Wolves could not convince Julen Lopetegui to stay at Molineux last year but they have kept him in his current job. Woeful defending from set pieces cost Gary O’Neil’s side again and, while West Ham hardly played with much style, they can continue to defer making a call on Lopetegui’s future after seeing off wasteful opponents thanks to opportunistic goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen.
Ultimately the sense persists that West Ham are delaying the inevitable given that defeat here would have brought an end to their unpopular manager’s unhappy reign. They are in an odd place – nine points above the bottom three, seven off fifth place – and the overall vibe is unconvincing. This performance did little to energise the home crowd and, although it was important to win for Michail Antonio, who is recovering after his horrific car crash, West Ham would be kidding themselves to think a draw would have flattered Wolves.
As it was, this defeat may prove the end for O’Neil. Wolves created chances, crafted a fine equaliser from Matt Doherty and had two big penalty claims turned away, but the walls are closing in. O’Neil, who talked up his side’s display, is running out of time to prove he can stave off relegation.
The problem for Wolves, who remain in the bottom three, is that they have the worst defensive record in the Premier League. West Ham needed only two minutes to respond to Doherty’s strike, Bowen curling in the winner, and there will come a point when O’Neil’s bosses snap.
“Whenever it ends I’ll be unbelievably proud of the job,” the Wolves manager said. “To the last moment the players are going to give everything for me. They’re devastated for me. They’re devastated for the supporters.”
The pain of defeat was so intense that Mario Lemina erupted at full time, clashing with Bowen, the situation almost boiling over. Lemina’s teammates had to drag him away and the midfielder even had an altercation with Shaun Derry, one of O’Neil’s assistants. “Mario’s calm now,” O’Neil said.
This was bound to be a night of heightened emotions after Antonio’s accident. Although the forward survived, fans cannot help but wonder if he will play again after having surgery on a broken leg.
At least Antonio was able to speak to his teammates via video link before kick-off. For West Ham, though, the absence of their record Premier League goalscorer weighed heavy. They paid tribute to him with special training tops and it was disconcerting to consider a future without him up front.
Those lung-busting runs have been a constant feature since the now 34-year-old joined from Nottingham Forest in 2015. Supporters love Antonio’s graft and West Ham missed his presence during the first half. Having decided not to sack Lopetegui after last week’s defeat at Leicester, they saw few signs of an identity developing under the Spaniard. The football was too slow and Wolves were not placed under severe pressure before half-time.
O’Neil took encouragement from his side’s discipline and work rate. Wolves sat in a low block and, when there was an opening for West Ham, Crysencio Summerville’s deft pass finding Carlos Soler, Rayan Aït-Nouri blocked the midfielder’s goalbound shot.
West Ham played in spurts, sudden bursts making Wolves wobble. Bowen and Mohammed Kudus tested Sam Johnstone. Konstantinos Mavropanos missed from close range.
Wolves were cautious after their 4-0 defeat by Everton. Nevertheless they should have led when Jørgen Strand Larsen’s pass sent Doherty beyond Emerson Palmieri on the right. João Gomes somehow volleyed Doherty’s cross wide at the far post.
West Ham were more decisive. They stirred after a slow start to the second half, Aaron Wan-Bissaka winning a debatable corner. Bowen’s delivery was deep, the marking was nonexistent and Soucek looped a header beyond Johnstone.
Wolves wobbled after their fifth successive concession from a set piece. West Ham, playing with renewed zest, were soon denied a second, Kudus offside when converting Bowen’s cutback.
Now Wolves spied a reprieve. O’Neil made positive changes, the introduction of Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Gonçalo Guedes altering the flow. Wolves raged when Guedes was denied a penalty after being pushed by Emerson, who was on a booking. West Ham got away with another when Mavropanos clipped Bellegarde.
It was not to be for Wolves, even after Doherty clobbered Aït-Nouri’s cross past Lukasz Fabianski. Two minutes later West Ham pushed from another set piece. O’Neil saw a foul on Santiago Bueno but play continued and Kudus found Bowen, who twisted past a weak challenge from Guedes and shaped a beautiful shot beyond Johnstone.
“A fighter and a warrior,” Bowen had said of Antonio. Now West Ham’s captain ran behind the goal to pull out a shirt in honour of the striker. The narrative was set. Wolves had further chances but O’Neil’s luck was out and Lopetegui clung on – for now.
