Nuno: It’s nothing without the fans
NORMAL service was resumed for Wolves on the pitch – but Nuno Espirito Santo still insisted that football without fans is nothing.
Second-half goals by Raul Jimenez and Pedro Neto lifted Santo’s side into sixth place and within touching distance of the top four.
It was Wolves’ fourth successive victory over West Ham and they are now unbeaten in 10 games in London since returning to the top flight.
But Santo refuses to contemplate qualifying for the Champions League next season.
He said: “My only target is to get back home safely with the protocols. That’s my only concern.
“I don’t think about anything else apart from preparing for the next game. Of course, I get personal satisfaction from the performance of the players.
“But football without the fans is not enjoyable. We had to perform for the fans back home but football without fans does not mean anything at all.”
It was 100 days since Wolves last played – and they were frustrated by the hosts for long spells.
West Ham boss David Moyes pinpointed the turning point of the game.
The visitors were transformed when winger Adam Traore and Neto came off the bench in the 63rd minute.
Traore needed just nine minutes to produce a trademark blistering burst of speed before serving up a delicious cross that enabled Jimenez to gobble up his 23rd goal of the season with a close-range header.
And Neto sealed the win six minutes from time with a thumping volley.
Moyes said: “When Traore came on it changed the game. We did some things okay and some things weren’t okay.
“I was disappointed that we didn’t get our attacking going, but injuries meant we were short of options.”