“What a FLOP, Potter him Axed him immediately else must cost club more lost”- Graham Potter told should DROP unfortunate club FLOP who LOST the ball every 2.5 touches
West Ham United suffered a frustrating 1-0 defeat to fellow Premier League strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.
The match was far more evenly contested than the scoreline suggests, with both teams creating chances throughout the game.
The Hammers had an early opportunity through striker Evan Ferguson, but it was Wolves who struck first.
Just moments after West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola made a fantastic save from Toti Gomes’ header, Wolves took the lead in the 21st minute.
Jorgen Strand Larsen latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the box, shifting it onto his left foot before firing from range.
The shot deflected off former Wolves defender Max Kilman, wrong-footing Areola and finding the back of the net.
Both sides were denied by the woodwork during the match, with Marshall Munetsi striking the bar with a powerful shot for Wolves.
West Ham’s Niclas Fullkrug also hit the bar with a header, and the rebound was fired wide by Emerson.
Late in the game, West Ham had a big chance to equalise. Tomas Soucek, in the box, received a pass from Fullkrug but opted to shoot from a narrow angle rather than passing back to his teammate, missing the opportunity.
Despite the disappointing result, there were a few standout performances from the Hammers.
West Ham’s Standout Players vs. Wolves
Despite the loss, a couple of West Ham players impressed, most notably wing-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Since joining from Manchester United in the summer, Wan-Bissaka has been a revelation for the Hammers. In this match, he once again stood out in his wing-back role.
According to Sofascore, he created one chance, completed 88% of his passes, and won an impressive seven out of seven tackles.
Fullkrug, who came on as a substitute, also made a big impact. Though he only had 16 touches in his 45 minutes on the pitch, he created a clear chance for Soucek, who couldn’t capitalize. He also hit the bar with a header and won three aerial duels.
His presence up front added a new dynamic to the Hammers’ attack, something they lacked in the first half.
The West Ham Player Who Struggled vs. Wolves
It’s been a tough start for Hammers loanee Ferguson, who is still searching for his first goal since joining from Brighton.
Ferguson had a huge opportunity to score in the 14th minute when Jarrod Bowen squared the ball to him from close range, but he mistimed his run and missed the ball entirely, with the net wide open.
This miss, along with other poor moments, led to a 3/10 match rating from Claret and Hugh.
Ferguson’s stats from the match highlight his struggles: he had 20 touches but lost possession eight times, averaging a turnover every 2.5 touches. He also missed one big chance and failed to win his only aerial duel.
His night, and recent form, were described as “unfortunate” by The Athletic journalist Carl Anka.
With West Ham set to face a tough test against high-flying Bournemouth, it remains to be seen whether Ferguson will retain his place in the starting lineup.
Fullkrug’s performance may prompt a change, with Hammers boss Graham Potter potentially opting to rotate the two forwards. Hopefully, Ferguson can find his form in front of goal soon enough.
