Wolverhampton Wanderers took a significant step towards Premier League survival with a hard-fought 1-0 win against West Ham United on Tuesday night. Jorgen Strand Larsen’s first-half strike proved decisive, lifting Wolves 12 points clear of the relegation zone and further solidifying their resurgence under manager Vitor Pereira.
The match, played in front of a raucous Molineux crowd, saw Wolves dominate the early exchanges with an aggressive pressing game that unsettled their mid-table opponents. The breakthrough came in the 21st minute when Strand Larsen latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the West Ham box. His quick snapshot took a deflection off former Wolves captain Max Kilman, wrong-footing goalkeeper Lukasz Areola and nestling into the net. It was the Norwegian striker’s 10th goal of the season, underlining his growing importance to the team in the absence of suspended talisman Matheus Cunha.
West Ham, managed by Graham Potter, struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, with their usually potent attacking duo of Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus stifled by a well-organized Wolves defense. The visitors improved after the break, pushing for an equalizer, but Wolves’ backline, marshaled by Toti Gomes and Emmanuel Agbadou, held firm. A late chance for substitute Tomas Soucek, who fired into the side netting from close range, was as close as the Hammers came to salvaging a point.
Pereira praised his team’s resilience post-match, saying, “We showed heart and discipline tonight. The boys fought for every ball, and that’s what we need to stay in this league. Jorgen [Strand Larsen] was fantastic, but it was a team effort.” The victory marks Wolves’ second consecutive win, a feat they’ve achieved three times this season, and boosts their tally to 29 points with nine games remaining.
For West Ham, the defeat leaves them in 16th place with 34 points, still relatively safe but frustrated by their inability to convert possession into goals. Potter acknowledged the struggle, noting, “We had moments, especially in the second half, but we weren’t clinical enough. Wolves deserved it—they were hungrier.” The Hammers have now won just one of their last five away matches, a stat that will concern fans as the season nears its climax.
The game wasn’t without its tense moments. Wolves’ Jean-Ricner Bellegarde nearly doubled the lead in the 55th minute, exchanging a slick one-two with Strand Larsen before firing just wide from 25 yards. At the other end, West Ham’s late pressure tested Wolves’ resolve, but goalkeeper Jose Sa was rarely troubled, thanks to the defensive solidity in front of him.
With this result, Wolves close the gap to West Ham to five points, while putting significant daylight between themselves and the bottom three. The Midlands club’s recent form—10 points from their last six league games—suggests they are finding their footing at the right time. For West Ham, the loss is a missed opportunity to climb above Tottenham and Everton, leaving them to rue a lackluster display.
Next up, Wolves face a trip to Arsenal, while West Ham host Fulham, with both sides looking to build momentum in the final stretch of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign. For now, though, it’s Wolves who can celebrate a vital three points in their quest to secure top-flight status for another season.