Well, we’ve finally won one. Yes, you read that correctly. Wolverhampton Wanderers have finally managed to win a Premier League game of football, dispatching West Ham and giving Molineux something that it hasn’t felt in a long time: something to celebrate. A convincing 3-0 demolition of West Ham saw Wolves finally click into gear and deliver the first win of the season in style. From kick off, this game felt different – purposeful passing, quick ball movement and perhaps most shockingly of all, composure in front of goal.
West Ham were second best all afternoon, struggling to deal with Wolves’ intensity and energy. For once, the home fans weren’t nervously counting down the minutes, but instead enjoying a dominant, controlled, thoroughly deserved performance.
Now, let’s get into the good stuff and a couple of very minor grumbles, purely for tradition’s sake.
Good: Wolves Win First Game of The Season
At long last, Wolves have won their first league game in 252 days. After months of frustration and performances that promised so much, Wolves finally got their first win (and clean sheet) on the board. There was a level of control and discipline that’s been sorely missing, particularly in managing the game once ahead. Instead of panicking, Wolves largely kept their shape, limited The Hammers to half-chances, and crucially didn’t find a new and inventive way to implode late on.
Is this the turning point of the season? Maybe. Is it too early to plan the open-top bus? Definitely, but three points are three points, and Wolves deserved this one.
Good: Mateus Mané
Once again, Mateus Mané showed why he’s quickly becoming one of the most exciting things about watching Wolves right now. The young forward capped off a superb performance by scoring his first senior goal, and it couldn’t have been more deserved. From start to finish, Mané was electric, fearless on the ball, intelligent in his movement, and relentless in his work rate.
He constantly asked questions of the West Ham defence, forcing Alphonse Areola into a great save in the second half. He also drove at players and linked play with confidence far beyond his years. The goal itself was the perfect reward for a display full of quality and bravery. If Wolves are serious about building momentum from this result, he needs to keep his place in the starting lineup.
Bad: José Sá Briefly Tried To End Us
This is pure nitpicking, but even in a 3-0 win, Wolves fans are not allowed any peace. José Sá, who didn’t have too much to do this afternoon, still managed to provide a moment of unnecessary drama by spilling a catch and causing a collective intake of breath around Molineux. For a brief moment, it felt like the universe was reminding us who we support.
Nothing came of it, and Sá was otherwise very solid, but a calm afternoon was very briefly interrupted by mild cardiac distress.
Bad: (more nitpicking) Jackson Tchatchoua’s Crossing
When you win 3-0 with what is probably the best performance of the season, you really have to search hard for negatives, but tradition must be respected.
Jackson Tchachoua worked hard and remained disciplined, but his crossing left something to be desired. Several promising positions ended without testing the West Ham defence, and there were some moments where you wanted him to be a bit braver and take a man on. To be clear, this had no impact on the result. Wolves were cruising, but if we are raising standards after this performance, then this is an area that could be improved.
At long last, Wolves gave Molineux three points, a performance to enjoy rather than endure, and genuine hope that this emphatic win could be the platform for a far brighter season ahead.
