Unpack the flip-flops and Bermuda shorts, get out the bucket and spade. Wolves are on their way to the beach – it’s just a shame the nearest coastline is about 100 miles away.
Jorgan Strand Larsen’s first-half strike was enough to secure a victory over West Ham that moves Wolves 12 points clear of the relegation zone ahead of a game this weekend against Ipswich that could surely make sure of Premier League survival.
The Wolves striker, who scored twice in another huge win against Southampton before the international break, should have had a second but put a decent effort wide before Marshall Munetsi spurned his second golden chance of the game in the dying moments.
How they might have been made to pay for that wastefulness late on only for Tomas Soucek to encapsulate West Ham’s plight in front of goal by scuffing a great chance.
This was a contest that told you everything about where these two sides sit in a Premier League season petering out into nothingness.
Vitor Pereira’s side pressed with the hunger of a team that know they are so nearly safe. West Ham limped along with the apathy of a team that knows they already are.
Wolves are on their way to the beach and Premier League survival after beating West Ham
Jorgen Strand Larsen’s first-time strike was enough to secure victory over the Hammers
The latest win at the Molineux has moved Wolves 12 points clear of the relegation zone
‘I am emotional and very proud of my team,’ said Wolves boss Pereira. ‘I saw the true spirit of this team, the supporters and the connection between them and us. It was a very important win but I don’t want to relax. I want more points.’
Pereira will be suspended for the crunch game against Ipswich after being booked at half-time and later apologised to Potter for his overzealous celebrations at the final whistle.
‘I said sorry to him,’ added Pereira. ‘I cannot control my emotions in this moment. I was not being disrespectful, it was just my passion.’
Lucas Paqueta made his first appearance since his FA spot-fixing trial began and was West Ham’s best player.
Evan Ferguson should have put West Ham ahead early on when Jarrod Bowen squared the ball across goal for an easy tap-in only for the striker, on loan from Brighton, to overrun the pass and make a hash of his effort.
Potter took him off at half-time and until his replacement Fullkrug, who also hit the bar with a header in his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury in January, set up Soucek for the late chance they never really looked like threatening the Wolves goal.
The game just got even scrappier and referee Tony Harrington dished out more yellow cards in a contest he struggled to have any control over.
Wolves, though had, looked dangerous. Toti forced a fine save from Alphonse in the first half before Strand Larsen fired in the opener via a cruel deflection off former Wolves defender Max Kilman.
West Ham squandered a number of chances, with several players failing to impress
The cameras cut to their suspended talisman Matheus Cunha. Wolves have now picked up seven points in the three games without him.
They should have doubled their lead before the break but Munetsi smashed a great chance against the bar.
For Graham Potter, it’s all about next season now and you could tell. They, too, owe a debt of gratitude to the promoted sides for failing to put up any sort of fight.
‘As a team we have to perform better than in the first half because, if we don’t, it’s hard to get points,’ said Potter.
