Wolves ease past West Ham to keep up impressive campaign
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Your support makes all the difference.Marko Arnautovic marked his return to West Ham's team by getting injured and leaving Molineux on crutches after a 3-0 loss at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Tuesday.
Arnautovic missed West Ham's last two games after he was tempted to accept a lucrative offer from a Chinese club. On Friday, he said he was staying at the London club and signed a new contract.
He was recalled by West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini but didn't finish the match after hobbling off in the 77th minute with a leg injury following a tackle from Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves. He was wearing a protective boot as he left the stadium.
Raul Jimenez's late double inspired Wolves to an ultimately comfortable victory after West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski threatened to frustrate the hosts.
Romain Saiss opened the scoring with a header from a corner in the 66th, before Jimenez took his tally to 12 goals for the season with strikes in the 80th and 86th minutes.
Wolves climbed to seventh place in the Premier League. West Ham lost three days after exiting the FA Cup at the hands of third-tier struggler AFC Wimbledon.
AP
PREVIEW
What time does it start?
Wolves vs West Ham kicks off at 7.45pm.
Where can I watch it?
The match will not be shown live in the UK. Highlights will be shown on Match of the Day at 10.20pm on Wednesday on BBC One.
It’s a big game for…
Lukasz Fabianski: The Polish goalkeeper has had a brilliant season in net for West Ham and, following their humbling at the weekend, his performance on Tuesday will be of even greater importance in helping the Hammers get back to winning ways.
Weird stat…
8: West Ham are unbeaten in their last eight Premier League games played on a Tuesday.
Remember when…
Liam Brady scored a superb solo goal in West Ham’s 4-0 win over Wolves in May 1990.
Player to watch…
Diogo Jota: Jota has five goals in his last five Premier League games after failing to score in his first 13 appearances in the league and he will be hoping to keep this rich vein of form running.
Past three-meetings…
West Ham 0 Wolves 1 (Traore), Premier League, September 2018
West Ham 1 (Jelavic) Wolves 0, FA Cup, January 2016
West Ham 2 (Zubar OG, Sears) Wolves 0, Premier League, January 2011
Form guide…
Wolves: WLWLWD
West Ham: LDWWLL
Odds…
Wolves to win: 11/10
West Ham to win: 11/4
Draw: 5/2
(Odds provided by Betfair)
A full midweek slate of Premier League action, then, to close January as it began with a flurry of football.
Six games this evening - four beginning in just half an hour, and then two more kicking-off at 8pm.
This man's back in the Arsenal team, and he's got the captain's armband...
There is of course plenty more footballing intrigue both on and off the field during the rest of the week, with transfer deadline day looming.
Arsenal could be one club with business yet to come, most notably their pursuit of Barcelona's Denis Suarez.
A loan move to London is back on:
It is an outgoing rather than a potential incoming dominating chatter around Old Trafford.
Marouane Fellaini's ill-fated stint in Manchester could soon come to an end, and he may be following national teammate Mousa Dembele to China...
It has been two days of twists, turns and tumult in the North West, with Rafa Benitez stirring the pot yesterday with some choice words about his future (or lack thereof) with the club.
Perhaps the timing of positive news on the transfer-front is a little too convenient, then. Newcastle host Manchester City this evening:
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