Carabao CupWolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 West Ham United
Tuesday, 26th August 2025
by Chris Wilkerson | Forum match thread
West Ham United keep finding new ways to capitulate, and Tuesday night's Carabao Cup defeat to Wolves added a third in three games. After fighting back from a goal down, The Hammers conceded twice in the last 10 minutes to turn victory to a 3-2 defeat.
After making four changes to the starting line-up, half the amount the home side did, Potter's side showed more fluency and threat than they had in their two opening matches of the Premier League season.Unfortunately, the frailties in midfield and at the back remain far from solved, and Strand-Larsen scored two in three minutes to pile further pressure on this struggling side and its struggling manager.
There was a chance for Areola to stake his claim after two unconvincing performances from new signing Mads Hermansen, joined by a first start for Kyle Walker-Peters, as well as starts for Mavropanos and Rodriguez.
Jarrod Bowen started up top, supported by Paqueta and, at times, Ward-Prowse, and his mobility leading the line improved the Irons' play.
Their best came with Paqueta involved, who looked better freed from defensive responsibilities and kept away from the work building from the back.
With both sides having started their season with a pair of defeats each, it was no surprise that the football on offer was stilted, stifled by a fear of errors, and lacking in any confidence or flow.
The Hammers worked hard, but lacked a snap in their passing and struggled to make much of possession in the middle of the park. There will be fewer slower pairings in English football this year than Rodriguez and Soucek, a pace that Ward-Prowse dropping in did little to improve.
It was Soucek who had the first whiff of a chance, 25 minutes in. The big Czech midfielder moved his feet quickly to create some space in the box, but his effort lacked power and was easily saved by Johnstone in the Wolves goal.
Bowen had a decent opening after a nice pass from Paqueta got him in behind the defence, but the captain's effort was hit too close to the goalkeeper to really threaten.
The Hammers had had the best of the first half, but a clever pass near the corner in the right back area saw Wolves free Bellegarde into the box.
The midfielder was faced with Rodriguez, but a quick feint and a sudden movement was enough to trick the Argentine midfielder, who flicked out a leg and kicked away the foot of his opponent, bringing him down and giving away a penalty with a wafted leg.
Hwang Hee Chan stepped up to take it, and his powerful, low effort sent Areola the wrong way, only to thunder against the post and out into the area.
It fell to the feet of Rodrigo Gomes, who struck it back powerfully towards the bottom corner of the goal where Areola was. But the Frenchman was concentrating on moving back into the middle, or at least it seemed so as he got a weak hand down to cushion the effort on its way to the back of the net, giving Wolves a 1-0 lead with just two minutes left before half-time.
Ironically, Wolves started the second half in better form than they'd played the first, yet it was The Hammers who found their way to goal just five minutes after the restart.
Ward-Prowse recovered a loose ball near the byline on the right and laid the ball back to Walker-Peters. Twisting and turning, he shifted his body to free space and used his weaker left to curl a cross into the penalty area, and towards the rising figure of Tomas Soucek at the back post, who powered a header home from close range to get West Ham back into the game.
Just over 10 minutes later, another cross curled in from the right found the head of a West Ham midfielder bursting into the box, and suddenly Potter's side were 2-1 up. This time, Bowen made space for himself before curling in a delicious cross, leaving Paqueta with little to do but get his head on the ball from close range, the Brazilian diving and powering it home emphatically to add his second of the season.
But whilst the scoreline looked much better, the evidence on the pitch was concerning. The Hammers dropped off, suddenly strict into a defensive back five and a four-man midfield that left Bowen up top chasing shadows.
The home side were on top, and buoyed by their dominance, turned to a bench full of first team players, whilst Potter looked to his and saw little that moved him to make a change, even as his team were clearly running out of ideas, and running on fumes.
Kilman replaced Aguerd, who had had one of his better games, with 20 minutes to go, but the impact came from Pereira's changes, as Wolves chased the game and threw on the in-demand striker Strand Larsen.
If it seemed surprising before the game to see Wolves turn down a supposed ??50m bid from Newcastle for the striker, it was less so after this cameo. The 6ft 4in Norwegian must have been begging for minutes against a defence that fears crosses and avoids heading the ball. It was even more worrying when the home side added Kalajd? 3/4 i??, the Austrian striker making his teammate look small as he stood at 6ft 7in.
Not that it would matter for the equaliser.
That came from what could easily be considered another Areola error. This time, Andre had a low shot from the edge of the box, which was lightly deflected on its way towards goal. But the Frenchman was too easily fooled by it, hacking at the effort with his feet as he fell, pumping it right back into the middle of the box, where Strand Larsen stood and fired right back into the goal with a first-time effort that had Areola beaten, the goalkeeper watching from the floor as the ball sailed into the roof of the net with eight minutes remaining.
Two minutes later, the big striker had given his side the lead and scored the winner. An Arias was blocked by Areola, firing out to the wide right. New signing Tchatchoua returned it to the middle, bending in a cross to the edge of the six-yard box, where Strand Larsen stood between Mavropanos and Rodriguez.
