Michail Antonio spoke to his West Ham team-mates through a video name from his hospital mattress earlier than they beat Wolves 2-1 on Monday night time.

Jarrod Bowen held Antonio’s quantity 9 shirt aloft after scoring the winner in assist of the Hammers striker, who’s recovering after a horror automotive crash on Saturday.

Boss Julen Lopetegui stated: “He’s not in his greatest second however he stored his humour. It was a particular second for us.

“I feel we’ve got quite a lot of purpose to win matches however this was one purpose extra. He’s alive so we’re joyful.”

West Ham gamers wore ‘Antonio 9′ shirts whereas warming up and strolling out earlier than kick-off.

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

Tomas Soucek headed West Ham into the lead and held up 9 fingers to a TV digital camera.

The Czech midfielder advised Sky Sports activities: “He’s been right here since I got here right here. He’s actually my favorite. I stated it could be robust for me to play with out him.

“I used to be so scared what was going to occur. It was a very robust week for him, his household and us.”

Matt Doherty equalised for Wolves, and boss Gary O’Neil felt they need to have had two penalties for fouls on Goncalo Guedes and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, each of which had been checked by VAR.

However Bowen’s winner – O’Neil believed there was a foul within the build-up – condemned Wolves to a tenth defeat of the season and a 3rd in a row.

Whereas under-pressure Lopetegui might have earned a keep of execution, O’Neil’s future as Wolves supervisor is now in critical doubt.

“Plenty of issues went in opposition to us however in the end we’ve got not discovered a strategy to flip the sport in our favour,” he stated.

“However the gamers confirmed they’re nonetheless preventing for me, for the followers and the group.

“The place does this go away me? In the identical place I used to be. I’m conscious of the noise. But when anybody anticipated this to be straightforward – I’m joyful to be judged on outcomes but it surely needs to be completed in context.

“Each time this journey ends with Wolves I’ll be pleased with it.”

There was an acrimonious finish to the match as captains Bowen and Mario Lemina scuffled after the ultimate whistle, with the Wolves midfielder angrily shoving individuals together with one in every of his personal coaches, Shaun Derry.

“I simply went to shake his hand after the sport,” Bowen stated. “He didn’t wish to shake my hand, two captains collectively simply to say ‘nicely completed’ after the sport.

“I do know it’s troublesome while you lose. I’ve been on the tip of that scenario.”

O’Neil added: “Mario is calm now. He’s a passionate man and one thing was stated that upset him.

“The intuition of the employees was to verify he didn’t get into bother, however he took some calming down.”