Jarrod Bowen dedicates his winner to Michail Antonio as West Ham beat Wolves

Jarrod Bowen dedicated his winning goal to Michail Antonio as West Ham beat Wolves 2-1.

The England winger held Antonio’s number nine shirt aloft in support of the Hammers striker, who is recovering in hospital after a horror car crash.

It was a victory which may have saved West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui’s job, for now at least, while the end could be nigh for Wolves’ under-pressure manager Gary O’Neil after a third straight defeat.

However, any concerns about poor form, or the job prospects of either boss, paled into insignificance following the news Antonio had been in a serious road accident on Saturday afternoon.

MA9 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/fXwtdSQWYE

— West Ham United (@WestHam) December 9, 2024

Thankfully, West Ham were able to confirm he was in a stable condition, conscious and communicating, on Saturday evening.

The 34-year-old has undergone surgery on a broken leg and faces a long road to recovery from his injuries.

So West Ham players showed their support for their stricken team-mate, wearing ‘Antonio 9′ shirts while warming up and walking out.

The shirts will be signed by the players, including Antonio, and auctioned off with the proceeds going to the NHS and Air Ambulances UK.

The focus was still on Antonio in the ninth minute, with a minute’s applause for the club’s record Premier League goalscorer.

But in a desperately poor first half it took until the 20th minute for anyone to have a shot, with Wolves’ Joao Gomes firing straight at Lukasz Fabianski, who also saved from Matheus Cunha at his near post.

Goalless after 20 minutes ⏱️

Mario Lemina has hit an effort over the bar and Joao Gomes has had a strike saved by Fabianski as we search for an opener. pic.twitter.com/DEPa9egtkq

— Wolves (@Wolves) December 9, 2024

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