1 April 2025
Wolves 1 West Ham 0
Wolves know they need to mathematically secure their safety still this season. They welcomed West Ham to Molineux, a team who had a good record against them of late. As cliché as it may be, every match is a cup final for Vitor Pereira’s side. The Hammers are just caught in that zone of nothingness where they are just going through the motions until the end of the season.
In the last nine league games between the pair, West Ham had won on seven occasions. They should have taken the lead with their first attack of the match. Bowen ran into the box, heading for the byline. He drove it across goal, finding Ferguson at the back post. His connection was weak and allowed Doherty to block his shot at goal.
The loan from Brighton hasn’t really panned out as both parties would have liked. We are still not seeing the striker who was being touted with £100m moves to Arsenal since his last injury which kept him out for some time. So long in fact that his team had to find a replacement, who is now ahead of him in the pecking order.
Mavropanos seems to go into challenges like a stock car racer. He gave away a free-kick out wide with a rash shove. As it was swung into the box, Toti flicked it on towards the far corner. Areola reacted instinctively to make a full-stretch save and palm it clear of the penalty area. So close to an opening goal for the hosts in front of a packed Molineux.
As Wolves continued to ask questions of the visitors, the ball was played into Strand Larsen outside the box. He dropped his shoulder to give him a sight of goal and got his shot away. A deflection off Kilman took it past Areola and into the back of the net. Molineux erupted as it settled into the back of the net, with Cunha pictured celebrating up in the stands.
The hosts seemed to grow in confidence after scoring. They were cutting through the West Ham defence every time they came forward. Strand Larsen looked to manufacture a shooting opportunity but it was taken off his toe by Munetsi. His thunderous shot struck the underside of the crossbar and came back out into play.
With the future of Cunha in the balance, this could be something Wolves have to start getting used to, winning football games without him. Every player seems to have their price and the only frustrating thing from the fans perspective is that they do not see all the revenue from sales reinvested back into the squad as they would like.
After the break, it was more of the same from Wolves. West Ham were just spectators in this game. As a cross was swept into the near post, Strand Larsen met it but sent his effort wide of the target. It was a poor attempt, you have to work the keeper at the very least. The striker stayed down holding his back, a common tactic used to take the focus off the miss.
Graham Potter started to make some changes to try and buck the trend in this game. It was some of those substitutes who combined for their first real chance of the game. It was swung into the box by Paqueta and headed goalwards by Fullkrug. His looping header had Jose Sa beaten and came crashing back off the crossbar. Emerson reacted quickest but sliced his volley wide of the target.
It was a big chance for The Hammers and one that they would come to regret if they could not find a way back into this game. The likes of Paqueta and Bowen had been involved far too little for Potter’s side. Without their quality input, Wolves were looking in complete control of this match, looking to extend the gap between them and the bottom three.
Another big chance went begging as Fullkrug backheeled the ball into the path of Soucek. He dribbled towards goal but just as it looked like The Hammers were going to equalise, he shanked his effort wide of the target. The German striker made Potter’s side make a completely different threat and you wondered why he wasn’t starting.
Wolves held on for an important win and extended their lead over Ipswich Town to twelve points. There is no certainty of being safe just yet, with a trip to Portman Road laying ahead on the weekend for the ultimate six-pointer. If they can get all three points, it will see Southampton officially relegated to the Championship.
You would have to say, when comparing Vitor Pereria’s side to the bottom three, they have much more quality than the trio below them. After all, there are three Brazil internationals in this squad. Their destiny is in their own hands and as long as they match the results of their rivals, it is impossible for them to be relegated, the target is that simple now.
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