West Ham 4-2 Wolves
by Paul Donovan
at London Stadium

WEST HAM finally got into gear to cruise past Wolves in this battle of the teams relegated from the Premier League last season at the London Stadium.

The home side finally started to show some shape and purpose in their play, in this, the fourth game of the season.

The visitors put on the pressure for the first half, with West Ham seemingly once again inviting the opposition to come onto them.

Wolves’ Mateus Mane, saw his effort come back off the bar. But on the half-hour, West Ham broke the deadlock, when Manchester City loanee Divine Mukasa received the ball from Arne Engels and strode forward to fire home from 25 yards.

West Ham later doubled their lead when Joel Piroe ran into the box, only to be upended. Jarrod Bowen converted the resulting penalty.

Wolves got one back, before half time, when Marshall Munetsi got free. Konstantinos Mavropanos was outpaced, allowing Munetsi to fire home.

The Hammers extended their lead after the break, when Mukasa was put in by Bowen. Mukasa’s shot took a deflection, looping over Wolves keeper Jose Sa.

Mavropanos then converted, having seen his header come back off the bar from a Bowen corner.

Wolves got another back, when Fer Lopez sent Jackson Tchatchoua off down the right. His low cross was swept home by Jordan James.

West Ham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo was full of praise for Mukasa, not only for his goals but also positioning and control.

Espirito Santo was pleased with the squad now assembled, with a number of comings and goings. His one regret was not having things settled sooner, so he had more time with the new players.

Wolves head coach, Cesar Peixoto, felt his team were unfortunate, creating more chances than West Ham but failing to convert them.