Wolves 1-0 West Ham: Strand Larsen boosts hosts´ survival hopes

Jorgen Strand Larsen was the hero as Wolves moved 12 points clear of the Premier League relegation zone with a 1-0 win over West Ham at Molineux.

Strand Larsen’s 10th league goal of the season was enough for the hosts to seal back-to-back wins, having beaten Southampton before the international break.

The Norway forward, who was absent during that break with a hand injury, marked his return to action with the decisive strike in the 21st minute, his shot beating Alphonse Areola via a slight Maximilian Kilman deflection.

West Ham generally struggled to mount a sustained attacking threat in their search for an equaliser, though they twice went close later on.

Niclas Fullkrug’s looping header hit the bar, while Tomas Soucek fired wide from close range with only Jose Sa to beat, as the Hammers suffered their fourth defeat in seven away matches in all competitions.

Vitor Pereira’s Wolves remain 17th but pull further clear of the bottom three and to within five points of the Hammers, who are a place above them.

10 – Jørgen Strand Larsen has scored his 10th Premier League goal of the season for Wolves, with only Raúl Jiménez in 2018-19 (13) netting more in his debut season for the club in the competition. Successor. pic.twitter.com/OAEBan9Qfm

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 1, 2025

Data Debrief: Strand Larsen steps up in Cunha’s absence

With the suspended Matheus Cunha watching from the stands, Strand Larsen stepped up in the Brazilian’s absence to score the winner at Molineux.

In doing so, the Norwegian became only the third Wolves player to reach double figures in his debut season for the club in the Premier League, after Steven Fletcher in 2010-11 (10) and Raul Jimenez in 2018-19 (13).

Pereira’s side have now won 13 points since the start of February in the Premier League, with only Liverpool (17) and Arsenal (14) earning more in that time.

Consistency and repetition appear to be having the desired impact. Indeed, Wolves have named an unchanged starting XI in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since September 2021 under Bruno Lage.