Dominant Wolves extend unbeaten run

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 v West Ham United 0

It is just over a year to the day since Chelsea arrived for their evening engagement at the Molineux. Back then Wolves were in a trough, enduring a run of five games in which they had failed to garner a point. More than any other game the Old Gold needed a good performance and on the night in question they did so and some. Chelsea were a champions league side containing the likes of Eden Hazard and Ngolo Kante but Wolves outplayed them in, what for me, was the season’s defining game. Concerns that confidence might evaporate leading to a relegation scrap dissipated and from that point on Wolves never looked back.

This season there has been no discernable slump and despite a slow start Wolves are now hitting their stride. They dominated this encounter from start to finish and had they taken all their chances the winning margin should have been five rather than two. Once again Adama Traore was a constant threat with his pace down the right and in midfield Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves ran affairs.

Yet it was a from a dead ball in the 22nd minute that Wolves opened their account Leander Dendoncker poking home a left wing corner from Moutinho, the Hammers defence seemingly non-existent. Wolves, however, didn’t have everything their own way Pablo Fornals stretching Rui Patricio in the 31st minute with a fine strike following good interplay with the inventive Felipe Anderson. Four minutes later Diogo Jota had a good effort well saved by David Martin.

1-O at half time Wolves continued to dominate following the break and on 55 minutes Jonny should have extended their lead when one on one with Martin. But the former Benfica wing back lacked the composure to score the Hammers’ keeper denying him with his feet. Four minutes later Wolves had hearts in their mouths as Fornals’ brilliant pass picked out Robert Snodgrass free on goal. However the former Scotland midfielder’s control eluded him and he was shut down by Patricio who clattered into him whilst saving. Chance spurned.

Dendoncker with his head and then Jimenez followed by Romain Saiss all went close before substitute Patrick Cutrone finally sealed the tie in the 85th minute. For the second time in the game Jonny burst into the box before this time feeding Cutrone. The Italian shifted the ball from underneath him before wrong footing Martin and finding the net.

Unbeaten in eight Wolves climb to fifth in the table a position which, on this form, is thoroughly deserved.

Wolves: Patricio 7, Dendoncker 8, Coady 6, Saiss 6, Doherty 7, Castro Otto 8, Neves 7, Moutinho 8, Traore 7 Sub Bennett, Jota 6 Sub Neto, Jimenez 7 Sub Cutrone

West Ham United: Martin 6, Fredericks 6, Balbuena 6, Ogbonna 6, Cresswell 6, Snodgrass 5 Sub Yarmolenko, Noble 6 Sub Holland, Rice 6, Fornals 7, Felipe Anderson 7, Haller 5 Sub Ajeti

Attendance: 31,217

Referee: Andre Marriner 10

©Mark Brennand