Wolves secured back-to-back Premier League wins for the third time this season thanks to a 1-0 win over West Ham United at Molineux and the Matchday Live Extra team were in position to give their thoughts post-match.
Coming into the game off the back of four points from their previous two top flight matches ahead of the international break, Vitor Pereira’s side maintained their recent form as Jorgen Strand Larsen’s goal saw the Old Gold claim the victory.
After the final whistle, former Wolves full-backs Andy Thompson and Lee Naylor discussed the important three points for the men from Molineux as well as the way the team are prioritising points over pretty performances, keeping another clean sheet and Pereira’s passion on the sidelines.
A game of two halves
Thompson: “I said at half time that I thought we probably edged the first half, I thought we had some good chances in the first half, and I thought that we played better in the first half. They made three changes for the second half and we never came to grips with it. But I thought we defended really well, we kept a clean sheet, we won the game 1-0, but they won’t care. You could see they didn’t care – the coaching staff, the players – it was all about winning the game, it was all about the three points, and that’s what they’ve done. It doesn’t matter how you’ve played, all that matters it that Wolves got a victory against West Ham.”
Naylor: “For me, it was definitely a game of two halves. As Thommo said, I thought we were the pick of the first half, but in the second half, we were well against it. Which we probably could have said at half time that it would have been a tougher second half, but in the manner that West Ham went about it, I thought we did really well to keep a clean sheet.”
Double figures for Jorgen Strand Larsen in his first @premierleague season.
— Wolves (@Wolves) April 2, 2025
🔟🇳🇴 pic.twitter.com/fscEemvPiR
A first clean sheet since February
Thompson: “Earlier on in the season, when we were conceding a lot of goals, we now look a lot stronger at the back, for numerous reasons; players coming in, players hitting form, confidence and knowing how each other play. I just think that we look a lot more solid than we have done all year in the last three or four games. We can still improve our general play, but I just think as a unit and as a team – not just the backline, because I’m not taking anything away from the lads in front of them – but I think we look a lot more solid at the back. I thought Toti defended well, but he just got himself caught up with the ball a few times.
Naylor: “There was a bit of naivety from Toti. There are games when you know things aren’t going well for you, so you just get rid of it. A quality ball from back to front, in my eyes, is a good ball. If you’re constantly making mistakes and thinking, ‘Shall I pass it? Shall I turn? Should I do something silly at the back and put us under pressure?’ Every time you do that, the crowd get on you, your own teammates get on you, your own mind gets the better of you and you’re just making it worse for yourself. Sometimes you just need to put your foot through the ball, clear your lines and then earn the right to pass and make the right decision. When you’re constantly double guessing yourself, like he was in the second half, you’re just bringing pressure on us. Sometimes in games, your teammates need to bail you out, and they bailed him out a few times tonight.”
Pereira’s pragmatic gold and black
Naylor: “It's definitely not pretty and I’ve always said that when you’re down at the bottom of the table, it’s all about results, not performances – and I’ll always stand by that. I understand that everyone wants to see nice football, flashy moments – a bit like Ait-Nouri gives you, but ideally at the other end, rather than in your defensive half! But it’s one of those where if we can just go every week winning and playing bad, then we’d win the league. Winning never has been boring. We’re down the bottom and it's very important that we get three points and we have.”
Thompson: “I remember a few years ago [at the start of Bruno Lage’s era] where we played really nice football and lost all three games at the start of the season 1-0. In the three games we had something like 28 chances – it took us 70 shots that season to register our first goal. Today, they’ll go in there and probably know that we didn’t play our best, but I don’t care. I got three points and it’s taken us a little bit further away from the lads below them. We’ve still got to play the two teams below us, and you just don’t lose to them. If you match their results – or better it – then it puts you safe. That’s the important part.”
Full time celebrations 😍 pic.twitter.com/oaOkjOHye2
— Wolves (@Wolves) April 2, 2025
Celebrations at the final whistle
Thompson: “We all know what it means to everyone at this club to stay in the Premier League, but you can definitely see what it means to him to stay in the Premier League and just to win as well. But if you can’t be passionate about a victory in this decision and good results, then why are you in this game? If you can’t have a go with your achievements and your wins and everything else that goes along with it, then there’s something wrong with you. But you’ve got to be able to have a look and think, ‘We’ve won a game, it’s probably put us safe, so why not?!’”
Naylor: “The fans loved it. It’s what it’s for. He’s happy for himself, number one, but he’s also happy for the fans because of what they’ve given them. Why not celebrate? I love it.”
Thompson and Naylor were talking to Mikey Burrows on Wolves’ official post-match podcast, Matchday Live Extra, which is available to listen to now on all podcast providers.
