Reuters
[Source: Reuters]
West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen struck midway through the second half to secure a deserved 2-1 Premier League home win this morning over Wolverhampton Wanderers, whose poor defending cost them again as they languish second-bottom in the standings.
Wolves conceded three minutes after equalising to stay in 19th spot on nine points from 15 games, while West Ham are 14th with 18 points.
The 38 goals Wolves have conceded is the highest total in the top flight this season.
The game featured a minute’s applause after the ninth minute for 34-year-old Hammers striker Michail Antonio , who is recovering in hospital following surgery on a fractured leg sustained in a car crash on Saturday.
With both managers – West Ham’s Julen Lopetegui and Wolves’ Gary O’Neil – struggling to turn things around after their teams’ disappointing starts to the season, the pre-match talk was all about whose job was most at risk.
After forcing a slew of set pieces in a scoreless first half, it was Lopetegui’s Hammers who broke the deadlock in the 54th minute through Tomas Soucek from their 10th corner.
The Wolves defence left the Czech midfielder unmarked at the far post to send a looping header across goal into the net.
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 top flight team.
