Wolves put pressure on former manager Nuno Espirito Santo to beat an “embarrassing” West Ham 3-0, securing their first win of the Premier League season in strong style.
Wolves took the lead within four minutes when John Arias converted Hwang Hee-chan’s cross and the South Korean forward doubled their two-goal advantage from the penalty spot after Seungtu Magassa fouled Matheus Mane.
Mane himself scored the teenager’s first Premier League goal with a powerful shot from distance before the third interval, sparking chants of “not fit to wear the shirt” from the away supporters, who appeared shocked by what they witnessed at Molineux.
That disbelief was shared by the home supporters, who had not seen their team win anywhere in the Premier League since April last year. Wolves were able to double their points total in 90 minutes. It’s not a great escape story, but it’s enough to get you in the mood for the new year.
As for West Ham, the defeat extends their winless run under Nuno to nine games and casts further doubt over his future. It also means they remain four points clear of Nottingham Forest, who they play at the London Stadium on Tuesday.
Wolves’ Jon Arias celebrates after scoring the hosts’ first goal
Edwards praises Wolves’ progress
Wolves head coach Rob Edwards told Sky Sports:
“This is progress. It was a good performance. The fans have been waiting for it for a long time so it was great to reward them with a win.”
“I’m really happy for the players too because they’ve been working hard. We’ve been improving and progressing and today was a good reward for that hard work.”
“Away, we showed more than just resilience. We showed we can play and performed really well. At home, not so much. Today we showed a really good side of ourselves.”
“I’m happy to get my first win in front of our supporters. It’s a new year and maybe a bit of a fresh start.”
Nuno apologizes for ’embarrassing’ exhibition
West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo said in a press conference:
“I have to apologize to the fans. I have to apologize to the fans who came on the trip today. It was embarrassing. There’s not much I can say other than I’m sorry. What I showed today wasn’t good enough.”
Nuno added: “We needed more from our players. The way we started and the way we performed were very poor. I don’t remember a day when I felt so bad on a football pitch like today, so it was embarrassing.”
How West Ham collapsed at Molineux
There was so much pessimism among supporters that every club must have feared for some time that they would be the one to beat Wolves for the first time. It seems fitting that it was West Ham. A team playing with even less confidence than the clubs at the bottom of the table.
The Timberwolves have led in just three of their last 19 games this season, never leading by more than one point, and failed to win any of them. West Ham’s attempts to go three down at half-time showed just how miserable they were, unable to win duels or trackrunners. terrible.
The away fans started shouting about their relegation early on. They participated in songs that mocked their team. Homegrown player Max Kilman was also booed. It was Wolves fans who sang Nuno’s name, not them. There were jeers at both halftime and fulltime.
The lack of meaningful response after the interval was almost abysmal. Wolves had also not kept a clean sheet so far, but West Ham failed to force a save from Jose Sa. They were asked to play catch-up in the second half, but they didn’t have anything offensively.
Unlike Wolves, West Ham have time to regain their Premier League status. But that game at Forest’s home is now even more important. Lose it and you’re seven points away from safety. To stop it, the atmosphere needs to change rapidly.
West Ham United players react after conceding third goal against Wolves
West Ham’s dire statistics
West Ham are currently without a win in their last nine Premier League games (D4 L5), their longest streak since the last nine games of the 2010-11 season when they were relegated.
West Ham’s Nuno became the first manager in Premier League history to lose to teams who started the day at the bottom of the table at two different clubs in the same season (also 3-0 against Nottingham Forest and West Ham in August).
West Ham have conceded 41 goals in the Premier League this season, the most after 20 top-flight games since the 1965-66 season (44).
West Ham have conceded more goals in the first five minutes of a game than any other team in the Premier League this season (four).
