Hammers plunge woeful Wolves into relegation zone
The Premier League's two most goal-shy teams met in the capital, and it came as little surprise that there was precious little quality on offer from either in the final third.
Wolves’ best efforts came from range in the early going, with both Daniel Podence (26) and Jonny (28) forcing Łukasz Fabiański (37) into diving saves.
The Hammers’ new frontman Gianluca Scamacca was preferred to Michail Antonio from the start, and the home faithful was in disbelief that the Italian failed to open his account in the 16th minute, turning over from point-blank range after Jarrod Bowen’s shot could only be parried into his path.
On the half-hour mark though, Scamacca (23) was on target in some style. A venomous volley from the edge of the area deflected off Jonny and sent the ball rifling into the corner, injecting some life into a dour contest.
David Moyes’ men netted a second within 10 minutes of the restart. Bowen (25), who had unquestionably been the hosts’ most dangerous player in the first half, showed tremendous skill to cut inside with his chest before rifling in at the near post.
The goal triggered a change for the visitors, with the tenacious Diego Costa (33) reintroduced to English football after five years away. The former Chelsea man missed a gilt-edged chance to reduce the arrears, directing his header wide from close-range.
Wolves’ potency in the final third never really picked up after that miss, condemning them to a place in the relegation zone after eight rounds that have yielded just a single victory.
Lage’s men are on a concerning slide, with that success over Southampton in September their only win in the last 15 - a run that stretches back to April.
Three goals scored is the lowest total in the league, and can only be matched in the English Football League by Preston North End, so the problems are mounting.
