Vardy having a party
Jarrod cracker sets Hammers on the way to four-midable victory
DAVID MOYES may decide to manage remotely more often after this swashbuckling victory from West Ham.
Two from Jarrod Bowen, an own goal from Raul Jimenez, and an injury-time header for Sebastien Haller, handed the Hammers and their absent boss an emphatic win and their first points of the season.
Moyes and players Josh Cullen and Issa Diop tested positive for Covid-19 last week, and the Scot was forced to stay at home and liaise with No.2 Alan Irvine and his staff.
But with tough fixtures looming, this was an exceptionally welcome performance and result for some happier Hammers.
The Wolves defence was all at sea throughout the evening and, but for some great saves from Rui Patricio in the first half, the scoreline could have been seriously embarrassing.
Moyes stressed in his programme notes that he had been heavily involved in preparing the team and would be in regular contact from home.
But he also made it clear that Irvine and the rest of the coaching staff would be in control of the team from the bench.
With centre-back Diop also still self- isolating, Fabian Balbuena was drafted in for the Hammers.
And Nelson Semedo, Wolves’ £ 28million capture from Barcelona, was given a debut by boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
In the echoing London Stadium, there was plenty of audible encouragement of team-mates, but little to shout about in the opening 10 minutes.
Pedro Neto gave the home side a scare when he outpaced Balbuena down the left, but the defender just recovered to put the ball out for a corner. But Bowen broke the deadlock after 17 minutes – and it was a combination of wonderful finishing and quick thinking from West Ham.
Michail Antonio was fouled by Willy Boly in the centre circle, but Pablo Fornals set Bowen away quickly with the free-kick.
And he ran with the ball to the edge of the area before bending a superb, curling shot past Patricio and into the bottom left corner to get Irvine celebrating.
Nuno complained that the ball was still rolling when Fornals played it – but referee Martin Atkinson and the officials were happy and allowed the goal to stand.
With the talent Wolves had on the pitch a response was expected and duly arrived, as Adama Traore, Neto, Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves upped the tempo.
But with Lukasz Fabianski giving West Ham’s three-man defence confidence, the Hammers also looked dangerous on the counter. Patricio made multiple saves from Antonio and Czech midfielder Soucek that kept Wolves in an entertaining contest.
West Ham could have been out of sight at half-time but for Patricio and some profligate finishing – and the question was would that cost them?
But Moyes’ men did get their second just before the hour. Antonio escaped down the left and, from his cut-back, Fornals hit the post – but Bowen (left) was on the spot for his and West Ham’s second.
Traore came off with blood around his mouth, replaced by club record signing Fabio Silva.
But West Ham soon had a third after 66 minutes, when Jimenez inadvertently glanced in Aaron Cresswell’s corner after Soucek’s touch (above).
Haller came on as a substitute for Antonio on 88 minutes and, in the third minute of added time, headed Arthur Masuaku’s cross past Patricio to complete the rout.