Hammers close to within four points of City ahead of clash

WEST Ham have moved to within one place and four points of Leicester City ahead of the clubs’ crunch clash this weekend, writes Mark Whiley.

But the Hammers have been dealt a couple of injury blows before the fixture.

David Moyes’ side held on to beat Wolves 3-2 on Monday night, moving them above Chelsea and into the top four.

But it was not all good news for the Hammers, who lost a key player to injury before the game and another one during it.

It was confirmed ahead of kick-off that England international midfielder Declan Rice will be out for between four and six weeks with a knee injury suffered on international duty.

The absence of the influential Rice did not affect the Hammers early on as they raced into a 2-0 lead thanks a stunning individual strike from former City loanee Jesse Lingard, who was also involved in the second, scored by Pablo Fornals.

Like Lingard, Michail Antonio tore Wolves apart in the first half, hitting the post with a thunderous effort early on.

However, Antonio then limped off injured on 33 minutes, making him a doubt to face City at the London Stadium this Sunday.

Speaking after the game, Hammers boss David Moyes said it could be a hamstring issue.

Antonio’s replacement, Jarrod

Bowen, wasted no time in making an impact, scoring just five minutes after coming off the bench.

A frenetic game continued with Wolves pulling a goal back through Leander Dendoncker before the break.

The home side scored again midway during the second half through Fabio Silva, but West Ham held firm to claim the three points.

Moyes said: “We are thrilled. People are mentioning that top four again. We have bobbed in and out of it this season so let’s hope we can do everything we can to stay there.

“We are certainly not in the final furlong yet. We have probably got to go over Becher’s Brook and a couple of big jumps on our way in so we have got to do that.

“But let’s be fair, we are challenging, why should we not?

“A few people are talking about us being in and around the top four and after 30 games that is not a fluke. We are in there because we have been playing well.”