Wolves vs West Ham | PL | 3.1.26 | Predictions and Match Thread

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Match Centre: 

Live data by Scoreaxis

Odds: 
WHU: 11/5
Draw: 15/8
Wolves: 8/5

 Pre-Match Press Conference: 
Wolves-discussion post-Brighton

 Match Preview: 
Analytics United 

 Watch-along:
Hammers Chat

Streams:

Sport+

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Well it's the first game of 2026, and arguably the most vital of the season to date.  For too long the striker who hasn't scored for 50 games, the team who can't keep a clean sheet, or the goalie who's never saved a penalty have looked at a fixture against West Ham as the perfect time to exorcise the demons, and there is no doubt Wolves will be thinking the same today.

Winless across the whole of the season so far Wolves will be eyeing this as there chance to get back in amongst the wins.  West Ham simply can't allow that to happen.

Not so much a 6 pointer, but more the freebie every other side has cashed in all already, losing here would hand the rest of the league 3 points over the Hammers.

Injury wise, there are some doubts.  Todibo injured hsi groin vs Brighton and is likely out, with Mavripanos to deputise.  Paqueta went off having done something to his back, and must be considered a notable doubt for this one, and KWP was also subbed off having picked up a knock vs Brighton.

This leaves the squad increasingly threadbare and could pose some unwelcome returns to the first XI for such a crucial game (Soucek..I'm looking at you!).

In better news, our first new signing of the year (Pablo Felipe) has travelled with the squad and we believe will be available for selection (though International Clearance remains unconfirmed).  Whilst the skids look to have hit the Traore deal, Castellanos looks likely to be available for Tuesday night....but of couorse none of this helps in this vital game.

We also desperately need Areola to re-up his game.  After a few good performances, the aerial demons returned against Brighton, and his distribution was as woeful as ever....for a guy that can over-arm the ball to the halfway line, why not do that instead of the aimless punts up field he seems to lack any directional control over?!

Anyway...

Predicted Line Up:

Areola

KWP    Mavropanos     Kilman     Scarles

Potts    Magassa

Bowen         Fernandes        Summerville

Wilson

Subs:

Hermansen, Myers, Golambeckis, Soucek, Rodriguez, Kante, Earthy, Paqueta, Pablo

I'd expect Paqueta to not be risked, but maybe be on the bench for emergencies in this one and Pablo to be looked at to come on for Wilson, despite speaking no English and having met most of the squad on the coach ride North.

KWP seems likely to recover (thank heavens) but Todibo seems very unlikely.  Will be interesting to see if Wilson starts the game, or he brings in Soucek.  Whether Earthy or Irving makes the bench will also be interesting to see.

Predicted Score:

I unfortunately can see any of the results possible in this game.  We're under strength, talk is their performances have been better than their outcomes suggest, and we have such a soft underbelly.  But defeat here is unthinkable, and we simply have to find a way.  I'm going for the dream debut for Pablo getting the late winner and becoming an instant hero.

Wolves 2 : West Ham 3 (Wilson, Bowen, Pablo)

COYI

[Leonard Hatred]

I can't even be arsed to get angry about it.

Fuck off to League One, West Ham.

I don't feel any connection to the club/franchise anymore.

[Massive Attack]

Hahaha apparently Wilson cannot last games, now he keeps him on when it's a lost cause from early in the 1st half.

[cup of tea]

Just chill, open a bottle of decent wine, accept where we're heading and take pleasure in the fact that this will hurt Sullivan more than it hurts any fan.

 

 

Off for a curry later. Years ago I'd be in a foul mood about this. These days I just laugh at it.

[onsideman]

I’d take a relegation IF it meant:

Sullivan and his cronies sold up and fucked off.
We could clear out these abysmal players by hiving them off to another mug Premier League club.
We appoint a “real” director of football who can begin a genuine rebuild of the football club.
We burn down the stadium.*

Note *: just thought I’d throw that one in there.



 

 

 

Which of these players other than Bowen do you imagine would be in demand?

[Keep dreaming]

Come Wolves, you can get one or two more. Come on....

[cup of tea]

I'm piased off we haven't conceded again, could do with a laugh. Can't wait to see what crackhead says in his post match presser.

[Mike Oxsaw]

Just chill, open a bottle of decent wine, accept where we're heading and take pleasure in the fact that this will hurt Sullivan more than it hurts any fan.

[nychammer]

Fuck me we are dire. You'd think we were 3-0 up watching us swan around... 

 

 

 

 

his subs suggests we are content to hold 3-0 and contain wolves / damage limitation.  Needs to be sacked at the final whistle, 

[threesixty]

Why wouldn't he put Pablo on and get him up to speed now?
Everything is just baffling. 
 

[southbankbornnbred]

I’d take a relegation IF it meant:

Sullivan and his cronies sold up and fucked off.
We could clear out these abysmal players by hiving them off to another mug Premier League club.
We appoint a “real” director of football who can begin a genuine rebuild of the football club.
We burn down the stadium.*

Note *: just thought I’d throw that one in there.

 

[Ron Eff]

How does this idiot sub Wilson every game when we have no other option, but leave him on when there is an alternative?

What a cսnt. 

[Sir Alf]

Without Areola it would be 6 or 7

We remain too slow all over the park.

[cup of tea]

We all know the script, we get relegated Millwall win the play offs  

[Alfs]

On the bright side, there's a cracking night out to be had in Wrexham.

[Massive Attack]

You stay sat down Nuno arms folded ans think of all the hard earned readies you've made out of us. Doesn't give a flying fuck. Never got animated on the touchline, barking orders just been coasting since he arrived.

[Sir Alf]

Btw tye only reason we look a bit better 2nd half is Wolves are in “game management” mode and happy just to sit deep in shape because we cannot lay a glive on them. 

Give the new bloke or Earthy some minutes.

[COOL HAND LUKE]

Fuck me we are dire. You'd think we were 3-0 up watching us swan around... 

[Any Old Iron]

No attempt by the manager to get us back in the game.  The Portugeezer is totally risk averse.  If he had anything about him he’d have gone for broke this half but he’s done fuck all to make a difference.  
His record is atrocious and he has to go. 

[Hermit Road]

Astonishing lack of pressure and attempts.

potter was an abomination but everything about where we are lies at the feet of the dwarf

[fraser]

All of a, sudden Wilson when we're out of the game doesn't need hooking.. 

[Maverick180180]

You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Three managers in a row have failed to get anything out of this bunch of stiffs. My only advice to you all is to get used to the fact that we are FUCKED and have been for a long while yet.

 

 

While I agree this squad is shit
the 3 managers you speak of were 3 managers out of work that nobody else wanted
a competent manager with an actual brain would do a lot better than the last 3 jokers 
whether it would be enough to stay up is another matter 

[Sir Alf]

Our 2 CBs are a massive problem and today so were Potts and magassa but dont still think the CBs are the biggest reason why we concede so many. 

[Keep dreaming]

I have two points to Areola, and three to Scarles.
The rest is going to Wolves.

5 out of 110 points handed out. 

West Ham is shit Ole Ole!

[nychammer]

lots of backwards and sideways passing is all we can muster in response to being 3-0 down.

Did we buy a striker in the window?  Get the fucker on!

[F 129 Row66]

You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Three managers in a row have failed to get anything out of this bunch of stiffs. My only advice to you all is to get used to the fact that we are FUCKED and have been for a long while yet.