Westham came back to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 at home at dawn on Tuesday. With the sackings of both teams' managers looming over the pre-match, tension filled the air as if it was a touch-and-go situation. England international Charlo Bowen was the hero in turning the game around with a crucial shot. But a clash erupted between him and Wolves captain Lemay after the game's final whistle, and a handshake stalemate left them both embroiled in controversy, with the risk of suspension looming large.
Westham striker Michali Antonio was recently involved in a car accident, and the team paid tribute to him by having all the players wearing the number 9 jersey. Both teams have been under immense pressure recently and both adopted a conservative strategy in the first half. It wasn't until the 54th minute that Thomas Souzik broke the ice first for the hosts with a corner kick. However, the Wolves were quick to equalize in the 69th minute with a goal from Matt Do'Booty Dee.
Just three minutes later, Charlo Pao-yun made a clever turn in the box, faked his way past the opposition defense, and fired a long-range shot into the net. Wolves players repeatedly expressed their dissatisfaction with the referee's decision. Anger erupted instantly after the game. Lemay's refusal to shake hands with Charlo Bowen sparked a confrontation. The two pushed and shoved each other and eventually wrestled, with other players joining in as the scene spiraled out of control. The referee showed yellow cards to warn both sides.
Consecutive defeats have seen Wolves drop to second in the table, with manager Gali O'Neill saying bluntly after the game, "The clash between Lemay and the Westham players is something the team want to calm down, the last thing I want to see is a stoppage in play, it's vital for us." Westham manager Lubidiku, on the other hand, said that he was not concerned about his position and dedicated the win to the injured Michalie Antonio.
