🔗 Share this article

This setback represents a further embarrassing episode in an difficult season for West Ham, amplifying serious doubts about the future of their manager. The Hammers became the first team to lose to Wolves in this campaign, enabling the Midlands team to double their points tally and lift their hopes of avoiding a place in the record books as the least successful team in Premier League history.

Commanding First-Half Display Secures Historic Victory

Within four minutes of the match, Wolves were able to give the impression of discovering some confidence. The lively Hwang Hee-chan offered a taste of his rejuvenated abilities with a lengthy run before turning provider following neat combination play with Mateus Mané. The resulting pull-back found an untracked Jhon Arias, who tapped in from close range to give Wolves a lead at Molineux for the first time since early October. Vibrancy could be felt equally on the pitch and in the terraces, a sight for most of the term.

Facing a side terribly short on confidence and deprived of key talent Lucas Paquetá due to injury, this represented the hosts' best opportunity for a win to date. At first confused by taking the lead, Wolves chose to defend it fiercely, dropping deep with eleven players behind the ball from an early stage.

Compliant Opponents Compound Their Own Miseries

West Ham were generous visitors, contributing to their own downfall. First, ex- Wolves captain Max Kilman failed to make a routine clearance from a cross, letting Mané to intervene, before being brought down by Soungoutou Magassa inside the box. The teenage midfielder, formerly of Rochdale, emerged as the key figure on the pitch. Hwang stepped up to score the subsequent spot-kick, extending the lead. Tongue-in-cheek chants of "We will win the league" echoed around Molineux.

Short on belief and inspiration, West Ham drifted out of the game despite controlling the ball, registering just a single shot in the opening period.

The visitors' woes deepened just prior to halftime. The fearless Mané, a youngster among nervous senior players, spun exquisitely, drove infield from the left, and fired a low shot into the bottom corner from outside the box for his maiden senior goal. Finally, the Wolves fans could enjoy themselves.

Fruitless Second-Half Response

With nothing to lose, manager Nuno made a double substitution at half-time and switched to a more attacking 3-4-3 formation. Yet, key forward Jarrod Bowen remained muted, and even introduction of Crysencio Summerville did not provide the necessary spark.

A persistent feeling of anxiety still clouded Wolves' judgment, uncertain whether to clear the ball long or build from the back. However, they need not have worried against such meek opponents. West Ham's inherent failings became painfully apparent as they created very little of substance in the final third.

Critical Fixtures On the Horizon

In the end, Wolves looked like the sole side likely of increasing the scoreline, and West Ham will be relieved the damage was not greater. Focus now shifts to a pivotal Tuesday fixture at home to 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, a match vital in the fight for Premier League survival. On this showing, West Ham should have cause to be very worried.