Wolves ease past West Ham to keep up impressive campaign

Marko Arnautovic gets on the ball for West Ham (Reuters)

Marko Arnautovic marked his return to West Ham's team by getting injured and leaving Molineux on crutches after a 3-0 loss at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Tuesday.

Arnautovic missed West Ham's last two games after he was tempted to accept a lucrative offer from a Chinese club. On Friday, he said he was staying at the London club and signed a new contract.

He was recalled by West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini but didn't finish the match after hobbling off in the 77th minute with a leg injury following a tackle from Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves. He was wearing a protective boot as he left the stadium.

Raul Jimenez's late double inspired Wolves to an ultimately comfortable victory after West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski threatened to frustrate the hosts.

Romain Saiss opened the scoring with a header from a corner in the 66th, before Jimenez took his tally to 12 goals for the season with strikes in the 80th and 86th minutes.

Wolves climbed to seventh place in the Premier League. West Ham lost three days after exiting the FA Cup at the hands of third-tier struggler AFC Wimbledon.

AP

PREVIEW

What time does it start?

Wolves vs West Ham kicks off at 7.45pm.

Where can I watch it?

The match will not be shown live in the UK. Highlights will be shown on Match of the Day at 10.20pm on Wednesday on BBC One.

It’s a big game for…

Lukasz Fabianski: The Polish goalkeeper has had a brilliant season in net for West Ham and, following their humbling at the weekend, his performance on Tuesday will be of even greater importance in helping the Hammers get back to winning ways.

The goalkeeper is in form between the sticks (Getty)

Weird stat…

8: West Ham are unbeaten in their last eight Premier League games played on a Tuesday.

Remember when…

Liam Brady scored a superb solo goal in West Ham’s 4-0 win over Wolves in May 1990.

Player to watch…

Diogo Jota: Jota has five goals in his last five Premier League games after failing to score in his first 13 appearances in the league and he will be hoping to keep this rich vein of form running.

Past three-meetings…

West Ham 0 Wolves 1 (Traore), Premier League, September 2018

West Ham 1 (Jelavic) Wolves 0, FA Cup, January 2016

West Ham 2 (Zubar OG, Sears) Wolves 0, Premier League, January 2011

Form guide…

Wolves: WLWLWD

West Ham: LDWWLL

Odds…

Wolves to win: 11/10

West Ham to win: 11/4

Draw: 5/2

(Odds provided by Betfair)

Key Points

• Wolves XI; Rui Patricio, Doherty, Coady, Bennett, Jonny, Neves, Saiss, Dendoncker, Moutinho, Jota, Jimenez.
• West Ham XI: Fabianski, Zabaleta, Ogbonna, Diop, Masuaku, Rice, Noble, Snodgrass, Anderson, Antonio, Arnautovic.

[29 January 2019 21:23 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

​GOAL! Fulham 4-2 Brighton (Luciano Vietto, 79 minutes)

Where has this come from?

Four for Fulham in 35 second half minutes.

Half-time introduction Luciano Vietto is the scorer. Tom Cairney, brought on in the first half, smashes against the bar and Ryan Babel volleys across to Vietto to extend Fulham's lead.

[29 January 2019 21:25 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

GOAL! Newcastle 1-1 Manchester City (Salomon Rondon, 65 minutes)

Newcastle level!

Manchester City half clear a cross, but Isaac Hayden puts it back into the mixer with a header from the edge of the box.

The ball bounces through to Salomon Rondon who does superbly to hook home despite being encumbered rather by the presence of Christian Atsu.

Manchester City concede for the first time since the Liverpool game, and how Liverpool will be enjoying this...

[29 January 2019 21:26 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

GOAL! Wolves 2-0 West Ham (Raul Jimenez, 80 minutes)

2-0!

Joao Moutinho is again the architect, this time a free kick floated in to Raul Jimenez, who finishes from close range.

Another disappointing night for West Ham. 

[29 January 2019 21:28 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Cardiff (Alexandre Lacazette, 83 minutes)

Lacazette follows Aubameyang's lead, and Arsenal are headed for victory!

The Frenchman uses his pace to stretch the Cardiff defence and surge away, finishing powerfully past Neil Etheridge.

[29 January 2019 21:30 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

GOAL! Wolves 3-0 West Ham (Raul Jimenez, 86 minutes)

​A quick fire double for Jimenez and Wolves are coasting to three points!

West Ham are open at the back as they look for an unlikely route back in the game, meaning there is space for first Diogo Jota and then Raul Jimenez, the former setting the latter away one-on-one with Lukasz Fabianski.

Jimenez takes his time and lofts over the onrushing goalkeeper. 

[29 January 2019 21:34 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Newcastle 1-1 Manchester City, 75 minutes

Manchester City have introduced Gabriel Jesus as they seek a goal to put them back ahead.

A free kick is swept to the edge of the box where Danilo is waiting, but the Brazilian strikes only against Newcastle legs.

[29 January 2019 21:35 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Manchester United 0-1 Burnley, 77 minutes

Manchester United fail to make a free kick on the edge of the box count. Time is running out for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, and Burnley look relatively secure.

Will the winning run be coming to an end?

[29 January 2019 21:36 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

PENALTY TO NEWCASTLE! 

​Fernandinho takes a touch on the edge of the area but is unaware of Sean Longstaff lurking behind him, tripping the young midfielder as Longstaff takes the ball from him.

Stonewall, and Paul Tierney points to the spot.

[29 January 2019 21:37 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Cardiff (Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, 90 + 3 minutes)

A consolation for Cardiff in stoppage time.

[29 January 2019 21:38 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

​GOAL! Manchester United 0-2 Burnley (Chris Wood, 80 minutes)

​Burnley extend their lead!

Ashley Westwood crosses well and Chris Wood meets it superbly, placing his header past David De Gea.