Wolves push Zola to the brink

West Ham United 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3

West Ham United may yet survive but their manager Gianfranco Zola's fate may not be around much longer. Zola's side were humiliated by fellow strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers, prompting the Italian to endure taunts from supporters of "You'll be sacked in the morning".

Remarkably, the jibes came from the home fans in the Sir Trevor Brooking stand rather than the travelling fans who were far too busy celebrating a precious victory to rub their opponents' noses in it.

This morning is probably a little premature but it is not out of question. Zola might even walk after this disastrous game. He admitted last night he had a lot of thinking to do.

Zola has never enjoyed the full confidence of the club's joint-chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold and was even described as "too nice" by Sullivan last month. West Ham's fifth successive defeat makes Zola's dismissal almost certain, either soon or at the end of the season, although the Icelandic bank Straumur, who still own 50 per cent of the club, will have to be consulted first.

Zola retained his dignity but it was too much for one of his players. Carlton Cole was involved in an angry altercation with supporters shouting abuse as he left the pitch at the final whistle. Benni McCarthy said: "I though Coley knew the guy at first. They were speaking normal. Then I saw some of the other players go back out of the dressing room and drag Coley inside. You get to the point where someone says the wrong thing and it triggers emotions. Maybe what happened got to him and he reacted in a wrong way."

West Ham remain three points above the relegation zone, but if they end up retaining their Premier League status it will be by default.

Zola accepted the jibes, and the blame. "If they have to pick on someone, they should pick on me. It's not that we didn't try. We tried, but they tried in a disorganised way and that's very painful for me." he said. "I have to take the criticism. Last year, when we were playing well, they were showering me with compliments. Now they're blaming me, but I have no problem with that. I have to put things right. There's a long night in front of me to think about that."

Wolves, who increased their own comfort zone to seven points, were not flattered by the scoreline. Manager Mick McCarthy strung five men across the midfield but his side clearly came to Upton Park with more than just containment on their minds. McCarthy admitted afterwards he was surprised at the ease of the victory. "I didn't expect to come here and win 3-1, this comfortably. It's just the way it's turned out," he said.

Kevin Foley thumped an early shot against the bar before Kevin Doyle put Wolves ahead in the 29th minute after James Tomkins scuffed a back pass.

Scott Parker hit the post for West Ham in first-half stoppage time but after the interval Wolves pulled away. David Jones, a former Manchester United, was the architect of two goals in three minutes. His pass found right back Ronald Zubar who scored with surgical accuracy.

The goal was met by chants of "You're not fit to wear the shirt". With the words still ringing round the stadium, Wolves struck again. Jones again supplied the invitation to score, this time to Matthew Jarvis who strode confidently on before shooting past Green to confirm their first win at Upton Park since 1978. McCarthy punched the air in glee; just yards away Zola kicked the mud in frustration.

Guillermo Franco pulled a goal back in stoppage time, but it could not prevent the chorus of boos that greeted the final whistle from those few West Ham fans who had not already left.

West Ham United (4-4-2): Green; Faubert, Tomkins (Spector, h-t), Upson, Daprela; Behrami, Parker, Kovac (Stanislas, h-t), Diamanti; Cole, McCarthy (Franco, 70). Substitutes not used: Stech (gk), Ilan, Mido, Noble.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-5-1): Hahnemann; Zubar (Halford, 80), Craddock, Berra, Elokobi; Foley, Mancienne (Guedioura, 85), Henry, D Jones, Jarvis (Ward, 70); Doyle. Substitutes not used: Hennessey (gk), Ebanks-Blake, Iwelumo, Milijas.

Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).

Booked: Wolves Mancienne, Zubar.

Man of the match: Jones.

Attendance: 33,988