Football Insane

Wolves’ return to the Premier League after a five-year absence ended in a 2-0 defeat at home to West Ham on Saturday afternoon. Mark Noble and Matthew Upson were on target for the Hammers.

Noble’s arcing shot in the 22nd minute put the Hammers in front after a bright start from Mick McCarthy’s side, before some poor marking at a corner allowed Upson to double Gianfranco Zola’s team’s lead in the 68th.

Wolves tried and almost succeeded in pulling a goal back at numerous points in the second half, debutant Nenad Milijas going close several times, but for all their effort the hosts were unable to beat the impressive Rob Green.

The last time the sides had met in the top flight was in 1984, but neither showed any signs of nerves on the big stage as an action-packed start heralded what was to be a lively first half.

Barely three minutes had passed when Wayne Hennessey was forced to save Jack Collison’s scuffed shot after Carlton Cole had made a nuisance of himself, the England international filling a lone berth up front.

Julien Faubert caused a few scares with some low drilled balls across the face of Hennessey’s goal while Herita Ilunga completed what was a productive wing-based assault on the left side, before the hosts finally replied with some offensive forays of their own.

Andy Keogh mis-timed a volley when meeting a Greg Halford knockdown and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, the man on whom Wolves are set to rely for goals this season, headed over from close range. Keogh again saw potential glory when digging the ball out of his feet on the edge of the area, but fired high and wide.

It was at this stage that Wolves were settling into their style when Noble’s goal struck the blow for the Hammers. Cole fed the midfielder inside, and spotting Hennessey a little advanced off his line Noble curled a delightful effort into the top-left corner from 20 yards.

Wolves regrouped and Keogh manufactured an opening for Matthew Jarvis with a run, but an off-target shot on the angle saw immediate redemption go begging.

West Ham almost doubled their advantage shortly after when Noble’s shot was saved on the line, and Kieron Dyer – in his 200th career Premier League appearance – watched his rebound cleared off the line by Jody Craddock. From the resulting corner Ilunga’s header was tipped over by Hennessey.

Wolves knew they needed to launch themselves into the second half to get themselves back into the game immediately, and the did so with vigour.

Milijas had a deflected and dipping shot tipped over by Green, and then drew a good save from the West Ham keeper, but the Hammers almost doubled their lead when Craddock’s error in judgement allowed Collison in. The West Ham man rounded Hennessey but Kevin Foley was on the line to save his team-mate.

Milijas tickled the top of West Ham’s crossbar with a 25-yard effort and the Serb then played a magnificent through ball that set Ebanks-Blake one-on-one with Green. The keeper came out on top however as he added to his string of superb saves, this one with his legs.

Green’s efforts paid off when his side doubled their advantage with just over 20 minutes remaining, as Noble turned goal provider for Upson with a corner. His inswinging delivery was met by the centre-back amid a static home defence to make it 2-0.

Substitute Richard Stearman almost notched a consolation effort right at the death, but Green again stood impenetrable to claw away a header.

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