FootballPundit raves about ‘dangerous’ Tomas Soucek after goal in West Ham win v Wolves. West Ham United overcame a stubborn Wolverhampton Wanderers side, beating Wolves 2-1 at the London Stadium to keep manager Julen Lopetegui’s job safe, at least for now.
After a dour first-half, things kicked off in the second 45 when Jarrod Bowen delivered a gorgeous set-piece that Tomas Soucek headed beyond Sam Johnstone in the Wolves goal.
Wolves responded quickly through Matt Doherty, but parity didn’t last long as Bowen curled a brilliant effort into the bottom corner to restore the West Ham lead.
Soucek delivered an outstanding performance in the middle of the park and earned rave reviews after netting the opener as Wolves failed to pick up arguably the Premier League’s most dangerous player on set-pieces.
Hinchcliffe said (via the BBC): “It’s a huge goal, but it’s so, so soft. Tomas Soucek was always going to be the target, but Wolves were just standing and watching as the biggest and most dangerous player in the box was given plenty of space.
“They should have anticipated it, but they pay a heavy price. Soucek does everything right, but Wolves are terrible defensively here. Besides the goal, Soucek gave a warrior’s performance in the engine room, contesting for 18 duels, winning seven. He made one clearance and blocked one effort.
Lopetegui’s Precarious Position
While this victory provides much-needed respite for Lopetegui, his position as West Ham manager remains precarious. A loss in their upcoming match against high-flying AFC Bournemouth could rekindle talks of uncertainty surrounding his future.
The team’s inconsistent performances and defensive vulnerabilities have been a cause for concern, and a string of poor results could lead to a change in the dugout.
The pressure is on Lopetegui to stabilise the team and deliver consistent results. The upcoming match against the Cherries will be a crucial test of whether he is the man to lead this West Ham project.
