Premier League - West Ham down worthy Wolves

Eurosport - Sat, 15 Aug 20:31:00 2009

Wolves' return to the Premier League after a five-year absence ended in a 2-0 defeat at home to West Ham on Saturday afternoon. Mark Noble and Matthew Upson were on target for the Hammers.

FOOTBALL 2009-2010 Premier League West Ham Mathew Upson - 0

Noble's arcing shot in the 22nd minute put the Hammers in front after a bright start from Mick McCarthy's side, before some poor marking at a corner allowed Upson to double Gianfranco Zola's team's lead in the 68th.

Wolves tried and almost succeeded in pulling a goal back at numerous points in the second half, debutant Nenad Milijas going close several times, but for all their effort the hosts were unable to beat the impressive Rob Green.

The last time the sides had met in the top flight was in 1984, but neither showed any signs of nerves on the big stage as an action-packed start heralded what was to be a lively first half.

Barely three minutes had passed when Wayne Hennessey was forced to save Jack Collison's scuffed shot after Carlton Cole had made a nuisance of himself, the England international filling a lone berth up front.

Julien Faubert caused a few scares with some low drilled balls across the face of Hennessey's goal while Herita Ilunga completed what was a productive wing-based assault on the left side, before the hosts finally replied with some offensive forays of their own.

Andy Keogh mis-timed a volley when meeting a Greg Halford knockdown and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, the man on whom Wolves are set to rely for goals this season, headed over from close range. Keogh again saw potential glory when digging the ball out of his feet on the edge of the area, but fired high and wide.

It was at this stage that Wolves were settling into their style when Noble's goal struck the blow for the Hammers. Cole fed the midfielder inside, and spotting Hennessey a little advanced off his line Noble curled a delightful effort into the top-left corner from 20 yards.

Wolves regrouped and Keogh manufactured an opening for Matthew Jarvis with a run, but an off-target shot on the angle saw immediate redemption go begging.

West Ham almost doubled their advantage shortly after when Noble's shot was saved on the line, and Kieron Dyer - in his 200th career Premier League appearance - watched his rebound cleared off the line by Jody Craddock. From the resulting corner Ilunga's header was tipped over by Hennessey.

Wolves knew they needed to launch themselves into the second half to get themselves back into the game immediately, and the did so with vigour.

Milijas had a deflected and dipping shot tipped over by Green, and then drew a good save from the West Ham keeper, but the Hammers almost doubled their lead when Craddock's error in judgement allowed Collison in. The West Ham man rounded Hennessey but Kevin Foley was on the line to save his team-mate.

Milijas tickled the top of West Ham's crossbar with a 25-yard effort and the Serb then played a magnificent through ball that set Ebanks-Blake one-on-one with Green. The keeper came out on top however as he added to his string of superb saves, this one with his legs.

Green's efforts paid off when his side doubled their advantage with just over 20 minutes remaining, as Noble turned goal provider for Upson with a corner. His inswinging delivery was met by the centre-back amid a static home defence to make it 2-0.

Substitute Richard Stearman almost notched a consolation effort right at the death, but Green again stood impenetrable to claw away a header.

Joseph Caron Dawe / Eurosport

Comment 9 - 28 of 28

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  1. Can this be true?
    West Ham are preparing to sell­ central defender James Collins to Stoke for £5million­ as fears grew among fans that the club are being­ plunged back into a financial crisis

    Read­ more:Hammers-lose-James-Collins-Stoke-5m-deal. Daily­ Mail

    From Ronsenglish, on Mon 17 Aug 2:44AM

  2. A great away result but Villa a top team last year,­­ with a good manager were humbled by Wigan. We can­­ expect a very determined challenge that will give us a­­ better guide to the year ahead. Come on West Ham keep­­ the ball rolling.

    From Ronsenglish, on Mon 17 Aug 2:08AM

  3. 13,
    Elokobie was running up and down the touch line all­ game, as a sub!
    Berra was injured thank god!
    Manciene­ is world class!
    He stands out head and shoulders above­ the rest.
    Ward did well at left back, and foley was­ good as usual, so why moan about the defence,
    even­ craddock who i thought would make an arse fo himself­ this season was good.
    Come on me babies!!

