🔗 Share this article

This latest setback marks one more embarrassing chapter in a torrid season for West Ham, amplifying major doubts about the prospects of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo. The London club became the first team to succumb to Wolves in this campaign, allowing the Midlands team to double their points tally and lift their aspirations of evading the tag in the record books as the least successful team in Premier League annals.

Dominant Opening Performance Seals Historic Triumph

Within four minutes of the new year, Wolves managed to demonstrate of finding much-needed confidence. The lively Hwang Hee-chan offered a glimpse of his revitalised abilities with a long run before laying on an assist following neat combination play with Mateus Mané. The resulting pull-back found an untracked Jhon Arias, who slid home from point-blank range to give Wolves a home lead for the first time since early October. Energy could be felt both on the pitch and in the terraces, a sight for much of the season.

Facing a side terribly short on confidence and missing key talent Lucas Paquetá through injury, this represented the hosts' clearest opportunity for a victory to date. At first confused by being ahead, Wolves opted to defend it doggedly, falling deep with eleven men behind the ball early on.

Generous Opponents Compound Their Own Problems

West Ham proved generous visitors, contributing to their own demise. First, former Wolves captain Max Kilman was unable to make a routine clearance from a cross, allowing Mané to pounce, only to be fouled by Soungoutou Magassa inside the box. The teenage midfielder, formerly of Rochdale, was proving the key man on the pitch. Hwang stepped up to convert the subsequent penalty, doubling the lead. Ironic chants of "We're going to win the league" echoed around Molineux.

Short on belief and ideas, West Ham drifted out of the game even with controlling the ball, managing just a solitary attempt in the opening period.

The visitors' woes were compounded just prior to halftime. The fearless Mané, a youth among trepidatious adults, spun exquisitely, cut in from the left flank, and unleashed a low shot into the far corner from outside the box for his first senior goal. At last, the Wolves supporters were enjoying themselves.

Fruitless Second-Half Response

With nothing to lose, coach Nuno introduced a two substitution at the interval and switched to a offensive 3-4-3 formation. However, key attacker Jarrod Bowen was quiet, and the introduction of Crysencio Summerville did not provide the required spark.

A persistent sense of nervousness still clouded Wolves' decision-making, unsure whether to hoof the ball long or play out from the back. However, they need not have worried against such meek resistance. West Ham's inherent deficiencies became painfully apparent as they produced very little of note in the final third.

Critical Fixtures On the Horizon

Ultimately, Wolves looked like the sole side likely of adding to the tally, and West Ham will be relieved the damage was not more severe. Focus now shifts to a critical midweek encounter at home to 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, a match essential in the fight for top-flight safety. On this evidence, West Ham have every reason to be very worried.