Premier LeagueWolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 West Ham United
Tuesday, 1st April 2025
by Chris Wilkerson
A low-quality battle at Molineux was settled by a deflected first-half goal as West Ham were beaten on the road 1-0 by Wolverhampton Wanderers.
In a game of very few chances, it was no surprise that a bit of luck was what separated the two sides, and Strand Larsen got that when he lined up a shot from the edge of the area that flicked Kilman on the way through and left Areola wrong-footed and beaten in the West Ham goal.Graham Potter made four changes, and they were notable ones, too, as both Evan Ferguson and Luis Guilherme were given their first starts as West Ham players, whilst Cresswell and Scarles both returned.
Out went Soucek, Kudus, Todibo and Emerson as The Hammers lined up in a nominal 3-4-2-1, Luis Guilherme to the left of Ferguson, Bowen to the right, and Paqueta dropping back into midfield. There was a return to the bench for German international Niclas Fullkrug, too.
The first half was cagey, with nearly 15 minutes passing by without incident. The two teams had packed defences and no wild ambition to fly forward and allow space behind them.
It was a scrappy affair in the middle of the park, which was no surprise given Paqueta would be facing a pair of international teammates in the middle, with Joao Gomes and Andre in the centre of the Wolves midfield. Paqueta seems unable to resist a fight when faced with his countrymen.
West Ham were not pressing high up the pitch, a feature of the half that would be high on the list of things needing to change come half time. Wolves looked comfortable, their familiarity with each other coming clearer and clearer as the half went on. Where West Ham had made changes and thrown in some inexperience, Wolves were unchanged and found a rhythm Potter's men could not.
The Hammers still came up with the first chance of the game just shy of 15 minutes in, and maybe the best one of the half, only for it to be wasted.
It came when Wan-Bissaka blocked two forward passes in the Wolves half, the second one bouncing back behind the man and into the path of Bowen down the West Ham right.
The captain pushed forward and drove down the right side of the box, passing across the face of goal when he got six yards out, where Ferguson had peeled off to the far post.
But the ball bobbled just a little behind the young striker, a light touch from a sliding defender maybe enough to just nudge it off course, and the Irishman couldn't organise his feet quickly enough to make a solid effort at goal, the chance fading away as he dragged a leg back and could do nothing to divert it goalwards.
It woke everyone in the ground, and was quickly followed by a good save from Areola. A needless freekick was given away on the Wolves left by Mavropanos. The cross was curled to the near post, where Toti Gomes glanced on a header across goal, forcing Areola to fly down to his left and firmly palm the ball away.
Minutes later, Bowen opened up half a chance after Luis Guilherme did well driving forward from a loose ball. The young Brazilian then fed it to the right for Bowen, but the England international could only scuffs an effort at goal after cutting onto his left foot on the edge of the box.
It was a lively five-minute spell in a game that had needed a spark to come to life, and it wasn't finished there.
Wolves built a slow attack, but with comfortable possession on halfway, it was suddenly drilled forward to the edge of the box. The ball popped loose under a challenge, falling to Strand Larsen, and the big Norwegian striker took his time, controlled and then delayed a shot as he saw the defence fail to close him down. With a little shift, he picked his spot and tried to guide it around Kilman.
He didn't quite get that, but it worked out in the striker's favour as the ball clipped the trailing leg of Kilman and left Areola rooted to the spot, deceived by the bounce and beaten as the ball flew into the bottom corner and gave Wolves a precious 1-0 lead.
They nearly doubled it three minutes later, Munetsi smashing the bar after a lovely Joao Gomes run ended with a quick pass to Strand Larsen. The striker was tackled, but it rolled loose and was pounced on by Munetsi, who struck first time with a rifle of a hit, flying past Areola but cannoning back to safety off the bar.
Handbags quickly followed in midfield, all over nothing, and even the lazy little fight was indicative of a game that lacked something in every aspect, the tension fizzling immediately out of the players even in a scuffle.
What West Ham needed was for something to break for them, yet when they did get another big chance, even their talisman couldn't convert.
A long cross from the left was flicked on by the defence and fell to Wan-Bissaka. He chipped the ball back into the middle, and Bowen had found space for a header, only to struggle to make a strong connection and heading harmlessly.
With it came the end of the half, Wolves probably slightly the better, and with a 1-0 lead to go with it.
Potter tore up the plan, making three half-time substitutions as Cresswell, Luis Guilherme and Ferguson were replaced by Alvarez, Soler and the returning Niclas Fullkrug. The youth was cast aside for experience, the experiment seemingly failed, although surely it had given Potter something to assess.
The Hammers went to a back four. Alvarez joined Ward-Prowse at the base of midfield behind Soler off the left, Paqueta in the 10 role and Bowen on the right, with Fullkrug now leading the line.
Immediately, things improved. The press was higher, engaging Wolves earlier and trying to make sure they were far less comfortable on the ball, something Potter's side had failed to do with any sort of consistency or pattern in the opening 45 minutes.
The German striker definitely offered more presence up top than Ferguson, and you can see how his fitness could have made this season very different. West Ham and talismanic big strikers, it's like Andy Carroll was back again.
He showed a bit of rust inside the first 10 minutes, controlling a Paqueta pass that dropped over the defence and into the area, but fluffing his shot and scuffing way wide when in, albeit taking a bouncing ball away from goal.
It remained scrappy, but at least it appeared now that Wolves would not be left to settle. Chances were still few and far between. Half an opening for the home side was wasted when the goalscorer Strand Larsen hit a shot against his standing leg when in a good position in the box.
Time started to run out, and Potter had to act. With just over 10 minutes remaining, he broke the emergency glass and pulled out Tommy Soucek, the big midfielder coming on with Emerson as the manager rolled the dice and used his two remaining substitutions, the pair replacing Ward-Prowse and Scarles.
