Bowen's apology after Wolves loss

West Ham manager Graham Potter has acknowledged the team is "in pain" and called for unity after captain Jarrod Bowen was forced to apologize for attempting to confront supporters following a third consecutive defeat.

The incident occurred at full-time in West Ham’s 3-2 EFL Cup loss to Wolves at Molineux, where Bowen had approached traveling fans to applaud them but reacted angrily to comments from the stands. Stewards intervened to prevent the situation from escalating.

The defeat, sealed by a late Jørgen Strand Larsen brace, leaves the Hammers winless in a turbulent start to the season. Potter emphasized the collective frustration while urging for continued support:

"We're all in pain, so we need everybody to help. We need everybody's support. We need to push forward onto the next match. The team is suffering at the moment—we all are. I can assure you no one is happy."

Potter refused to criticize Bowen or the fans, describing the incident as "an exchange of views by people who care." He also reaffirmed his confidence in Bowen’s leadership, calling him a "fantastic captain and servant for the club."

The loss intensifies pressure on Potter, who has won just five of his 22 matches since taking over in January. West Ham’s defense has been a major concern, conceding 11 goals in their last three games, including a 5-1 defeat to Chelsea last week.

Bowen quickly took to Instagram to apologize, writing:

"Apologies to the fans for tonight's reaction. I'm someone who is passionate and will fight every time I step on the pitch. But I need to set a better example. You fans know how much I love you and this club. We ride through the bad times together."

West Ham now turn their attention to a crucial Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.