MATCH REPORT: WEST HAM 1-0 WOLVES

London Stadium

Premier League

Sunday 27th February 2022

West Ham  1 

Wolves  0   

 CREDIT:  REUTERS/CHRIS RADBURN

Tomas Soucek celebrated his 27th birthday with a goal and a win, as the Czech’s strike helped West Ham edge past Wolves by a goal to nil.

The first half was dominated by the hosts in East London with Aaron Cresswell whipping an early free kick just wide off the target. Shortly after Wolves keeper José Sá was called into action for the first time. Soucek found Michail Antonio in a pocket of space and the Jamaican dug out a powerful drive that needed pushing behind by Sá. 

With just under ten minutes left of the opening period Declan Rice went within inches of handing the hosts the lead. The 23-year-old received the ball 25 yards from goal and let fly a fantastic effort that rattled the woodwork. 

Wolves nearly snatched a shock lead in first half stoppage time when the ball broke kindly to Hee-Chan Hwang in the home penalty area, however the RB Leipzig loanee snatched at the opportunity firing wide. 

The Hammers started the second half in a similarly dominant fashion, and just before the hour mark David Moyes’ men got their reward. Antonio rolled in an inviting ball across the face of goal where birthday boy Soucek was on hand to poke the ball home from close range for his fourth goal of the season. 

Despite a few late scares West Ham held on to stretch their unbeaten run in all competitions to five games, as they move up to fifth in the table. Meanwhile Wolves, who were on the receiving end of the same score line they had inflicted on the Hammers in November, remain eighth in the table following back-to-back defeats. Furthermore, Bruno Lage’s men are now five points off the Europa League places. 

By Nathan Williams