MICHAIL ANTONIO SPOKE to his West Ham team-mates via a video call from his hospital bed before they beat Wolves 2-1 on Monday night.
Jarrod Bowen held Antonio’s number nine shirt aloft after scoring the winner in support of the Hammers striker, who is recovering after a horror car crash on Saturday.
Boss Julen Lopetegui said: “He is not in his best moment but he kept his humour. It was a special moment for us.
“I think we have a lot of reason to win matches but this was one reason more. He’s alive so we are happy.”
West Ham players wore ‘Antonio 9′ shirts while warming up and walking out before kick-off.
The shirts will be signed by the players, including 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 nine fingers to a TV camera.
The Czech midfielder told Sky Sports: “He’s been here since I came here. He is really my favourite. I said it would be tough for me to play without him.
“I was so scared what was going to happen. It was a really tough week for him, his family and us.”
Matt Doherty equalised for Wolves, and boss Gary O’Neil felt they should have had two penalties for fouls on Goncalo Guedes and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, both of which were checked by VAR.
But Bowen’s winner – O’Neil believed there was a foul in the build-up – condemned Wolves to a 10th defeat of the season and a third in a row.
While under-pressure Lopetegui may have earned a stay of execution, O’Neil’s future as Wolves manager is now in serious doubt.
“A lot of things went against us but ultimately we have not found a way to turn the game in our favour,” he said.
“But the players showed they are still fighting for me, for the fans and the group.
“Where does this leave me? In the same place I was. I’m aware of the noise. But if anyone expected this to be easy – I’m happy to be judged on results but it should be done in context.
“Whenever this journey ends with Wolves I’ll be proud of it.”
There was an acrimonious end to the match as captains Bowen and Mario Lemina scuffled after the final whistle, with the Wolves midfielder angrily shoving people including one of his own coaches, Shaun Derry.
“I just went to shake his hand after the game,” Bowen said. “He didn’t want to shake my hand, two captains together just to say ‘well done’ after the game.
“I know it’s difficult when you lose. I’ve been on the end of that situation.”
O’Neil added: “Mario is calm now. He’s a passionate guy and something was said that upset him.
“The instinct of the staff was to make sure he didn’t get into trouble, but he took some calming down.”
I don’t watch much LOI but tonight was a good advert for the league.
Good skill and game, pitch was in great condition and the stadium/crowd really added it it. Even my kids were taking notice.
If we could build good facilities all around the country the league could really grow.
@Dave McAuliffe: Build it and they will come.
Derry were the better team for large parts of the game tonight without really creating many chances. They hassled rovers from the start and we couldn’t get into any rhythm at all with a lot of misplaced passes. Spaces started to open up towards the end and there was a couple of lovely moves from rovers that nearly opened Derry up. We didn’t deserve to lose in Derry earlier in the season and they’ll feel they didn’t deserve to lose here tonight. Such is life.
That’s what good sides do,grind out results.KOH.
Better team tonight Derry and leave with nothing. Bench was the difference in the end. Building a good side and are going to be around challenging for a while. RAWA.
Long way to go but shams are beginning to hit top gear.they’re not a great side but have enough in the tank to see off Derry who are hugely missing Michael Duffy and the seemingly always injured pat mceleney.when Derry get those two back playing together they’ll lift the title but not before.
@Eammon Collins: ah the old “not a great side” jibe. We played well for 20 mins tonight and won. Love the way opposition fans think that saying we aren’t great or we only won the league cause there’s no real opposition or it was only half a league etc etc, actually bothers us. Here we go, 3 in a row.
@Kevin: seems you don’t like a bit of criticism. Eamon is100 % right. Shams are not anywhere near yet to a great side. Last great side was Dundalk for what they achieved. (Maybe the great Derry side who won the treble). Your team have a way to go before being recognised as a great team.
@kevbo:
@kevbo: throw all the criticism you like. You’ll have to queue up though with all the other fans of lesser clubs. We’ll just keep racking up wins, points and titles.
@Kevin: get off your high horse. As I said earlier Derry building and over 2 games we are clearly a better footballing team. Outplayed all your football (STARS)last night with youngsters who are up and coming. Missing a few quality players most of the season so I can’t wait for the future where we can play with 2 full sides. Loving it up here. RAWA
@kevbo: clearly a better footballing side? Brilliant. Can you not just enjoy what you have for now and stop being bitter about us. You’re like a sligo fan.
@Kevin: Hahaha , you lemon. As I have clearly mentioned, up here we are just enjoying the moment
@kevbo: obviously not enjoying it as much as you pretend or you wouldn’t be commenting on rovers articles every week. Imagine what it’ll be like if you ever win anything, although you probably can’t remember ever winning anything as it was last century or something. Look, you won’t have to worry about losing gallantly against us for a few months now so please god your still in the title race at that time, but i doubt it somehow. Just let it go.