Premier LeagueWest Ham United 4-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Friday, 10th April 2026
by Chris Wilkerson | Forum match thread
A nervy Friday night became everything West Ham fans could dream it to be, as their side roared out of the relegation zone with a crushing 4-0 victory over what had been seen as a resurgent Wolves.
After a superb Mavropanos header had given The Hammers a lead in a scrappy, low-quality opening 45 minutes, a two-minute brace from Castellanos was rounded off by a second for the big Greek defender, seeing Nuno Espirito Santo's team to their biggest win of the season, and above Tottenham into 17th.It was no more than they deserved, shaking off a slow start to dominate after taking the lead, a performance that lifted the crowd to a celebratory volume not heard since those glorious European nights under the lights.
Coming off that penalty defeat to Leeds, there were worries that falling at the last hurdle before a trip to Wembley may have knocked the team's confidence, but there was no better response than a 4-0 win that even helped bring the goal difference down to something more competitive heading into six more crucial games.
The sight of Crysencio Summerville's name on the team sheet was a lift before kick off, one of five changes from the team that had been so painfully dumped out of the cup last weekend. He was joined by Hermansen, Soucek, Mavropanos and Pablo as Nuno went back to the 4-4-2 that has seen his side fight their way back into this relegation scrap.
But rather than lifted by the cavalry returning, The Hammers started tentatively, penned back by an energetic Wolves for the first 10 minutes, and didn't really find their feet for 40 minutes.
Thankfully, the defence were aware and ready from the off, Walker-Peters making a vital challenge at the back post to save a goal inside two minutes as a low ball made it always across the face of goal, and the right back beat Bueno to it, taking a hefty knock for his troubles.
The home side struggled to get a foot on the ball, as Rob Edwards's Wolves started at high energy. The Hammers weathered the storm and slowly started to find their feet, and had a first glimpse of goal when Bowen and Fernandes both did well in tight spaces to move the ball forward, the Portuguese midfielder deftly chipping it into the area from the edge of the box, only for Summerville to volley wildly when in a good position.
But it was still the visitors controlling possession, with 62% of it in the first 20 minutes. They threatened, but failed to find a final ball, testing Diouf twice at the far post as the left back made two vital interceptions with forwards waiting behind him to pounce.
West Ham were flat, looking a little leggy after Sunday's marathon quarter final. Half chances that were made were wasted, Bowen hitting weakly at Sa when getting onto a bouncing ball in the Wolves area after Castellanos and Pablo combined, and his strike was lacking conviction in a way his whole team's performance was.
A raft of freekicks in dangerous areas were defended well by the backline, but slips and mistakes were allowing Wolves to turn and threaten the West Ham goal. Armstrong received in the box after Diouf mis-controlled, but the striker was trying to create space with his back to goal, and the spin and hit flew over.
He had a better chance moments later, 10 minutes before the break, when a long throw was flicked on at the near post and landed on his head from six yards out, but he couldn't generate the power as he turned his head to try and guide it on to the far corner, and Hermansen grabbed as he dived to his left.
West Ham needed to lift, and a few decent crosses into the box won at the far post by Hammers' heads seemed to spark them into life, even if they failed to create anything real with them.
They built some pressure until a first corner of the game, 42 minutes in, got them a breakthrough. The ball in by Bowen was just won by a Wolves head as Mavropanos attacked it, but Fernandes collected and rolled it back wide to the captain.
His ball curled in at goal, and nobody was stopping Mavropanos this time, the Greek Goliath rising high and adding more power to it with a mighty turn of the neck just as he met it, and it was perfectly placed inside the side netting to give Sa no chance, and give his side a vital lead in a cagey game of football.
Pablo forced a good save just before half-time came, getting onto a Castellanos through ball that forced him a little wide, but striking nicely, low and driven at the near post and saved well by the goalkeeper. It gave West Ham a skip in their step going into the break, just what they needed having looked short of their best for much of the half.
Wolves started strongly again, some panic from a corner saw Castellanos hacking clear a loose ball, only to then give away a silly freekick on the corner of the box. Angel Gomes stood over it, and he dropped it over the wall and towards the corner, with Hermansen scrambling, only to see it smack the face of the post and bounce clear.
West Ham flew forward, and Summerville was poked through behind the Wolves defence and into their half, but tried the spectacular, hoping to lob Sa from 40 yards as the goalkeeper scrambled back. His shot didn't come close.
It was enough to lift the noise level in the stadium, and West Ham came alive. Bowen's luck in front of goal continued as he followed up a lovely driving run with a powerful hit from 20 yards, but struck the post with Sa completely beaten. ?EUR~West Ham are massive' rang out around the stadium as hope came with that chance.
What was interesting was just how undeterred Wolves were by being a goal down. Many teams in the league will fear the damage of the second goal, but Wolves didn't look at all scared to lose. It meant they kept coming forward with energy, a pressure on the defence that maybe wasn't expected.
But with that also came gaps left behind, and The Hammers are very comfortable counter attacking.
And it was the ability to defend from the front that got the second goal. Summerville won it in midfield and immediately went forward for Castellanos. Pablo and Summerville made runs either side of the Argentine as he drove through the middle, cutting across his tracking defender to get to the edge of the box.
He may have expected Pablo to take it on himself when it was laid off to him, but the Portuguese forward instead produced a bit of magic, jumping over and flicking it through the defence with his heel, catching out the centre backs as he split them with a cheeky ball through to Castellanos once more.
It looked like it may have got away from him, but a sliding challenge to hook it at goal was enough to catch out Sa, the goalkeeper never able to scramble over as the ball bounced into the far corner out of his reach. The relief and joy was palpable all round, but there was no time to rest. Certainly, Pablo never does.
