Another Jesse Lingard champion class sent West Ham to the top four in the Premier League, as the Irons were about to win an invaluable victory against the Wolves at Molineux.
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Lingard got things started for Irons with one of his life’s goals, charging through the entire Wolves team and passing one in the bottom corner after a wonderful work from Vladimir Coufal to send him away.
“Simply Fantastic”?
You ???? to look at this.
Jesse Lingard runs from inside his own half to make a fantastic opener for West Ham!
The only goal of the season?
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– Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 5, 2021
The English midfielder had one of the games in his life and his ingenuity scored the second goal. He somehow kept the ball at the corner flag and played in Arthur Masuaku, who picked out the Fornals for the first time.
West Ham may have worried that Michail Antonio’s forced departure could have turned the game on its head, but just three minutes passed before his replacement Jarrod Bowen hit the net. Who received the assistance? Oh yes, Jesse Lingard, runs past the entire Wolves team … again.
Lingard with a little more brilliant work?
He tells Bowen to make West Ham’s third in the first half!
Wolves have a ⛰️ to climb?
? Watch Sky Sports PL? Follow #WOLWHU here: https://t.co/zHgQQwKlUE? Download the app @SkySports! pic.twitter.com/dJA8b4dSuD
– Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 5, 2021
Wolves were torn apart during the break but got one back before half time when some wonderful work from Adama Traore found Leander Dendoncker in the area, and the Belgian did the rest with a powerful nod.
Nuno Espirito Santo threw on Fabio Silva during the break, and within 20 minutes of coming in, the teenage striker made things uncomfortable for the visitors. He finished low beyond Lukasz Fabianski to set up a grand final.
But the irons were on with a victory that could prove invaluable in their quest for Champions League football.
Let’s dive into some player ratings!
Patricio denies Michail Antonio | Matthew Ashton – AMA / Getty Images
Rui Patricio (GK) – 6/10 – Great save for denying Antonio early but was generally not as busy as the finish line suggests.
Nelson Semedo (RB) – 5/10 – The former man in Barcelona was educated by Arthur Masuaku. Not so often do you get to write that sentence.
Conor Coady (CB) – 5/10 – Never really seems at home in a back four. Fought for pace against Antonio and was not his usual commanding self.
Roman Saiss (CB) – 6/10 – Stepped out to win the ball a couple of times and looked comfortable in the heart of the defense.
Rayan Ait Nouri (LB) – 6/10 – Sent in some searching crosses and looked promising on the ball – given that he did not see too much of it.
Dendoncker goes in for Wolves | Pool / Getty Images
Leander Dendoncker (CM) – 5/10 – A bit everywhere with his positioning and that allowed West Ham to run Wolves at the break. Good head to give his side a lifeline.
Ruben Neves (CM) – 6/10 – Clean up the ball but let the game pass him under long spells, much to Nuno Santos’ frustration.
Daniel Podence (AM) – 6/10 – Shaken over the crossbar with a first half even though it was about 4’3. Replaced by Fabio Silva during the break.
Traore was a live-wire for wolves | NICK POTTS / Getty Images
Pedro Neto (RW) – 6/10 – Created one or two problems but struggled to consistently threaten. Spurned a great chance chance before the break.
Willian Jose (CF) – 5/10 – Can never score for wolves. Had two good chances during the first half but sent one wide and another straight against Lukasz Fabianski.
Adama Traore (LW) – 7/10 – Back at his best to set up Dendoncker who gave Wolves a glimmer of hope for the halftime battle.
45 ‘| #WOL 1-3 #WHU
A change in the break when Fabio Silva replaces Daniel Podence. # WOLWHU pic.twitter.com/24oEI6sRRX
– Wolves (@Wolves) April 5, 2021
Fabio Silva (Podence, 45) – 7/10 – Good goal to place Wolves in goal for the visitors.
Vitinha (Jose, 72) – 5/10
Diop and Cresswell watch as Dendoncker withdraws a Pool / Getty Images
Lukasz Fabianski (GK) – 6/10 – A great rescue to deny Jose. No real chance with any of Wolves’ goals.
Craig Dawson (CB) – 6/10 – The experienced defender continued to show his value as he quickly sniffed out some promising wolves.
Issa Diop (CB) – 6/10 – Kept things together and marched Jose out of the game.
Aaron Cresswell (CB) – 7/10 – Sometimes played as a second left-back instead of West Ham’s actual left-back as a player. One or two very dangerous intersections.
Coufal wrestles with Adama Traore | NICK POTTS / Getty Images
Vladimir Coufal (RWB) – 6/10 – Washed by Traore for Wolves goal but otherwise defended stoically. Had a big hand in the second goal, combined with the Fornals to free Lingard.
Tomas Soucek (CM) – 6/10 – Had the ball in the net in 4-1 but regretted by VAR. Took a sore in late stages but soldiers on.
Mark Noble (CM) – 6/10 – Did good defensive work along the left flank and brought some street wisdom to the West Ham team when they saw the game.
Arthur Masuaku (LWB) – 7/10 – Lung-bursting run to help the second goal and made Semedo’s life sometimes a misery with its high starting position and charge runs. Faded out and was replaced by Ben Johnson halfway through the second half.
Flesta Most @ Premierleague goal involutions since Jesse Lingard made his @WestHam debut on February 3rd
9 Harry Kane (7 goals, 2 assists) 8 JESSE LINGARD (6 goals, 2 assists) 7 Gabriel Jesus (5 goals, 2 assists) pic.twitter.com/xMlmm9cfME
– Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) April 5, 2021
Pablo Fornals (RW) – 7/10 – Lively and involved. Does not have the pace to thrive properly in the top three but found a role for himself here.
Michail Antonio (CF) – 7/10 – Maybe had one of the goals of the season after flicking Dendoncker early but was denied by Patricio. Made a real handful but lasted only half an hour before the injury struck.
Jesse Lingard (LW) – 9/10 – Where do you even start? Funny solo goal, ridiculous solo assistant and sandwiched between them was a ridiculous piece of skill that created the second goal. A word to describe his achievement? Ridiculous.
YESSSSSSS !!!! WHAT AN EFFECT !!!! # WOLWHU pic.twitter.com/U0mx0kEAkU
– West Ham United (@WestHam) April 5, 2021
Jarrod Bowen (Antonio, 38) – 7/10 – On in the 38th minute, points in the 41st. Bosh.
Ben Johnson (Masuaku, 65) – 6/10
Sa Benrahma (Fornals, 78) – 5/10
