Wolves 1 (Strand Larsen 21) West Ham United 0
Wolves secured back-to-back Premier League victories as Jorgen Strand Larsen’s tenth goal of the season saw off West Ham United under the Molineux lights.
The Norwegian scored the only goal of the game with a deflected strike from outside of the box during a first half where the hosts dominated.
A goalless second half followed, despite the Hammers improving, meaning the Old Gold moved 12 points clear of the drop zone and just five off their visitors.
Despite Wolves starting lively, it was West Ham who had the first chance of the game when Jarrod Bowen received a fortuitous ricochet into his path down the right flank. Driving into the penalty area, he squared the ball for Evan Ferguson, whose shot was blocked by Matt Doherty.
Minutes later, Wolves responded with their own chance and Toti was agonisingly close to giving Wolves the lead. Rayan Ait-Nouri whipped in a delivery from a free-kick, and Toti at the front post glanced a header goalwards, but Alphonse Areola got down well to keep it out.
The opening goal came in the 21st minute and Wolves were rewarded for their good start. Emmanuel Agbadou played a midfield-splitting pass into Strand Larsen’s feet, and after the Norwegian set himself with a deft touch, his strike beat Areola, helped by a deflection off Maximilian Kilman on his return to Molineux.
The hosts continued to apply pressure and were almost two to the good inside the opening half-hour. After Joao Gomes’ jinxing run to the edge of the penalty area, he dug the ball out of his feet to find Strand Larsen ahead of him, before the ball ended up in Marshall Munetsi’s path, but he rattled the crossbar, with Areola left stranded.
As half-time approached, Andre came close to scoring his first in an old gold shirt when he found space on the left-wing position, and cut inside on to his right foot, before spiralling a shot just over the West Ham net, concluding a strong first-half performance for Wolves.
Half-time | Wolves 1-0 West Ham
The home side’s strong first half was evident in Graham Potter’s frustration, as he withdrew three players at half-time in search of an improved second half to counter Wolves.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde came close to doubling Wolves’ lead when he did well to feint away from his marker and play a smart one-two with Strand Larsen on the edge of the box before curling an effort just outside Areola’s post.
After a period of battling without much quality, eventually a moment of good football saw Gomes and Doherty link up well down the right flank. Doherty continued his run, received a return pass inside the penalty area, and cut the ball back to Strand Larsen, whose effort just missed the mark at the front post.
With 20 minutes remaining both sides sensed they could score the game’s second goal, and the chance to do so fell West Ham’s way. Lucas Paqueta’s launched cross was met with Niclas Fullkrug’s glancing header which struck the crossbar, before Emerson’s follow-up found the side netting.
Then, the visitors nearly found an equaliser in the dying moments. Bowen forced a turnover in possession high up the pitch, and the ball landed at Fullkrug’s feet who flicked a ball into Tomas Soucek’s path, but the midfielder’s shot rolled inches past the post.
Wolves, backed by the Molineux crowd, had a golden chance to seal the game in the final seconds. Strand Larsen broke free and perfectly timed a through ball into Munetsi’s path, but the Zimbabwean’s chip trickled just past the post.
As injury time expired, Wolves secured their fourth home clean sheet of the Premier League season.
Full-time | Wolves 1-0 West Ham
Wolves | Sa, Semedo, Doherty, Agbadou, Toti, Ait-Nouri (Bueno 82), Andre (Sarabia 70), J. Gomes, Munetsi, Bellegarde (Traore 90), Strand Larsen.
Unused subs | Johnstone, Hwang, Doyle, Forbs, Djiga, Lima.
West Ham | Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Cresswell (Alvarez 46), Scarles (Emerson 78), Ward-Prowse (Soucek 78), Paqueta, Guilherme (Soler 46), Bowen, Ferugson (Fullkrug 46).
Unused subs | Fabianski, Coufal, Rodriguez, Todibo.
Referee | Tony Harrington
Report by Callum Greybanks
