This loss represents another humiliating episode in a difficult season for West Ham, raising major doubts about the future of their manager. The London club had the misfortune of becoming the first team to fall to Wolves this term, allowing the Midlands outfit to increase their points tally and lift their hopes of avoiding a place in the history books as the worst team in Premier League annals.
Within four minutes of the new year, Wolves managed to show signs of discovering some confidence. The lively Hwang Hee-chan provided a taste of his revitalised abilities with a long run before laying on an assist following neat combination play with Mateus Mané. His cut-back found an unmarked Jhon Arias, who slid home from point-blank range to give Wolves a lead at Molineux for the first time since early October. Vibrancy could be felt equally on the field and in the stands, a rarity for much of the season.
Facing a team woefully short on confidence and missing creative player Lucas Paquetá through injury, this represented the hosts' clearest opportunity for a victory this season. Initially unnerved by taking the lead, Wolves chose to defend it doggedly, dropping deep with all men behind the ball from an early stage.
West Ham were accommodating guests, contributing to their own demise. First, ex- Wolves captain Max Kilman failed to execute a routine clearance from a cross, letting Mané to intervene, before being brought down by Soungoutou Magassa in the box. The teenage midfielder, formerly of Rochdale, emerged as the key man on the pitch. Hwang stepped up to score the resulting penalty, doubling the lead. Tongue-in-cheek chants of "We're going to win the league" rang around Molineux.
Short on confidence and ideas, West Ham were drifting out of the game even with controlling the ball, registering just a single shot in the first half.
The visitors' woes deepened just prior to halftime. The confident Mané, a youth among trepidatious senior players, turned beautifully, cut in from the left, and fired a driven shot into the bottom corner from outside the box for his first senior goal. Finally, the home fans could enjoy themselves.
With little to lose, coach Nuno made a double change at half-time and switched to a more attacking 3-4-3 formation. Yet, star forward Jarrod Bowen remained quiet, and even introduction of Crysencio Summerville failed to generate the required spark.
A persistent sense of nervousness continued to clouded Wolves' judgment, uncertain whether to clear the ball to safety or build patiently. However, they need not have been concerned against such meek resistance. West Ham's inherent deficiencies became painfully apparent as they produced nothing of note in the attacking areas.
In the end, Wolves were the sole side likely of increasing the scoreline, and West Ham will be thankful the damage was not greater. Focus now shifts to a pivotal midweek fixture at home to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest, a match essential in the battle for top-flight safety. Based on this evidence, West Ham should have every reason to be afraid.
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