Jarrod Bowen scored twice as West Ham registered their first Premier League win of the season against a disappointing Wolves side.
The result lifts the Hammers from 18th up to 10th in the table, with Wolves dropping down to 16th.
It was no more than the hosts deserved, dominating once Bowen had opened the scoring at the London Stadium.
Bowen, who had managed just one goal for West Ham since joining them in January, superbly set them on their way, curling a left-foot effort into the bottom corner after being sent clear by Pablo Fornals’ quick free-kick.
The former Hull forward doubled West Ham’s lead after the break, prodding in from close range after a Fornal effort had come back off the post.
The Hammers had lost each of their last four top-flight fixtures against Wolves without scoring a single goal, but they created several excellent chances to put the game out of sight.
Tomas Soucek made it three with a header that flicked in off Raul Jimenez from Aaron Cresswell’s corner, and Sebastien Haller’s stoppage-time header added the gloss to a fine victory.
After showing improvement in their narrow defeat to Arsenal last Saturday this performance represented a large leap in the right direction for the Hammers.
Having started the evening in the bottom three, few would have predicted that they would end up thrashing Wolves using a similar template.
While manager David Moyes was not present after testing positive for coronavirus on Tuesday, it was clear from the opening moments that his side had been set up to operate on the counter-attack.
That, coupled with taking advantage of a 3-4-3 Wolves formation without natural full-backs, helped the Hammers establish control.
Ryan Fredericks, Bowen, Arthur Masuaku and Fornals all impressed working in or coming off wide positions and Michail Antonio’s physical presence and pace provided another type of outlet upfront.
The 30-year-old, who has kept record signing Haller out of the side since his conversion into a central striker at the end of last season, was a menace throughout.
And he tellingly contributed to both of the hosts’ opening two goals, winning a free-kick from Willy Boly for the first and powering clear on the left to tee up Fornals before Bowen’s second.
Moyes, directing affairs and communicating from home, will have been buoyed by the nature of the victory and the fact that his side could have enjoyed an even more emphatic win, had Fornals and Soucek both converted good chances from close range.
It was also the perfect way in which to go into a challenging set of fixtures in October when the Hammers will face Leicester, Tottenham, Manchester City and champions Liverpool.
In Other News – Manchester City 2 – 5 Leicester City
Jamie Vardy scored a hat-trick as Leicester City inflicted a remarkable defeat on Manchester City to go top of the Premier League.
Despite going behind to a superb fourth-minute strike by former Foxes midfielder Riyad Mahrez, the visitors responded in stunning fashion.
Vardy levelled with a penalty before the break after he had been fouled by Kyle Walker, and he then sealed his second treble against Pep Guardiola’s side from the spot, after he had cleverly turned home Timothy Castagne’s cross to make it 2-1. learn more
Source – BBC