Wolves tried to play too casually from the kick off, Andre receiving the ball from centre and strolling forward to midfield. Pablo wasn't going to let him, hunting him down and snapping away, and the midfielder took a loose touch and grabbed at his ankle as Bowen robbed him.
The captain didn't hesitate to drive forward, making his way to the edge of the area before passing to Castellanos in the box.
It looked like the space to shoot was gone, but as the Argentine stretched to strike at goal, the tackle to block him only helped it on its way, and Sa was left flat footed as it spiralled into the bottom corner once more with the goalkeeper scrambling at thin air.
Two minutes, two goals, and game over. Wolves had little left, and it was a Friday night party under the lights at the London Stadium.
Nuno turned to his bench, with Potts and Traore replacing Pablo and Summerville. Castellanos was desperate for his hat trick, but after a good run from Walker-Peters saw the right back square for his Argentine striker, only for him to blast over, Taty got his rest, with Wilson replacing him.
He wasn't back at the bench yet when Mavropanos got his second and West Ham their fourth.
A corner flicked off a Wolves head at the front post and it was Mavropanos who reacted quickest, with a Wolves defender dragging his arm, volleying the ball as it dropped in front of him in the box and hooking it into the back of the net.
Traore should have made it five after Bowen played him through, but the winger scuffed his left-footed effort into the ground and it bobbled wide when he was through on goal, but it did not matter.
This was West Ham's night, shaking off not just the FA Cup exit, but the pain of that defeat at Wolves at the start of the year that seemed to signal a relegation to come.
This team has fought back. They were seven points behind Forest after the January loss at the London Stadium, and now the sides are level on points. They have made up 15 points on Spurs, and it's now the team from North London who sit in the relegation zone, the first time they've been there at this stage of a Premier League season.
There will be more twists and turns to come, but the first test has been passed, and an emphatic marker put down. In the thick of it, this team will scrap, it's up to the others to show they've got anything to match it.
Manager's Rating
Nuno Espirito Santo: 9/10 Got all the calls right, from Mavropanos's inclusion to Summerville starting. The subs did exactly as required, keeping it calm and tight to see out the game. A perfect night for the manager, but he may worry about the slow start again.
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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
Mads HermansenOne decent save, but not really tested otherwise.
Kyle Walker-Peters
Looked a bit more settled with a rare second game in a row, and he offered more dynamism in forward areas. Very aware defender at the back post.
El Hadji Malick Diouf
Keeps improving defensively, and whilst his crosses weren't quite there today, he's getting better at his interchanges down the wing and remains a weapon with the way he whips balls into the box. Some crucial clearances near his own goal today.
Axel Disasi
His usual effortless self in defence, and it may well be that he is the calming voice that has settled Mavropanos and Todibo, both of whom look like different players since his arrival.
Konstantinos Mavropanos
3rd and 4th goals for the club, the first incredibly vital in a nervy game. Imperious at the back, and also passed out wonderfully. He's got the shirt for the rest of the season, he's finally putting all the attributes together.
Tomas Soucek
Battled away in front of the defence and in his own box, kept the ball well and won good freekicks to release pressure.
Mateus Fernandes
Not quite at his best, but particularly accurate with his long balls forward, and mostly disciplined. Looked a bit leggy in the first half and was sloppy giving a freekick away down the left.
Pablo Felipe
Such a clever and subtle little bit of skill to pop it through for Castellanos, but it's the hard work for goal three that makes him who he is, and why he's so valuable in this team. It ties it all together.
Crysencio Summerville
Not at his best, but didn't need to be, and made sure to get through the defensive work, and did so well to win the ball back for the move to make it 2-0.
Jarrod Bowen
Cannot get the bounce of the ball, the post smacked again today when he did everything right, but his workrate remains high, was crucial once more, and his delivery for Mavropanos's first goal was exactly what you'd want to attack in the box.
Taty Castellanos
Both his goals come from a determined player who doesn't give up on anything. He was at a stretch for both but made it count.
Substitutes
Freddie Potts(Pablo 78') Kept the ball as the game faded away as a contest.
Adama Traore
(Summerville 78') Good energy and the pace gave more threat, but fluffed his chance.
Callum Wilson
(Castellanos 82') Put himself into good positions but wasn't getting anything by then.
Soungoutou Magassa
(Fernandes '86) Even at 4-0 there were a few eyebrows raised when Soungoutou was reunited with Freddie Potts in central midfield, but those fears were unfounded.
Alphonse Areola
Did not play.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Did not play.
Ollie Scarles
Did not play.
Jean-Clair Todibo
Did not play.
Mohamadou Kante
Did not play.
Match Facts
West Ham United: Mads Hermansen, Kyle Walker-Peters, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Axel Disasi, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Tomas Soucek, Mateus Fernandes, Pablo Felipe, Crysencio Summerville, Jarrod Bowen, Taty Castellanos.Goals: Konstantinos Mavropanos 42 Taty Castellanos 66 Taty Castellanos 68 Konstantinos Mavropanos 83 0 0 0 0 0 0.
Booked: Mateus Fernandes 0 Taty Castellanos 0 .
Sent Off: None sent off. .
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Sa (c), Tchatchoua, S Bueno, Mosquera (Tolu 71), Krejci, H Bueno, Andre, J Gomes (Edozie 85), A Gomes (R Gomes 61), Bellegarde (Mane 61), Armstrong (Hwang 71).
Subs not used: Bentley, Wolfe, Lima, Toti.
Goals: .
Booked: Bellegarde, Mosquera.
Sent off: None.
Referee: Jarred Gillett.
Attendance: 62,457.
Man of the Match: Konstantinos Mavropanos.