Leander Dendoncker and Patrick Cutrone struck either side of the break to extend Wolves’ unbeaten run in the Premier League to ten matches for the very first time. The Belgian and the Italian will take the plaudits for seeing off West Ham United, but it was a perfect team performance from Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
Dendoncker put the hosts in front with his first Premier League goal of the season, diverting home Joao Moutinho’s corner. Then, after chances came and went, the result was put beyond doubt in the closing stages when substitutes Pedro Neto and Patrick Cutrone combined, for the latter to fire home.
Keen to extend the unbeaten run, Wolves were a threat from the off, so when the opener arrived on 23 minutes, it was fully deserved. The was a goal of simplicity, Moutinho whipped in a corner and Dendoncker was hungrier than Ryan Fredericks, sticking out a foot and diverting home, in off the post.
While the Hammers' goal looked in danger, the visitors remained handy in the final third themselves, and Pablo Fornals’ whipped effort was heading for the top corner, before the intervention of Rui Patricio’s right hand. Not to be outdone, United goalkeeper David Martin produced a tidy save to deny Diogo Jota soon after as Wolves went in for the break ahead.
Half-time: Wolves 1 West Ham United 0
After the interval Wolves continued to flow forward in a bid for a crucial second goal and, once Moutinho’s corner wasn’t cleared, Jonny returned with interest, only for Dendoncker to head over on this occasion. The chances kept on coming, the next fell to the Spaniard himself, but after reaching Raul Jimenez’s cross, Jonny was foiled by Martin.
The Hammers were being restricted to efforts from range, with Declan rice curling harmlessly wide from distance. Instead, Wolves were at constant siege on the West Ham goal, first Romain Saiss headed agonisingly wide from another Moutinho delivery, before Jimenez raced clear, but wide of goal, and dragged across the face of goal.
As is customary this season, Adama Traore was causing havoc down the right, but on a rare dart inside, he set up Jimenez, who was denied when Martin pushed away his strike. Then, with 11 minutes remaining, Saiss watched his deft header fly just wide of Martin’s goal.
However, finally the game was put beyond doubt in the closing stages. Neto and Cutrone was both introduced with the clock ticking down, but they still found time to combine. Jonny put in the leg work, charging through and bundled the ball to Neto, who laid off for Cutrone to pick his spot and leave Martin rooted to the spot.
Full-time: Wolves 2 West Ham 0
Wolves: Patricio, Doherty, Dendoncker, Coady, Saiss, Jonny, Neves, Moutinho, Traore (Bennett 89), Jota (Neto 72), Jimenez (Cutrone 83).
Unused subs: Ruddy, Kilman, Vinagre, Ashley-Seal.
West Ham: Martin, Fredericks, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Snodgrass (Yarmolenko 62), Noble (Holland 71), Rice, Fornals, Anderson, Haller (Ajeti 80).
Unused subs: Jimenez, Zabaleta, Sanchez, Masuaku.
