Wolves 1-0 West Ham: Hammers lose again and remain in the relegation zone

The Wolves winner came from a West Ham corner and now David Moyes really is in one.

After seeing Julen Lopetegui’s team fly back and forth to score the only goal of the game, Moyes can only wait. He waits and sees if that dreaded call comes through. Wait and see if you are summoned to a meeting with co-owner David Sullivan. Wait and see if he is in charge of Everton next week.

Moyes walked to the distance finish in full time, applauding the supporters who had made the 300-mile, six-hour round trip to Molineux. All he got in return were V signs and some comments not fit for publication after this seventh consecutive winless start.

Daniel Podence’s goal was enough for Wolves to claim victory against West Ham at the Molineux

The pressure continues to increase on David Moyes’ men, who are still in the relegation zone

The downward spiral continues for West Ham, while for Wolves, they are on the rise. Daniel Podence’s winning goal, a crushed finish to a counter-attack following West Ham’s corner at the other end, sparked wild celebrations.

The fans sang Lopetegui’s name. They feel safe in his hands, feeling that he knows what it takes to steer Wolves away from relegation.

There was no Craig Dawson for West Ham. Not due to injury. No disease. Dawson’s absence was due to an offer from another club, and that club happened to be Wolves.

Unlike Moyes, Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui heard fans chanting his name full time.

West Ham defender Craig Dawson has been left out as he was the subject of a recent offer from Wolves.

Moyes did not like the moment. He described him as ‘disruptive’ and, in his opinion, there was no way West Ham could use Dawson against the team that could soon sign him.

Losing Dawson was a blow? Yes and no. Yes, because he had started the last six Premier League games. No, because West Ham had lost five of those outings, drawing the other one.

So in a weird way, a forced change might not be the end of the world. He gave West Ham the chance to try something new, and that came in the form of Angelo Ogbonna and Nayef Aguerd in central defence.

They had to stop the new signing of Wolves, Matheus Cunha from Atlético de Madrid, who was making his home debut. Within minutes, the Brazilian striker was ordering the fans to make more noise.

Ruben Neves monitored the home team’s performances at the Molineux on Saturday afternoon

With Wolves dominating the ball and Ruben Neves passing for fun, West Ham fans were frustrated. ‘Oh Said Benrahma’, they sang about the man they wanted to see start. Instead, the striker, the best of an underperforming group this season, was warming up the bench.

West Ham came closest to opening the scoring before the break when Lucas Paquetá’s cross was headed in by Tomas Soucek. The ball fell to Coufal. He had a lot of time to think about where to place his finisher. Maybe too long, since his poor attempt was blocked by Hugo Bueno.

The wolves finished the first half the way they started it: up. Their only problem was the lack of clear chances that were created when Neves’s umpteenth attempt from distance was blocked.

West Ham fans chanted for the introduction of Said Benrahma, who was finally signed

However, Wolves took the lead after 47 minutes, and it came from a West Ham corner.

The wolves broke through from their own six-yard box and Nelson Semedo broke away, advancing at high speed. He passed to Matheus Nunes, whose cross was deflected by Aaron Cresswell.

Luckily for Nunes, the ball fell into Podence’s trajectory. Coufal tried to get up to block but couldn’t. Podence shot past Lukasz Fabianski and made it 1-0.

Podence was harassed by his teammates in regulation time after scoring the game-winning goal

The goal was his fifth of the season as Wolves continued their fine form since the break.

‘Oh Said Benrahma’, the West Ham fans sang. Again. This time Moyes listened. Soucek was replaced by Benrahma to cheers.

In the 75th minute, Wolves thought they had scored again. First, Neves’ twisted attempt slammed into the underside of the crossbar. Then Rayan Ait-Nouri’s rebound hit the right post. Then Neves blew up. The gasps from the Wolves fans grew louder with each miss. Close, but no cigarette.

In the middle of six minutes of added time, Raúl Jiménez scored, but it was narrowly disallowed for offside. West Ham was desperately looking for a late leveller, but he never came. Yet another loss, and that could be Moyes’s.