West Ham thumped Wolves 4-0 to boost their survival bid and send Tottenham into the Premier League relegation zone. The victory moved the Hammers above Spurs ahead of Roberto De Zerbi’s first game in charge at Sunderland on Sunday — Spurs’ first time in the bottom three since January 2009.
Konstantinos Mavropanos headed West Ham in front before Taty Castellanos struck twice inside two minutes after the interval to put the game beyond Wolves. West Ham continued to press and Mavropanos grabbed a second to complete a dominant night for the hosts.
Wolves remain without an away win in their last 18 Premier League matches and sit 13 points from safety with just 18 points left to play for; relegation could be confirmed as early as their trip to Leeds next week.
Player ratings:
– West Ham: Hermansen 7, Walker-Peters 7, Disasi 7, Mavropanos 9, Diouf 7, Bowen 8, Soucek 7, Fernandes 7, Summerville 7, Pablo 7, Taty 9. Subs: Adama 7, Magassa 7, Wilson 7.
– Wolves: Sa 6, Mosquera 6, S. Bueno 6, Krejci 6, Tchatchoua 6, Andre 6, J. Gomes 6, A. Gomes 6, H. Bueno 6, Bellegarde 7, Armstrong 5. Subs: Mane 6, Arokodare 6, Hwang 6, Edozie 6.
– Player of the Match: Mavropanos.
The crowd chanted “going down with the Tottenham” towards travelling Wolves fans as West Ham — who had looked in peril after a poor January stretch — produced a timely run of five wins from 11 to haul themselves away from danger. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side showed the defensive and attacking ruthlessness he has been instilling since his arrival.
Reactions
– Jamie Redknapp (Sky Sports): “In a relegation fight, you need to play to your maximum — and know your strengths and weaknesses. The strengths are up front. Soucek and Fernandes did their jobs… The result will send shockwaves in the other clubs. All the managers in the bottom three are looking at that and going: that’s the last thing we wanted.”
– Nuno Espirito Santo (West Ham): “We are happy, extremely happy. First half was tough, we couldn’t find spaces. The first goal changes everything. The players kept their calm and were amazing in the second half. We spoke after the [other Wolves] game — we said we cannot give up. We won’t give up the fight.”
– Lewis Jones (analysis): Nuno’s teams become forces when fully drilled; West Ham’s January signings — Axel Disasi, Taty Castellanos and Pablo — have been crucial, with Castellanos thriving as the focal point and finally delivering the goals that have recently been lacking.
– Rob Edwards (Wolves): “I’m bitterly disappointed. The first half was good but two quickfire goals latched onto our mistakes. It’s poor from us. It doesn’t matter who makes the mistakes — we make them as a team. We have to finish strong and respond now.”
The result reshapes the bottom of the table and gives West Ham momentum, while Wolves face a mounting fight to avoid relegation. Upcoming fixtures will be decisive for both clubs.