Ironically, The Hammers got a freekick just outside the box moments after the freekick wizard was taken off, and it feels like Ward-Prowse, a regular scorer from set pieces is never going to get his record broken freekick, at least not in a West Ham shirt.
The Irons managed to dominate possession, but as it has proven in many games, there is a lack of anything incisive to create chances.
Paqueta did curl in a lovely cross from the left, but it was one no West Ham player looked likely to win until the big German centre forward bundled through a couple of defenders to bully himself into position and get a diving head to the ball. It was guided well at goal, looping and beating Sa, only to cannon back off the bar.
It fell to Emerson, only for the Brazilian to try an acrobatic, Di Canio-esque volley from close range and mistime his effort, slicing it wide. Had he been warmed up, not on the field for a minute, he may have done better.
It was all The Hammers could really muster, and looked to be that last big chance, after another 10 minutes went by without note.
But then, with a minute left, great pressure in the Wolves left back position from Bowen saw a clearance blocked, and the ball ricocheted to Fullkrug just inside the Wolves box. He quickly reversed a deft little pass into the path of Soucek who burst into the box instinctively.
Coming in down the right side of the area, the midfielder cut onto his left foot and hit for goal from eight yards out. So many times, Soucek comes up clutch when it's needed, and this had him written all over it. But for once, the midfielder came up short, dragging it wide with his weaker left foot.
It really was West Ham's last big chance. There was time for Wolves to wrap it all up, Munetsi being played through by the impressive Strand Larsen, but the Zimbabwean midfielder could only roll it wide as he poked it past Areola.
With that, the game ended, the home side taking the three points, a touch of luck unsurprisingly all that could part two poor teams. For Wolves, it was probably a win that made them feel like safety truly was secured, now 12 points clear of the bottom three.
Graham Potter will have learned more about his team and the squad, but this is coming at the expense of any entertainment for West Ham fans. He may need to think about that balance a bit more, as good will can fade very quickly in this game.
Manager's Rating
Graham Potter 5/10: The gamble didn't work and he's starting to lose the good will of being fresh in the job. Everyone knows this is no easy job, but the games aren't enjoyable and it does feel a bit like the season has been written off, at least with results. People pay money and spend time watching West Ham, they want to enjoy the endeavour, and the joy of winning.
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Click to view all West Ham United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers match reports Click to view all match reports by Chris Wilkerson Like to share your thoughts on this article? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.Player Ratings
Alphonse AreolaNot much he could do about the goal, one good save from a header earlier on. His passing does look better, he looks more active to receive passes and more aware off the ball now.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Made some good moves forward, winning the ball for the Ferguson chance, putting a cross right on Bowen's head.
Ollie Scarles
Failed to make an impact this time out. Not bad defensively, but the wing back role means he needs to be more influential in the opposition's half.
Konstantinos Mavropanos
A couple iffy moments, but the main problem is how uncomfortable he looks on the ball. It's not just that he doesn't inspire confidence, he also takes a little too long to control the ball and think about what he's going to do, and that slowing of things make it harder to pick apart the press.
Max Kilman
Does not dominate the middle of the defence in that role, and whilst he's better on the ball than Mavropanos, he probably is going to need to be better at picking a forward pass.
Aaron Cresswell
Had no impact going forward, wasn't too tested defensively, just rode the game out.
James Ward-Prowse
In some ways, he had quite a good game. Was fundamental to West Ham's possession in many stages of the game, but just lacking a bit of bite defensively and progression when passing forward.
Lucas Paqueta
Not enough coming from Paqueta. He didn't influence enough in any area, although stayed disciplined and the fact he made no big risks as a defensive asset means he improved in some ways. The question around his future remains to be settled elsewhere.
Luis Guilherme
One good burst forward aside, he just couldn't influence.
Jarrod Bowen
One great moment aside, Bowen struggled to impress. Worked hard and remained persistent in the press, but lacked the magic required.
Evan Ferguson
Looked to be failed by the service given, which he was to some extent, but shown to be guilty himself when Fullkrug came on and made an impact.
Substitutes
Carlos Soler(Guilherme 46') He is being given the chance to impress, earn a place here, and he just isn't grasping it.
Niclas Fullkrug
(Ferguson 46') The one bright spot of the game was his impact in the second half. He looks strong, busy and creative enough for a lone striker role in the Premier League, but he needs to prove it over a run of games.
Edson Alvarez
(Cresswell 46') Protected the defence well enough, but then Wolves had dropped far back to take the 1-0.
Tomas Soucek
(Ward-Prowse 77') Did make an impact, but wasted his big moment.
Emerson Palmieri
(Scarles 77') Should have done better with his chance.
Lukasz Fabianski
Did not play.
Vladimir Coufal
Did not play.
Jean Clair Todibo
Did not play.
Guido Rodriguez
Did not play.
Match Facts
West Ham United: Alphonse Areola, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Ollie Scarles, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Max Kilman, Aaron Cresswell, James Ward-Prowse, Lucas Paqueta, Luis Guilherme, Jarrod Bowen, Evan Ferguson.Goals: None.
Booked: Konstantinos Mavropanos 0 Niclas Fullkrug 0 .
Sent Off: None sent off. .
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Sa, Doherty, Agbadou, Toti, Semedo, Joao Gomes, Andre (Sarabia 71), Aït-Nouri (Bueno 82), Bellegarde (Traore 90), Munetsi, Strand Larsen.
Subs not used: Johnstone, Lima, Doyle, Djiga, Forbs, Hwang.
Goals: Strand Larsen (21).
Booked: André, Sá, João Gomes, Doherty.
Sent off: None.
Referee: Tony Harrington.
Attendance: 30,537.
Man of the Match: Niclas Fullkrug.