Wolverhampton Wanderers vs West Ham United Player Ratings: Wanderers Crush the Hammers 3–0 to Claim First Win of the Season

A struggling Wolves came out on top against their rivals West Ham United, in a game of pure dominance. The Molineux Stadium was witness to a Wolves masterclass as the final scoreline read 3-0 in favour of the hosts. The Wanderers came out of the gates with such a high intensity that West Ham United simply could not handle.

It felt like the game was over before it even really began, as the hosts put all three past their opponents in the first half itself. West Ham's defence was torn apart as Rob Edwards men started firing their guns from the very beginning. Jhon Arias found the net just four minutes in a clinical finish that set the arena for the entire afternoon. West Ham's defence looked rattled and disorganised from that moment on. They never seemed to recover their composure after the sheer pressure from Wolves.

Things went from bad to worse for the Hammers when Soungoutou Magassa clumsily conceded a penalty. Hee-chan Hwang calmly put the ball into the net, and at 2-0, the writing was on the wall. A stunning long-range strike from the brilliant Wolves forward Mateus Mané before halftime was the final nail in the coffin.

The second half was merely a formality, a training ground exercise for Wolves as they comfortably saw out a dominant 3-0 victory in this Premier League contest. Here's a look at the Wolves vs West Ham United Player Ratings.

West Ham United Player Ratings vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

Let's take a look at the West Ham United Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Alphonse Areola - 7.0: Honestly, if not for him, this could have been 5 or 6-0. He made five crucial saves throughout the match. You could see the frustration on his face. He was let down badly by the ten players in front of him. A decent performance in an otherwise disastrous team display.

Defenders

Kyle Walker-Peters - 5.5: He was certainly busy, racking up an insane 99 touches and seven tackles. But what stood out to us was being dispossessed six times. He won a good number of duels but struggled to contain the flow down his flank. A very mixed bag, really.

Maximilian Kilman - 4.5: Looked shaky and off the pace. Losing seven aerial duels is just not good enough at this level. His passing was tidy, but defensively, he was a step behind the game all afternoon. A very tough day for the centre-back.

Konstantinos Mavropanos - 5.0: He was slightly better than his partner, making a few clearances and recoveries. He even got a shot off, which was unusual. But ultimately, he was part of a defense that was completely dismantled in the first 45 minutes. He couldn't impose himself on the game.

Oliver Scarles - 5.0: A difficult day for the young defender. He put in eight crosses, but only one found its mark. He lost the ball 25 times, a massive number. To his credit, he never stopped trying and made four important tackles.

Midfielders

Crysencio Summerville - 4.5: We expected so much more from him. He drew a few fouls and tried to make things happen, but his final product was lacking. Lost possession far too often and his dribbles rarely led to anything dangerous. A frustrating performance to watch.

Mateus Fernandes - 5.5: Kept the ball moving with a high volume of passes, but where was the incision? Most of his play was sideways or backwards. He didn't offer enough protection for his backline or creativity going forward. A neat but ineffective outing.

Jarrod Bowen - 5.0: The captain was completely anonymous. What stood out was his lack of involvement in key areas. For a player of his quality, having so little impact on a game is a huge disappointment. He worked hard off the ball but offered nothing on it.

Soungoutou Magassa - 3.5: A nightmare first half. Giving away the penalty was a moment of pure panic and it killed any hope of a comeback. He looked completely out of his depth. Unsurprisingly hooked at halftime.

Freddie Potts - 4.5: Another player who barely made an impression before being substituted at the break. He was neat on the ball but offered little else. The game just passed him by entirely.

Forwards

Callum Wilson - 4.5: Completely and utterly isolated. He had one sniff at goal and that was it. Touched the ball just 21 times. You have to feel for a striker in a system that provides zero service. He was a passenger.

Substitutes

The halftime changes didn't alter the course of the match. West Ham looked slightly more solid after the break, but the damage was already done. They couldn't create any clear-cut chances to get back into it.

Manager

N. Simões Espírito Santo - 4.0: He got his tactics completely wrong from the start. His team looked unprepared for Wolves' aggression and the defensive setup was chaotic. The first-half performance was unacceptable, and that ultimately falls on the manager.

Wolverhampton Wanderers Player Ratings vs West Ham United

Here's a look at the Wolverhampton Wanderers Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

José Sá - 6.5: Had a very quiet afternoon, barely needing to make a save. He kept a clean sheet, which is all you can ask of a keeper. He commanded his area well. A comfortable day at the office.

Defenders

Santiago Bueno - 7.0: A solid, no-nonsense display from the defender. He wasn't tested much but did everything he needed to do with composure. Kept it simple and effective. A quiet but important part of the clean sheet.

Yerson Mosquera - 7.5: Looked very composed at the back. He won five of his duels and made several key clearances and tackles. Read the game well and was a real presence. An impressive performance.

Ladislav Krejci - 7.5: Another rock at the back for Wolves. He was strong in the air and on the ground. His interceptions broke up West Ham's rare forays forward. He even had a shot on target himself. A very complete defensive performance.

Midfielders

Hugo Bueno - 8.0: A constant threat down the left flank. His crossing was superb, and he grabbed a deserved assist for his efforts. He created three chances and was a thorn in West Ham's side all game. Defended well when needed too.

João Gomes - 7.5: Only played the first half, but he was excellent. He controlled the midfield tempo and barely misplaced a pass. Created a big chance and was a bundle of energy. His substitution was likely just to rest him with the game won.

Jhon Arias - 8.0: Got the ball rolling with a smart finish for the opening goal. He was a nuisance throughout, popping up in dangerous areas and working hard defensively. A great all-around display from the midfielder.

Mateus Mané - 9.0: Our man of the match, without a shadow of a doubt. He was simply unplayable. Won the penalty with a clever run and then scored an absolute screamer from distance. He was dynamic, creative, and clinical. A perfect performance.

Jackson Tchatchoua - 6.5: The quietest of the Wolves attackers. He worked hard and did his job for the team but didn't have the same impact as his teammates. Picked up a needless yellow card late on. A solid, if unspectacular, performance.

Forwards

Hee-chan Hwang - 8.5: Absolutely brilliant before his unfortunate injury. He provided the assist for the first goal and then coolly scored the penalty for the second. His movement and intelligence were too much for the West Ham defence. A huge loss when he went off.

Tolu Arokodare - 7.5: A real handful up top. He won an incredible 13 duels and was a constant physical problem for the opposition defenders. His hold-up play was excellent, though he'll be disappointed to have missed a big chance.

Substitutes

The subs came on with the game already won. They helped maintain control and saw out the result professionally. They slotted in seamlessly, which speaks volumes about the team's cohesion and preparation.

Manager

R. Edwards - 8.5: A tactical masterclass from the Wolves boss. His team started with ferocious intensity and executed the game plan to perfection. He exploited West Ham's weaknesses ruthlessly and had the game won by halftime. Couldn't have asked for more.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match: Mateus Mané