Alphonse Areola shocking, furious Jarrod Bowen brilliant – West Ham player ratings vs Wolves
West Ham fell to yet another defeat to start the new season as Wolves staged a late comeback to win 3-2 in an all-Premier League Carabao Cup clash.
Wolves were handed a golden chance to open the scoring when Guido Rodriguez conceded a penalty for a foul on Jhon Arias, and despite Hwang Hee-chan missing from the spot, Rodrigo Gomes was there to force it home from the rebound.
West Ham hit back just four minutes into the second-half as Kyle Walker-Peters found Tomas Soucek with a cross for the big midfielder to crash home a headed equaliser at the back-post.
Graham Potter’s side then took the lead just after the hour mark as Jarrod Bowen’s dangerous cross was met by an ummarked Lucas Paqueta, who had the relatively simple task of heading past Sam Johnstone.
Wolves pushed to level the scores once more as time ticked on, and there were just under ten minutes left when Andre’s deflected shot was saved by Areola before Jorgen Strand Larsen turned it into the net from the rebound.
Larsen, who has been heavily linked to Newcastle, then grabbed his brace just two minutes later as Jackson Tchatchoua’s dangerous cross was nodded home to make it 3-2, and the hosts then held on to progress to the next round.
Graham Potter’s defence crumbles late on
Alphonse Areola – 2
Terrible. Allowed Gomes’ shot to go in after he looked destined to stop it by getting up well from Hwang’s penalty miss, and then did similar for Larsen’s first. No improvement on Hermansen.
Kyle Walker-Peters – 4
Lovely delivery for the equaliser. Was a threat going forward but came unstuck at the back and was dribbled past way too many times at the end.
Jean-Clair Todibo – 4
Really rash in the tackle on numerous occasions and seemed to struggle with the trickery of the Wolves’ attackers. Another who struggled and looked very tired at the end.
Konstantinos Mavropanos – 5
Stood tall and defended well at times but was also found wanting in tight spaces at the back. Saw a lot of the ball as the central centre-back but was pulled all over the place late on.
Nayef Aguerd – 6
Had little to do in terms of one-on-one defending as Wolves seemed to attack much more often down the Hammers’ right side. Could not be massively faulted as they were ahead when he went off.
El-Hadji Malick Diouf – 5
Was an outlet all game but never truly threatened going forward. He is as pure a wing-back as they come, but would surely benefit from more help and a player to link-up with on the left.
West Ham inconsistent in midfield
Guido Rodriguez – 3
Lethargic. An unsurprisingly slow showing in the middle of the park that was summed up by his lazy trip on Arias to give away the penalty.
James Ward-Prowse – 5
Was the only West Ham player booked as he hauled Hwang down late on, and the game seemed to pass him by as Wolves often found too much space in front of the visitors’ defence.
Tomas Soucek – 6
Came up with a much-needed trademark headed goal when the Hammers needed him, but was then invisible as they fell apart late on.
Lucas Paqueta – 6
Struggled to get involved in the game in the first-half, but then came into it during the second and will be glad to score again as he aims to improve his output from last season’s poor showing.
Jarrod Bowen the only quality in West Ham’s side
Jarrod Bowen – 8 – Player of the Match
Threatened early on and always wanted to make things happen and show for the ball. Just lacked that end product in terms of his shooting, but delivered a sumptuous cross by Paqueta to make it 2-1. Very worrying signs for the Hammers that he had to be held back from confronting fans in the stands after full time.
Substitutes
Max Kilman (on for Aguerd 70′) – 4
The ex-Wolves man struggled with Wolves’ pacey attack and was susceptible for both of their late goals. Nightmarish on his Molineux return.
Niclas Fullkrug (on for Todibo 86′) – 5
Ineffective late cameo as he barely even got a touch of the ball. Not who you want to bring on when you need a goal.
Callum Wilson (on for Rodriguez 86′) – 5
Another sent on to rescue a draw but arguably make the Irons’ task harder as they aimlessly lumped passes towards him and Fullkrug.