West Ham search for Champions League football with a much needed win against Wolves

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David Moyes’ West Ham side go to Molineux on Monday searching for a win that would put the Hammers into the top four of the Premier League, with an outside chance to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their illustrious history.

If you told any West Ham fan that their team would be two points behind fourth after 29 games at the start of the season, they would’ve laughed at you. With the new additions of Manchester United loanee Jesse Lingard and Tomas Soucek signing permanently from Slavia Prague, the Hammers are in with an outside chance of competing at Europe’s elite competition next year.

Lingard was a surprise signing for West Ham in January. After hitting poor form in Manchester, the midfielder lost his England place and was forced out of United’s starting 11 by Bruno Fernandes. He’s had personal problems off the pitch, which was also a significant factor in his downward form at Old Trafford.

Since Lingard came to the London Stadium at the start of the calendar year, he has registered five goals and five assists for the Hammers this season. He has now earned his way back into Gareth Southgate’s England side and challenging for a spot in the Euros setup this summer.

West Ham find themselves in an excellent position in the Premier League, partly due to Czech Republic international Tomas Soucek. Despite playing in a more defensive role, Soucek is West Ham’s top scorer with nine goals so far this season.

Most of the midfielder’s goals have come from West Ham set pieces and he has more goals than striker Michail Antonio, who has seven goals so far this season.

Moyes’ team has a massive advantage from corners compared to the rest of the Premier League. Three of their players are over six foot two inches: Issa Diop, Angelo Ogbonna and Soucek. The likes of Antonio and Soucek’s midfield partner, Declan Rice, also pose a physical problem from corners for the Wolves defence to keep an eye on.

Unlike West Ham in recent years, Wolves know all too well what it takes to reach Europe after qualifying for the Europa League in their first season back in the Premier League, finishing in seventh place. Wolves got to the quarter-final last season after being knocked out by eventual winners Sevilla.

However, European football is a long way off. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men sit 14th in the league on 35 points—their worst form since returning to the Premier League. Forwards, Willian Jose and Adama Traore have endured disappointing seasons, not scoring once.

Their standout man has been their joint top scorer Pedro Neto. The Portuguese player poses a dangerous threat on the left-wing and has finally broken through after Diogo Jota’s departure. Raul Jimenez’s injury has also allowed him to play regularly, and since his breakthrough, he has impressed and earned many plaudits for his performances.

Jamie Carragher recently branded the Wolves winger as a potential “superstar”. At the same time, Manchester United have reportedly expressed their interest in the 21-year-old forward. A statement that shows just how well he is playing for Wolves at the moment.

A win for the West Midlands side would put them up to 38 points, which all but guarantees Premier League football for next season. Nuno will have to perform better in the next season, and with a bit of injury luck, they should hope to recapture the form of their first season back in the Premier League.

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