West Ham 3 – 0 Wolves – Canada Boosts

Lucas Paqueta produced a hat-trick of assists as West Ham moved as much as seventh within the Premier League desk with a 3-0 win over Wolves, who’ve now misplaced their final 4 on the street.

Paqueta twice despatched Mohammed Kudus away to attain within the first half, with the Ghanaian including to his strike within the Europa League win over Freiburg on the London Stadium three days in the past.

Kudus is a rising star in east London however whereas his velocity, management and shot energy have been on present for each targets, Wolves’ defending left a lot to be desired. They’d been compelled to usher in alternative goalkeeper Daniel Bentley and switched to a again 4 however have been far too open.

Paqueta discovered Jarrod Bowen on the stroke of half-time, however whereas that shot got here again off the put up, the pair linked up brilliantly on 74 minutes to place the sport to mattress, with Mario Lemina as soon as once more punished for giving up possession cheaply within the centre of the park.

After progressing to the Europa League last-16 as group winners on Thursday and now seeing off Wolves, West Ham’s 5-0 defeat at Fulham final weekend is more and more trying like a wierd blip. They’ve responded impressively.

Earlier than that third West Ham objective Wolves had been urgent for a route again into the match and Pablo Sarabia noticed a close-range end chalked off by an extended VAR test for offside. It is not the primary time this season Gary O’Neil’s aspect have been undone by the officers at Stockley Park however this was an accurate, if extraordinarily tight, name.

Nevertheless, he would absolutely have been left lower than impressed by two challenges from Vladimir Coufal on Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, which noticed the West Ham right-back collide with Bellegarde’s head. He was solely proven a yellow card for the second conflict. Within the Sky Sports activities studio, pundit Daniel Sturridge described the primary as “WWE stuff.”

Wolves stay in a comparatively comfy place within the desk, thirteenth, 10 factors above the relegation zone. However their defensive points and lack of leading edge – this was the primary time they hadn’t scored because the opening weekend – will give Gary O’Neil a lot to ponder forward of their Christmas Eve conflict with Chelsea at Molineux.

How West Ham beat Wolves…

Wolves arrived at West Ham with a new-look defence. In objective was alternative Bentley, following Jose Sa’s shoulder harm, and forward of him the standard again three had change into a again 4. They have been modifications which West Ham uncovered.

Bentley was examined early on from an inswinging Bowen nook which needed to be tipped over. That was one in every of a collection of threatening early corners from the hosts, which left Wolves’ defenders trying uncomfortable.

But it surely was a Wolves nook which led to the West Ham opener. Former Hammer Craig Dawson made the primary contact nevertheless it was scrambled to Paqueta who despatched Kudus racing away. The Ghana worldwide confirmed glorious tempo to drive in direction of the Wolves field after which hearth a low shot previous Bentley, hitting the online lower than 18 seconds after the Wolves nook was taken.

Matheus Cunha was Wolves’ brightest spark and compelled Lukasz Fabianski to parry his long-range effort simply earlier than the half hour. However 10 minutes after their first, West Ham had a second. And it was the identical mixture, with Paqueta enjoying in Kudus as soon as extra.

Lemina’s move was minimize out by Zouma and Wolves have been caught out, with Paqueta sending a move from inside his personal half which discovered Kudus in acres in behind out-of-position Toti. Wolves’ defence was cut up and Kudus was too fast for Dawson earlier than ending from contained in the field.

It may have been even higher for the house aspect earlier than the break, with Bowen drilling a shot towards the put up from the sting of the field after seeing a penalty attraction for a shove from Joao Gomes turned down moments earlier.

Wolves improved after the break and thought they’d pulled one again with a slick transfer simply earlier than the hour. Joao Gomes, Bellegarde and Hee-Chan Hwang have been all concerned earlier than Nelson Semedo crossed low for Sarabia to tuck in however a three-minute VAR test finally concluded he was offside.

Cunha fired over and Lemina had a few off-target efforts as Wolves constructed momentum however they have been undone by Paqueta for a 3rd time with simply over quarter-hour to play.

Lemina pinged a stray move away within the centre of the pitch and when Bowen mixed with Paqueta he was in, taking pictures throughout Bentley to tuck the ball contained in the far put up. It is his tenth of the season and solely John Hartson (1997/98) has received to double figures faster for West Ham within the Premier League period.

There was nonetheless time for Coufal to clatter into Bellegarde for a second time and earn a yellow. Each that problem and one within the first half noticed the Hammers defender collide with Bellegarde’s head. Sub Thilo Kehrer went into the guide for a late problem on the identical participant.

However a primary clear sheet since September and comfy win caps an excellent week for West Ham, after their struggles at Fulham final Sunday.

What’s subsequent?

West Ham have a Carabao Cup quarter-final with Liverpool subsequent on Wednesday, 8pm kick off, dwell on Sky Sports activities.

Wolves play Chelsea on Christmas Eve, 1pm kick-off, dwell on Sky Sports activities.