Claiming back-to-back wins in the Europa Conference League is all well and good, but West Ham’s success on the continent did not translate into improved domestic fortunes when they travelled to face Everton just before the international break.
The Hammers’ struggles in front of goal continued as Neal Maupay struck the only goal of the game in a 1-0 victory for the Toffees, and West Ham’s next few games could supposedly make or break David Moyes’s tenure in the hotseat.
With only one win and a paltry three goals to show from their opening seven games of the Premier League season – boasting the league’s joint-worst attack alongside this weekend’s visitors Wolves – West Ham currently sit 18th in the table and are in desperate need of an attacking spark.
A tally of just two defeats from their last seven outings in all competitions may look good on paper, but football matches are not played on paper, and West Ham now set out to end a six-game winless streak at the London Stadium in the Premier League – not since 2003 have they endured a longer such run.
In order to do so, West Ham will likely have to achieve something that they are yet to do in the Premier League this season – score a goal in the first half – as Wolves’ attacking prowess following the half-time interval has been virtually non-existent as well.
Not a single soul will knock Bruno Lage’s side for failing to find the back of the net against reigning champions Manchester City, who came away from Molineux with a 3-0 win to their name on September 17 thanks to goals from Phil Foden, Erling Braut Haaland and Jack Grealish.
The writing was on the wall for Wolves after Nathan Collins’s red card in the 33rd minute of the contest, as the visitors’ four-game unbeaten streak in all competitions came to a swift end amid increasing concern of their attacking capabilities – or lack of.
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Having also found the back of the net just three times in league action this term – none of which has come in the second half – Wolves are dangling just above the dotted line in 17th place and travel to the London Stadium still waiting for their first away win of the new top-flight season.
Lage can be encouraged by the fact that his side boast the joint-best defensive record on the road so far, being one of five teams to have conceded just three goals in away matches, but Wolves have now gone a miserable seven Premier League away games without a win since prevailing at Everton in March.
A goal from Tomas Soucek was enough to hand West Ham a 1-0 win over Wolves in this fixture last season – a third triumph from their last four league games against Lage’s side – and Moyes is seemingly fighting for three points and his job in Saturday’s game.
