West Ham United player ratings v Wolves: Tomas Soucek 4/10, James Ward-Prowse 8/10
West Ham came back from behind to earn a 2-1 win over Wolves at Molineux on 6 April, courtesy of goals from Lucas Paqueta and James Ward-Prowse.
Pablo Sarabia opened the scoring for the hosts from the spot after a foul by Emerson, but Paqueta responded in kind from 12 yards in the second half.
With just six minutes of normal time remaining, Ward-Prowse then sealed the victory with a stunning goal straight from a corner.
Below, West Ham Zone rates the performance of each Hammers player out of 10.
Lukasz Fabianski – 7
Could do little about the penalty, which went in off the post despite him diving the right way. Made six saves otherwise and allowed just one goal from an xGOT (expected goals on target) conceded of 2.71.
Vladimir Coufal – 4 (Off for Ben Johnson ’46)
Failed to register any genuine impact on the game before being substituted at half-time. He was anonymous in attack and did little of note in defence.
Konstantinos Mavropanos – 7
A tidy display from Mavropanos, who perhaps shone a little less brightly than his centre-back partner at Molineux but hardly put a foot wrong.
Kurt Zouma – 7
A strong showing from the Hammers defender, who was firm in defence but most impressive on the ball, completing 44 of his 46 passes and both of his dribbles. His thrust from deep helped the team turn things around in the second half.
Emerson – 6
Gave away the penalty with a reckless lunge on Rayan Ait-Nouri – though he did improve after being moved forward to the left wing, seeing a goal disallowed for a foul and winning the spot-kick from which Lucas Paqueta equalised.
Edson Alvarez – 7
Looked to play forward from midfield and battled gamely without the ball in a solid display.
Tomas Soucek hooked at half-time for ineffectual display
Tomas Soucek – 4 (Off for Michail Antonio ’46)
Was completely bypassed in midfield on the ball before his half-time substitution, attempting just 13 passes and squandering the Hammers’ best opportunity of the first 45 minutes, failing to sort his feet out after being found in front of goal by Bowen.
Mohammed Kudus – 5
Attempted lots, as usual, but was largely smothered every time he got the ball and was effectively nullified by a Wolves side who had clearly identified him as a significant threat.
Glorious goal from James Ward-Prowse
James Ward-Prowse – 8
Improved after being moved into a deeper midfield role in the second half following the introduction of Michail Antonio for Tomas Soucek. Posted a stellar 95 per cent pass completion in addition to his magnificent goal direct from a corner.
Lucas Paqueta – 7
Struggled to affect the game from the left wing in the first half but was better after being moved into the middle and kept his cool to equalise from the spot.
Jarrod Bowen – 6 (Off for Aaron Cresswell ’54)
Cut a lonely figure up front in the first half and struggled to impact proceedings outside of the chance he created for Tomas Soucek, which could easily have earned the England forward an assist. Was worryingly forced off with an injury early in the second half.
Substitutes
Ben Johnson – 6 (On for Vladimir Coufal ’46)
Stretched play relatively well with his runs down the right and was an upgrade on the anonymous Coufal.
Michail Antonio – 6 (On for Tomas Soucek ’46)
Did not have the impact he would have hoped to make after coming on but his presence up front gave West Ham more of a foothold in the game.
Aaron Cresswell – 6 (On for Jarrod Bowen ’54)
Produced a solid display at left-back and released Emerson further forward, which benefitted the team as a whole.
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