In a match that pitted former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui against his successor O’Neil - with both men rumoured to be close to the sack ahead of this game - the first moment of note came nine minutes in when supporters began a standing ovation for Michail Antonio, who was involved in a car accident on Friday.
The first shot on target arrived 12 minutes later, but it was straight down Łukasz Fabiański’s throat from João Gomes, while at the other end, Sam Johnstone, in for the injured José Sá, stood tall to block Jarrod Bowen’s close-range drive from an angle.
The game was becoming more open, with Crysencio Summerville superbly finding Bowen, who this time was thwarted by the sliding Rayan Aït-Nouri.
Both teams must have started to believe that they would open the scoring, and Gomes was the next to go close, sidefooting wide from Matt Doherty’s pinpoint cross, while soon afterwards, Johnstone’s parry from Mohammed Kudus’ curler trickled past Tomáš Souček, who was waiting eagerly to tuck in.
Lopetegui would have gone in at HT annoyed that the Hammers couldn’t make the most of nine first-half corners, but the 10th just after the break paid dividends, with Bowen’s delivery finding the unmarked Souček, who nodded into the far corner.
The hosts quickly thought they had doubled their advantage, only for Kudus to be adjudged offside, and not long afterwards, O’Neil was incensed that Wolves weren’t awarded a penalty when Emerson Palmieri nudged over Gonçalo Guedes.
The Portuguese quickly put that moment to bed however, feeding Aït-Nouri, whose inviting cross was guided in brilliantly by Doherty.
West Ham immediately restored their lead though, as Bowen curled wonderfully past Johnstone from 15 yards for his career-high sixth PL goal against Wolves, before celebrating by holding up an Antonio shirt in support of his teammate.
The visitors pushed for an equaliser, with Mario Lemina shooting straight at Fabiański and another penalty appeal by Wolves waved away, but they were ultimately unable to level for a second time.
Coincidentally, both teams have now conceded 72 goals in the Premier League in 2024 - the joint-highest figure this year - but while West Ham are now nine points clear of the relegation zone, their opponents remain in deep trouble.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United)