Wolves dominant
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 v West Ham United 0
Just under two weeks ago West Ham United recorded a 3-2 victory against championship title contenders Liverpool. The win sent the assembled hacks into overdrive, lauding the club’s development under David Moyes and comparing them to Leicester City’s title winner side of 2015-16. No one can deny them their win but for long stretches of the game Liverpool controlled affairs and were it not for some abject goalkeeping by Alisson the Red’s would have run out comfortable victors. So did the win confer on West Ham title contender status or are they still amongst the crop of second tier teams scrambling for a Champions League slot?
The answer, following ninety minutes of an enthralling encounter at the Molineux, errs towards the latter. Bar the opening ten minutes and small pockets of play during the second half Wolves were dominant and based on their control of the game and the chances created a greater margin than the 1-0 victory would not have flattered.
The home side’s first strike on goal came on twenty minutes when Ruben Neves’s rather tame shot was easily gathered by Lucas Fabianski. Two further half chances fell to Nelson Semedo before Raul Jimenez sprung the offside trap to latch onto a Ruben Neves through ball. One on one with Fabianski the Mexican attempted a repeat of his goal against Everton but this time his dink had neither the pace nor accuracy to take it into the net. Thereafter Wolves controlled possession West Ham left to chase shadows up to the half time break.
The concern, as the sides emerged for the second half, was whether Wolves had missed their chance. But unlike the game against Everton they started the second half on the front foot, Daniel Podence going close with a good strike two minutes after the restart. Eight minutes later the Italian went close again with another fine strike and with the wind in their sails Wolves opened their account two minutes later with the most beautiful goal. It began on the halfway line with a delightful one two between Hwang-Lee Chan and Semedo which set the latter free. He in turn fed Podence who for once picked the correct pass in squaring the ball to Jimenez. The Wolves’ number nine still had much to do but his perfectly struck side foot from the edge of the box gave Fabianski no chance. The goal was more than deserved and it set the scene for a tense last half hour.
But though West Ham huffed and puffed they are functional rather than creative and bar Jarrod Bowen firing high and wide when well placed in minute 68, chances were few and far between. With fifteen minutes remaining the introduction of Adama Traore, provided Wolves with an occasional safety valve. And in the dying minutes Max Kilman could have put the game beyond doubt when a clever Ait-Nourri free kick put him free on goal, but his volley suggested defending may remain his true metier. Seven minutes later referee Mike Dean called time and with the win Wolves move into a more than creditable sixth slot.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Sa 7, Semedo 7, Kilman 9, Coady 7, Saiss 7, Ait-Nouri 7, Moutinho 7, Neves 8, Podence 7 sub Traore, Jimenez 8, Hee-chan 6 Sub Dendoncker
West Ham United: Fabianski 7, Johnson 6, Dawson 6, Zouma 6, Cresswell 7, Soucek 6, Rice 7, Bowen 6 Sub Yarmolenko, Benrahma 6 Sub Vlasic, Fornals 5 Sub Lanzini 6, Antonio 6
Attendance: Not stated.
Referee: Mike Dean 8
©Mark Brennand