat Wolves 2-1 on the London Stadium.
Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen have been on track within the second half both facet of Matt Doherty’s strike at hand the Hammers an enormous increase – and plunge Wolves boss Gary O’Neil into large bother.
The defeat leaves Wolves 4 factors adrift of security in nineteenth, with the Irons now 9 factors away from the drop zone.
Each managers went into the sport, dubbed ‘El Sackico’ beneath large stress and that appeared to unfold onto the pitch throughout a tetchy opening that lacked high quality.
The one second of be aware got here ni the ninth minute when followers confirmed their assist for injured striker Michail Antonio, who stays in hospital after being concerned in a automotive crash on Saturday.
However each might simply have gone in at half-time in entrance after two large possibilities for each side within the remaining 10 minutes earlier than the break.
The primary got here the way in which of the away facet, with Toti Gomes one way or the other lacking the goal after two good passes from Jorgen Strand Larsen and Matt Doherty.
It was then the Hammers’ flip to overlook a gilt-etched likelihood, with defender Kostas Mavropanos unable to maintain his shot down after former Wolves captain Max Kilman had headed a nook again throughout purpose.
The hosts went forward shortly after the break by a well-known supply – Soucek from a nook.
The Czech midfielder made their tenth nook of the sport depend as he scored his fourth purpose of the season after heading Jarrod Bowen’s relax throughout purpose and over Gomes on the far nook.
Tomáš Souček with a HUGE purpose for West Ham! ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/cyyIWkAs1q
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 9, 2024
Mohammed Kudus thought he had doubled West Ham’s lead after ending off Bowen’s ball throughout from the left however a prolonged VAR test deemed the purpose to be offside, handing a lifeline to Wolves and O’Neil.
Wolves have been left livid on the denial of a penalty with simply over 20 minutes remaining after Emerson tripped Goncalo Guedes contained in the field, however nothing was given after one other VAR test.
Nevertheless it didn’t matter as Doherty scored an enormous purpose, discovering the web with a superb left-footed end after Rayan Ait-Nouri’s supply.
Matt Doherty places Wolves BACK into the combination! 🐺🔥 pic.twitter.com/Pe58XxTWhE
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 9, 2024
However O’Neil’s reprieve was all too short-lived as, with Wolves nearly solely simply ending their celebration, Bowen opened his physique and located the nook for an enormous purpose.
West Ham are again in entrance once more!
Jarrod Bowen with a contact of sophistication 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/mr7ZAYmGiV
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 9, 2024
Wolves have been denied two extra penalties earlier than West Ham had the ball within the web once more, just for one other Kudus effort to be chalked off.