THE WOLF’S NEW CLOTHES
West Ham 3 Wolves 0
Santa Claus was the special pre-match guest at London Stadium this afternoon, but it wasn’t just him who was there to give presents away. Or at least that’s what I’m hoping for this afternoon. Craig Dawson was making his first return to the ground since leaving the club at the end of the 2022/23 season.
What with Kudus scoring the first goal in midweek in the fourteenth minute, there is that twinge as the fifteenth approaches, and as it chimes, Paquetá lets loose from the left with a sweet shot from the left, hitting over Coufal’s pinpoint cross.
Ward-Prowse has another attempt from thirty yards with a direct free kick which lacks height and is easily fielded by Dan Bentley. He has managed seventeen in his career, the next strike will equal David Beckham’s career total, but nothing as yet for West Ham.
On 22 minutes, Sarabia’s corner for Wolves is cleared by Emerson and then Alvarez, who puts Paquetá in the clear centrally. Kudus has gone flying ahead down the right, and Paquetá measures and executes the perfect ball into his path for him to take on Semedo before firing past Bentley. Second goal in four days. A sensational counter attack with a blinding finish.
Within eight minutes Kudus does it again, and again it’s on the counter. After Bellegarde has failed to control a pass to him in the West Ham area, and Lemina’s through ball has been telegraphed by Zouma, Paquetá is released again to provide another through ball wide on the right to Kudus. This time the Ghanaian striker heads down the centre of the pitch with power and acceleration before firing decisively past Bentley. On his elbow is Craig Dawson, well out of step as he chases back. Bowen has been quiet for most of the first half, but he breaks free from his marker Dawson as injury time approaches and thumps a shot against the inside of the post with Bentley well beaten.
Just one moment early in the second half in that twilight zone ten minute period threatens to turn things around for Wolves, as Sarabia slots in for Wolves, but after a slab of varrtime the goal is disallowed for offside.
The second half is otherwise more of the same, and once Jarrod Bowen finally gets on the scoresheet in the 74th minute after a slick one two with Paquetá, following a brilliant interception from Souček, all there is left to do is sing a few more Xmas songs and look forward to the visit of Manchester United next Saturday.
1 Lucasz Fabianski, 33 Emerson, 4 Kurt Zouma (captain), 5 Vladimir Coufal, 27 Nayef Aguerd, 19 Edson Alvarez, 7 James Ward-Prowse, 11 Lucas Paquetá, 14 Mohammed Kudus, 20 Jarrod Bowen, 28 Tomas Souček
Substitutes: 8 Pablo Fornals, 18 Danny Ings, 45 Divin Mubama, 27 Thilo Kehrer
Goalscorers: Mohammed Kudus (2), Jarrod Bowen
