Divine Mukasa was the star of the show, netting a brace as West Ham edged past Wolves 4-2, finally earning three points after a difficult start to the campaign that saw them still reeling from last season's drop to the Championship. The match also marked Wolves' first defeat under their new boss, Cesar Peixoto, after a promising start that could have seen them climb to the top of the table. The hosts benefited from contributions by Jarrod Bowen and Konstantinos Mavropanos, while Wolves managed a reply through Marshall Munetsi and an own‑goal from Mavropanos that gave them a brief lifeline. The victory eased the pressure on West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo, especially as prospective investor Amanda Staveley, who leads a consortium interested in acquiring a substantial share of the club, watched the game from the London Stadium.
Early on, West Ham struggled to find rhythm. Their first clear chance came when Raul Jimenez, finding space inside the box after a pass from Jackson Tchatchoua, struck a wild effort that sailed well over the crossbar. Jimenez's second attempt, this time from a corner that curled to the edge of the penalty area, was more precise; his shot bounced off the turf, rose over goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and struck the top of the crossbar, narrowly missing a goal. Not long after, Mateus Mane also tested the woodwork.
After a cross that slipped past full‑back Kyle Walker‑Peters, Mane took a shot from the left side of the box that clipped the bar. Walker‑Peters managed to get a slight deflection on the ball, but it was not enough to change the outcome. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 33rd minute, and it came from the visitors rather than the hosts.
Mukasa, the on‑loan Manchester City midfielder, unleashed a powerful drive from just beyond 20 yards. The ball struck the underside of the crossbar before ricocheting into the net, giving West Ham an unexpected lead and shifting the momentum of the game. West Ham's defence began to look more organized, with Marshall Munetsi forced to clear a dangerous ball on the line after a header from Max Kilman. The pressure on Wolves increased, and in the 40th minute West Ham were awarded a penalty when Andre lunged at Joel Piroe inside the box.
Jarrod Bowen calmly sent goalkeeper Jose Sa the wrong way and slotted the spot‑kick home, extending the lead to 2‑0. Wolves responded quickly. Just three minutes later, Munetsi chased down a loose ball and, after a one‑on‑one with Mavropanos, turned the Greek defender and fired a low drive past a diving Hermansen, cutting the deficit to 2‑1.
The second half saw Mukasa double his tally. In the 53rd minute, he collected a pass from Bowen on the right flank, took a shot that glanced off the boot of Nasser Djiga, and the deflected ball looped over Sa for a comfortable third goal.
Bowen later saw his own effort saved by Sa, but West Ham continued to press. The fourth goal came from a set‑piece situation.
A corner in the 64th minute found Mavropanos in the box; his header struck the crossbar before the rebound fell to him again, and he hammered it home, making it 4‑1. Wolves managed to pull one back in the 69th minute when Mavropanos, attempting to block a cross from Tchatchoua, inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, reducing the margin to 4‑2.
After the final whistle, Nuno Espirito Santo praised his side, acknowledging the importance of the win while noting that there were still mistakes to iron out. "We all know this victory was much needed. The way we are trying to grow and improve, there were still errors today that we must correct, but we managed to dominate at key moments," he said.
He highlighted the improved attacking play and stressed the need for greater concentration defensively. Speaking about Mukasa, Santo added, "I'm delighted not only with the goals but with the way he performed in midfield.
He is a young player with a lot of potential, and today he showed good positioning, ball distribution, and defensive work. Scoring is a bonus, but his overall contribution was fantastic." Wolves' manager Cesar Peixoto reflected on the defeat, admitting it was not the result they wanted despite creating several chances. "Congratulations to West Ham; they were more clinical.
Their first goal was a spectacular strike that is hard to defend, and after that we were a bit disorganized, which led to the penalty. The third goal was a bit lucky, and the fourth came from a set‑piece where our goalkeeper was repeatedly blocked. The two‑goal margin feels unfair," he observed.
Peixoto also defended his team's effort, noting that while they had previously won 4‑1 in a game where everything was not perfect, this match also featured moments of good organization and a collective fight until the end. He emphasized the need to improve certain aspects but praised the players' resilience. The win not only gave West Ham three points but also provided a morale boost for a side looking to re‑establish itself after relegation.
With potential new investment on the horizon and a young talent like Mukasa making an impact, the Hammers can look forward to building momentum in the weeks ahead. For fans wanting to relive the action, highlights of the Championship are available to watch for free, and the league's official app offers live streaming for those with a Sky subscription.
Additionally, a promotion invites viewers to enter a Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000, with free entry available to all participants.