Wolves slumped to another damaging defeat, falling 2-1 to West Ham United at the London Stadium, leaving Gary O’Neil’s future hanging by a thread.
Dubbed ‘El Sackico’ due to the pressure on both managers, the result heaps further scrutiny on O’Neil after a third consecutive Premier League loss.
Despite creating chances, Wolves were undone by sloppy defending and missed opportunities, with their manager now facing an uncertain future.
The Hammers took the lead when Tomas Soucek capitalised on dreadful marking at a corner, rising unchallenged to loop a header into the far corner.
Wolves responded well, equalising through Matt Doherty, who converted Rayan Ait-Nouri’s cross with precision.
But the visitors’ joy was short-lived. Moments later, Jarrod Bowen displayed superb footwork to evade Goncalo Guedes and drove a low shot into the far corner, securing the victory for West Ham.
Emotions boiled over after the final whistle, with Wolves captain Mario Lemina at the centre of a heated altercation.
Struggling to make an impact during the match, Lemina looked increasingly frustrated as the game wore on.
At full-time, tempers flared when he ignored Jarrod Bowen, leading to a confrontation. The pair squared up, tugging at each other’s shirts, prompting players and staff to intervene.
Journalist Liam Keen reported: “All kicking off on the pitch, looks like it’s Bowen and Lemina involved before all the players get involved. Lemina booked.
“Lemina has lost his head here. Now pushing and shoving with Toti and staff pulling him away. The captain has gone to see the fans briefly and now heading down the tunnel.”
Replays also showed Lemina pushing away Wolves assistant coach Shaun Derry and teammates Toti Gomes and Nelson Semedo in the aftermath.
He briefly acknowledged the travelling supporters before storming down the tunnel, leaving questions about his leadership role.
With Wolves entrenched in the relegation zone, the club’s board now faces a critical decision over O’Neil’s future.
