Two goals in three minutes from Jørgen Strand Larsen completed a stirring Wolves comeback as they defeated West Ham 3-2 in the Carabao Cup second round.
The Norwegian striker, a transfer target for Newcastle, stepped off the bench to provide a pair of unstoppable finishes eight and six minutes from time to get Molineux rocking.
The West Ham captain, Jarrod Bowen, posted on Instagram to apologise to West Ham’s travelling fans for his post-match conduct, after he and his teammates went over to applaud them. At one stage, he appeared to point at a fan and make a comment, before attempting to vault the advertising hoarding – only to be stopped by teammates.
Bowen removed the captain’s armband and walked off the field with his head down. “I’m someone who is passionate and will fight ever[y] time I step on the pitch,” the player wrote. “But I need to set a better example and you fans know how much I love you and this club!”
Wolves led at half-time thanks to Rodrigo Gomes squeezing in a rebound after Hwang Hee-chan’s 43rd-minute penalty had cannoned back off the inside of a post but close-range headers got the visitors back on track.
Tomas Soucek powered an effort inside the far post from a swirling Kyle Walker-Peters ball five minutes into the second half, with West Ham soaking up some pressure before moving in front in the 63rd minute, Jarrod Bowen crossing from the right touchline for the unmarked Lucas Paqueta to nod inside Sam Johnstone’s near post.
However the home manager, Vitor Pereira, who had made no fewer than eight changes to his starting lineup, threw on the cavalry with 17 minutes to go, adding punch to the pressure that Wolves had been building, with Strand Larsen the hero. Hugo Bueno cut back to the edge of the box and, while Andre’s powerful low hit came back off Alphonse Areola’s leg, Strand Larsen was there to guide into the roof of the net in the 82nd minute.
And the crowd were still on their feet when the turnaround was completed, a one-two between Jhon Arias and Strand Larsen seeing the former’s shot blocked by Areola’s leg with the rebound quickly put back into the penalty area from the right by Jackson Tchatchoua for Strand Larsen to power home through the crowd.
The West Ham manager Graham Potter said: “We’re all in pain so we need everybody to help, we need everybody’s support, we need to push forward and on to the next match. The team’s suffering at the moment, we all are, we’re all hurting. I can assure you no-one’s happy.
“I have no idea what was said or anything. Our supporters have been fantastic, they are hurting because of the results we’ve had and Jarrod obviously cares about the club and the team. It’s just an exchange of views by people who care. Everyone is hurting, rightly so because we haven’t had the results we’d like. Jarrod has been a fantastic captain and servant for the club.”
Huddersfield reached the third round with a 6-5 penalty shootout win against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Having drawn 1-1 in normal time, the game was decided on penalties and the shootout reached sudden death, where Milan Aleksic’s spot-kick was saved for Huddersfield to snatch victory.
Both teams showed numerous changes from their weekend starting lineups and the League One side went ahead in the ninth minute through Leo Castledine’s volley. However, Castledine’s fellow Chelsea loanee Marc Guiu made an impact to equalise with his first Sunderland goal in the 84th minute to take the tie to penalties, where Huddersfield prevailed.
Fabio Carvalho and Igor Thiago ensured Brentford secured a 2-0 victory against their top-flight rivals Bournemouth, but Burnley needed Oliver Sonne’s stoppage-time winner to edge past Derby 2-1.
The Championship leaders, Stoke, had a rude awakening as Will Swan’s header and a second goal from Brad Halliday handed the League One side Bradford a half-time lead before George Lapslie added the third in a 3-0 win.
Kieffer Moore scored a last-gasp winner as Wrexham got the better of their hampionship rivals Preston 3-2 at Deepdale after Ryan Hardie and then Harry Ashfield had cancelled out goals by Lewis Dobbin and Liam Lindsay. It was a more straightforward night for Southampton as Cameron Archer, Ryan Fraser and Kuryu Matsuki found the back of the net in a 3-0 victory at Norwich.
Birmingham slipped to a first defeat of the campaign as Jaheim Headley fired the League One side Port Vale into the third round with the only goal at St Andrew’s.
Kamarl Grant’s 76th-minute strike proved decisive as Millwall beat fellow Championship side Coventry 2-1, while Swansea saw off their League One opponents Plymouth 5-3 on penalties. The League Two team Cambridge romped to a 3-1 victory against Charlton, who are two leagues above, thanks to goals from James Brophy, Kylian Kouassi and Zak Bradshaw, but Bromley’s adventure ended when they lost 5-4 against Wycombe in a shootout.
Accrington were made to pay for Josh Wood’s dismissal as goals from Owen Bailey and Ben Close handed the League One side Doncaster a 2-0 victory.
Cardiff beat Cheltenham 3-0, Reading were 2-1 victors against AFC Wimbledon, Barnsley came from behind to defeat Rotherham 2-1 and Stockport lost 1-0 at Wigan.
