The match was dubbed ‘El Sackico’, with both Lopetegui and Wolves boss Gary O’Neil seemingly on the brink of losing their job heading into the fixture, but it was the Spaniard who saw his side battle to a much-needed win.
After a goalless first-half, Tomas Soucek put the hosts in front from a corner, looping a header into the far corner from Bowen’s delivery to the back post.
Wolves hit back with 20 minutes remaining, Rayan Ait-Nouri clipping a cross in for his fellow wing-back Matt Doherty, who volleyed brilliantly beyond Lukasz Fabianski.
The response, though, was almost immediate, as Bowen chopped past the first challenge, weaved his way into the box and curled in a wonderful finish. He raised aloft a shirt with Michail Antonio’s name on in celebration and in support of his team-mate who required surgery after a car crash on Saturday.
Mohamed Kudus had a goal ruled out for offside for the second time in the closing stages, leaving the Hammers to endure a painfully nervous eight minutes of stoppage time.
They did just that, remaining 14th in the Premier League but only five points off the top half. Wolves, meanwhile, stay 19th and O’Neil now faces a grim wait to see if he will remain in charge for Saturday’s clash at home to Ipswich.
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