Wolves 3 West Ham 0: Jimenez at the double in routine win
West Ham were lucky to keep the score to 3-0 as Wolves impressed en route to picking up a deserved three points in the Premier League.
Raul Jimenez scored twice after Romain Saiss' opener as Wolves earned a fully deserved 3-0 win over a lacklustre West Ham at Molineux.
Lukasz Fabianski had done his best to keep the Hammers in the contest, but there was little he could do to stop Saiss scoring from Joao Moutinho's 66th-minute set-piece.
Jimenez's clever finish made sure of the points with 10 minutes remaining and a deft effort for his second completed the most routine of wins for Nuno Espirito Santo's side, who go seventh in the Premier League.
It marks the first ever league double for Wolves over the Hammers, who have lost back-to-back top-flight games for the first time since October and failed to rebound from a humiliating 4-2 loss to AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup on Saturday.
FT | #WOL 3-0 #WHU
A stunning second-half display from Wolves sees @Nuno 's men run out 3-0 winners over @WestHamUtd . Goals from Romain Saiss and Raul Jimenez (2). #WOLWHU
pic.twitter.com/meZWNagAAR— Wolves (@Wolves) January 29, 2019
Wolves had a strong penalty claim waved away in the 21st minute.
Matt Doherty burst into the area and was felled in a tangle of legs by Arthur Masuaku with referee David Coote awarding only a corner.
Leander Dendoncker tamely struck Doherty's centre straight at Fabianski, while Jonny was unlucky his stooping diving header from Jimenez's sublime cross trickled past the right post.
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The hosts had a goal chalked off when Dendoncker headed in the rebound after the crossbar was rattled by Jimenez, who was adjudged offside.
Wolves' pressure did not relent in the second half and Diogo Jota and Saiss were both smartly denied by Fabianski.
Fabianski made another fine stop from Jonny's stinging effort, but the goalkeeper was finally beaten when Saiss headed in Moutinho's delivery from the resulting corner.
There was no coming back when Jimenez beat his marker to flick Moutinho's left-wing free-kick past Fabianski and the Portugal striker lifted a third over the goalkeeper from Jota's pass to a complete a rapid Wolves break.
What does it mean? Wolves deliver another Hammer blow
West Ham were desperately disappointing in their fourth-round loss at Wimbledon, and a third straight defeat in all competitions sees them stuck in a bit of a rut. But Wolves were slick, full of ideas and unlucky not to have more goals.
Doherty delights Molineux before Jimenez brace
There were several performances worthy of praise from a Wolves perspective with Doherty, who was denied what looked a good shout for a penalty and saw a shot saved by Fabianski, putting a particularly industrious performance down the right. Jimenez led the line with aplomb and scored two excellent goals late on that added the gloss Wolves' performance deserved.
Miserable evening for Masuaku
It was a tough outing for Masuaku, who constantly found himself in two-on-one situations with Wolves' midfield three providing support for Doherty. Struggling full-backs proved a trend for West Ham with Jota's guile and movement providing a tough evening for veteran Pablo Zabaleta.
What's next?
Wolves are next in action at Everton on Saturday, while West Ham welcome Premier League leaders Liverpool to London Stadium two days later.