    From david w, on Sun 16 Aug 12:20PM

  4. Ok we lost.
    As i have been saying for weeks and weeks­ it is now or never to spend the money.
    A big striker is­ needed everyone there could see only halford could win­ a header for us.
    Midfield looked good, id like to see­ henry shout and get into it a bit more, but milijas­ looked good halford was good, Jarvis wasnt so good but­ in time maybe.
    Up front Keogh was man of the match for­ me, but ebanks blake was shocking. He looks 2 stone­ over weight hence the injury, and very slow with no­ turn or pace.
    Time to spend Jez Poxey
    SOUTH BANK­
    SOUTH BANK
    SOUTH BANK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From david w, on Sun 16 Aug 12:17PM

  5. come on you wolves !!! we can do it , losing one game­ dont mean were finished, same as chelsea winning one­ hasnt won them the title, m.m. top man , shrewd and­ experienced, we just need to settle down and find our­ feet, we not going to break any records, but we have­ got , will have what it takes, we will stay put, dont­ care what position. come on wolves­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From beejay, on Sun 16 Aug 9:25AM

  6. Timothy..... Thanks

    From garybillingham, on Sun 16 Aug 9:20AM

  7. ONE DEFEAT DOTH A RELEGATION NOT MAKE?
    WE WILL FINISH­ 16TH.
    GOOD ENOUGH.
    WE NEED A TOP STRIKER.
    SOON.

    From IAN S, on Sun 16 Aug 4:52AM

  8. Lots of positives, Milijas looks mustard pity the first­ game came against the England keeper, not a full­ strength Wolves team so now need to get on the pace and­ Hennesey needs to concentrate and command his box if he­ wants that no1 shirt much longer

    From SCOT H, on Sun 16 Aug 12:02AM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Stop saying 'down' when you mean fu*king­ 'beat'. Fu*king Biggles.

    From Lawrence, on Sat 15 Aug 11:03PM

  10. wolves played well but the better side won sorry andy­ doughty

    From greendave60, on Sat 15 Aug 9:58PM

  11. Only time will tell.I think that wolves have the­ quality,and the manger,to stay in the prem.

    From mynos, on Sat 15 Aug 9:03PM

  12. Well done garybillingham (remember the day well)
    good­ luck Wolves
    Respect from all the hammers

    westam42

    From timothy, on Sat 15 Aug 8:18PM

  13. unlucky patrick, you will still be in the prem next­ year. no worries

    From homeviewpaving, on Sat 15 Aug 7:37PM

  14. We lost and fairplay to the west ham, 1st goal was a­ good goal, 2nd the keeper should have dealt with it.­ But I didnt think we played that bad, think we missed a­ big guy upfront tho, Keogh played well, people should­ stop criticizing him. When the game started I was­ thinking to myself what was stephen ward doing left­ back still !!. But I think he did well on the left and­ he suprised me. but on the attack he played to far up­ the pitch exposing us. thats my opinion. Matt Jarvis­ should have taken the fullbacks on more he played it­ inside far to much. (The pitch looks alot shorter tho­ than last season) WILL THIS PLAY A ADVANTAGE OR­ DISADVANTAGE to us this season.

    I Am looking foward to­ this season, micks just gotta change it round abit the­ formation, lineup etc, looking foward to kightly,­ iwelumo, doyle, berra, elokobi, coming back in­ followed by another loanie and a signing or 2 and am­ sure mick will get it right, we know what we have to do­ now. Wigan Tuesday got me tickets, Loud and Proud Boys,­ Bring em on!

    From dj_jck, on Sat 15 Aug 6:51PM

  15. well done the irons unlucky wolves,i really reckon they­ will stay up this season they were fantastic in the­ championship and will do enough to beat the drop

    From Keith, on Sat 15 Aug 6:36PM

  16. Wooohoooo ! Go Hammers ! :-) :-)

    From art_tidesco, on Sat 15 Aug 6:32PM

  17. where were Berra and Elokobi? even Zubar should've­ had a chance. Wolves were humiliated on the left flank­ in defence. nevertheless, a decent performance,­ although Keogh has to stop being so damn selfish.

    From aleksicn93, on Sat 15 Aug 6:02PM

  18. unlucky wolves, well done to the Irons... it was a good­ game but very early for us to get excited or for wolves­ to get worried, good luck in the Premier League to the­ Wolves and there Fans.... will never forget the decency­ shown by your Fans with the laying of your clubs­ colours Reef in our first home game after Bobby Moore­ died in 1993, total respect....good luck lads

    From garybillingham, on Sat 15 Aug 6:01PM

  19. of coarse wolves have a good chance of staying up if­ you compare our side to any who finished in the bottom­ ten last year i think we are a good bet to remain in­ the premier league yee have little faith!

    From THERESA, on Sat 15 Aug 3:01AM

  20. I agree we might struggle, but you cannot question our­ achievements last season - top of the league from­ October till the end of the season takes some doing!!­ You can only beat what is in front of you, and if you­ want to question the level of the Championship,­ let's see how N'Castle & Boro do this year­ - who would have though they would be there this­ season? McCarthy is shrewd in the market place, he has­ a young and hungry team. We might need some luck but­ we'll give it our best shot.

    From steve_kathwebber, on Fri 14 Aug 8:36PM
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