Hammers beaten 2-0 at Wolves

Ryan Fredericks defends against Diogo Jota


Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 West Ham United
Premier League

West Ham United were beaten by a goal in each half at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night,

Leander Dendoncker and Patrick Cutrone notched for the home side to secure the 2-0 scoreline and frustrate Manuel Pellegrini's visitors.

Robert Snodgrass had the Hammers' best chance, only for home goalkeeper Rui Patricio to save when one-on-one and lay the platform for Cutrone's match clincher four minutes from the end.

The Hammers made one change from the side which defeated Chelsea at the weekend as Michail Antonio, only just back from a lengthy lay-off with a hamstring injury and having his game time managed, made way for Sebastien Haller.

It was a quiet start to the contest, but Wolves were beginning to hit their stride by the time they won their first corner midway through the first half.

West Ham defended that initial effort, conceding another, and this time Joao Moutinho dropped it on a plate for Dendoncker to prod home.

Just past the half-hour, Pablo Fornals so nearly levelled with what would have been a lovely goal. He exchanged passes neatly with Felipe Anderson inside the box, before arcing a right-footed effort towards the top right hand corner, which Rui Patricio had to extend himself to touch over.

At the other end, Diogo Jota was allowed to run too far before warming David Martin's palms in the 36th minute as Wolves closed what was a rather low-key opening period in front.

The first big opening of the second half went Wolves' way when, in the 57th minute, Raul Jimenez made tracks in the right channel. He spotted Jonny's run inside, and the Spaniard held off Ryan Fredericks but could not slot past Martin, who made himself big to block.

Then, three minutes later, the Hammers had a one-on-one of their own when Robert Snodgrass broke the lines to pluck a  Fornals pass out of the air. The first touch was exquisite, but the second was too heavy and allowed goalkeeper Patricio to smother.

Martin had to get down sharply by his near post to deny Jimenez as he looked to wrap the game up 19 minutes from time, before Romain Saiss glanced wide from Joao Moutinho's dangerous-looking wide free-kick, and the decisive second arrived in the 86th minute.

Substitute Cutrone was the goalscorer, finishing into the bottom left-hand corner from 16 yards to keep the points at Molineux.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Patricio, Doherty, Dendoncker, Coady (c), Saiss, Jonny, Neves, Moutinho, Traore, Jota, Jimenez (Cutrone 84)
Subs: Ruddy, Kilman, Bennett, Vinagre, Ashley-Seal

Goals: Dendoncker 23, Cutrone 86

Booked: Jota

West Ham United: Martin, Fredericks, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Noble (Holland 71), Snodgrass (Yarmolenko 62), Felipe Anderson, Fornals, Haller (Ajeti 80)
Subs: Roberto, Zabaleta, Masuaku, Sanchez

Booked: Rice, Cresswell

Referee: Andre Marriner

Attendance: 31,217