As is the way with Mavropanos, you question what he is doing at least once in every game, and it was this moment that will confound.
The big Greek defender didn't get off the ground or make a challenge to head a ball he could have got up for, as Rodriguez failed to put any significant pressure on Strand Larsen or challenge for the ball, and somehow the striker was left competing with nobody whilst stood between two defenders as he powered home the header from close range and fired Wolves into the third round of the Carabao Cup.
Fullkrug and Wilson were thrown on, but for no impact come the end, as West Ham finished their League Cup journey at the starting line.
There were signs of improvement in this game that can give the optimist some hope, but familiar failings came to the fore. What was most concerning may have been Jarrod Bowen confronting a fan at full-time, enraged enough to be pulled away by his teammates, and to pen an apology later on Instagram. Those counting the signs of a relegation season will have noted that.
Manager's Rating
Graham Potter: 5/10 It is fair to criticise him for not trusting the young players here. Scarles and Potts, whilst lacking physicality and experience, were both choices he could have used as the midfield got swarmed, let alone watching Rodriguez start another game whilst we try push him out of the door. Left it too long to halt the slide, then saw the defence crumble when Kilman was added. The team needed to get out of its own half, yet we subbed a centre back and kept the pressure on ourselves. Shaky ground.
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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 AreolaHere's your chance to stake your claim, Fonzy, show that you're a better bet for stopping goals. None of this footwork nonsense. Oh, well, whatever, never mind. It could be argued that criticism on both goals is harsh, but when your whole case is based on being a shot-stopper who makes those marginal gains with such saves, you need to show you can make them.
Kyle Walker-Peters
Defended reasonably well and looked comfortable playing combinations with Ward-Prowse down the line. Isn't always as dynamic as some fans would like, but you can tell he's comfortable in possession and playing quick passing moves. Lovely cross for Soucek's goal.
El Hadji Malick Diouf
As discussed, his potential is being limited by the midfield's inability to use him, but he didn't have much impact on the game as his runs were ignored, and he lacks a touch of skill to square up and beat men on his own.
Jean-Clair Todibo
Todibo had a fine game, not doing much wrong in defence, whilst proving himself one of the more capable passers in the squad, especially in picking passes from deep.
Konstantinos Mavropanos
He was having a reasonable game before his part in the third goal, but that is his curse. He looks good until he's suddenly bad, and always in a confusing way.
Nayef Aguerd
When Nayef went off, things looked far rosier, so at least he can take some confidence in seeing that the shambles aren't necessarily his fault.
Guido Rodriguez
He's not an awful player, and his positional nous does see him make challenges and interceptions, but he's too slow for the dynamism of Premier League midfields. That foul for the penalty was a challenge of absolutely nothing, rightly punished.
Tomas Soucek
A little harsh, given his goal, but his lack of passing ability hinders the midfield, as well as being slow. You can use him deep in midfield with covering legs, but not with Rodriguez and Ward-Prowse. Too many men running through treacle. His inability to play quickly and accurately to Diouf down the left limited the young wing-back's threat. However, a great header.
James Ward-Prowse
Started well and looked better higher up the pitch, where he wants to be playing anyway, but faded after the break and got lodged deep in midfield with two other snail-like runners. One would be fine, three together is begging for problems.
Lucas Paqueta
One of his better performances for some time, Paqueta was freed of defensive responsibility and benefited from it greatly. Played Bowen through with a lovely pass, worked hard, scored a good header. Should start up front over Fullkrug.
Jarrod Bowen
A wonderful cross for Paqueta's goal, and it was unsurprising to see him look more dangerous and more comfortable when drifting to the right wing.
Substitutes
Max Kilman(Aguerd 70') Not sure it was necessarily his fault, but it does not look good for the centre back to come on and then concede twice as the defence suddenly fell to pieces.
Callum Wilson
(Rodriguez 86') A non-entity late on.
Niclas Fullkrug
(Todibo 86') Probably a touch more anonymous than Wilson.
Mads Hermansen
Did not play.
Ollie Scarles
Did not play.
Freddie Potts
Did not play.
Lewis Orford
Did not play.
Andy Irving
Did not play.
Callum Marshall
Did not play.
Match Facts
West Ham United: Alphonse Areola, Kyle Walker-Peters, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Jean-Clair Todibo, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Nayef Aguerd, Guido Rodriguez, Tomas Soucek, James Ward-Prowse, Lucas Paqueta, Jarrod Bowen.Goals: Tomas Soucek 50 Lucas Paqueta 63 .
Booked: James Ward-Prowse .
Sent Off: None sent off. .
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Johnstone, R Gomes (Tchatchoua 73), Mosquera (Doherty 72), Agbadou, S Bueno, H Bueno, Andre, Bellegarde (J Gomes 73), Lopez (Strand Larsen 73), Arias, Hwang (c) (Kalajdzic 81).
Subs not used: Bentley, Wolfe, Munetsi, Chirewa.
Goals: R Gomes (43), Strand Larsen (82, 84).
Booked: Agbadou, Andre.
Sent off: None.
Referee: Darren England.
Attendance: 0.
Man of the Match: Lucas Paqueta.