1. Prowsey’s pearler
Where else to start than the goal that ultimately secured victory in such outrageous fashion?
James Ward-Prowse is known for his set-piece skillset - with the 29-year-old’s 17 free-kicks scored ranking him behind only David Beckham in the all-time Premier League standings - but even he admitted he’d never netted professionally from a corner before his most recent trip to Molineux.
Indeed, only a handful of players have ever beaten the keeper from such an angle, with the Hammers No7 matching a feat achieved by the likes of Matt Le Tissier, Ashley Westwood and Douglas Luiz in the Premier League.
There may have been a suggestion that Storm Kathleen helped Ward-Prowse’s effort along the way, but the strike cued pandemonium in the stands at the time and is certainly something the West Ham fans won’t forget in a hurry.
2. Super subs
After a fairly drab first half in the West Midlands, the Irons were 1-0 down and in desperate need of an injection of energy going into the second period.
Cue the introduction of Ben Johnson and Michail Antonio, the latter of whom came on to make his 300th appearance in Claret and Blue, little over eight-and-a-half years after his Club debut against Manchester City.
Antonio offered a dominant presence at the top of a changed system operating with three at the back, and contributed 12 passes and one shot on target. Johnson, meanwhile, was electric going forward and went close to scoring his first goal of the season, but saw his effort saved by José Sá.
West Ham’s third replacement of the day, Aaron Creswell, also shone during his 35 minutes of action, offering a reliable presence in defence and an outlet in attack on his 343rd outing for the east Londoners.
"We showed more tenacity in the second half"
— West Ham United (@WestHam) April 6, 2024
James Ward-Prowse on today's win at Wolves 🗣️
3. More success against Wolves
There’s no denying that Gary O’Neil has built a strong side at Wolves, and despite defeat they remain in the hunt for European qualification, just six points behind the Hammers in the Premier League table.
But, for whatever reason, West Ham have garnered a strong recent record against them. Saturday's victory secured the 2023/24 double over the Molineux outfit, with a Mohammed Kudus brace and a Jarrod Bowen strike having clinched a 3-0 triumph at London Stadium in December.
The full share of the spoils also marked West Ham’s sixth win in their past eight Premier League matches against Wolves, though it was their first in three visits to the latter’s home ground.
Finally, David Moyes has now won nine top-flight matches against Wanderers. Jürgen Klopp (ten victories) is the only manager to have beaten them more often.
4. Another win on the road
West Ham United’s victory at Wolves made it seven away wins in the Premier League this term.
The Irons are now up to 23 points collected from their games on their top-flight travels in 2023/24, having amassed just three wins and 12 points from their 19 away clashes in all of last season.
When they qualified for Europe by finishing sixth in 2020/21, David Moyes’ men won nine away matches and collected 31 points on the road, while they tallied 24 points on their way to finishing seventh in 2021/22.
Eclipsing 31 might be a tough ask with just three away trips to come, the last of which is to Manchester City, but bettering that total of 24 from two years ago is not far from being achieved!
