Express & Star

West Ham United 0 Wolves 1 – player ratings

Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers rates the players after a 1-0 win at West Ham.

Published

Rui Patricio

While a goalkeeper who cost £67million was making a fool of himself in the East Midlands, Wolves' free transfer (sort of) was yet again proving himself to be one of the Premier League bargains of the summer. One good save and one great save, the former to deny Anderson at his near post and the latter to keep out Antonio's header like a claw crane in an arcade. Then with Arnautovic through on goal the Portuguese keeper put his pretty face in the line of duty to block his goalbound shot for the pain before the pleasure of his first Wolves clean sheet. 8/10

Ryan Bennett

His form is one of the stories of Wolves' season so far. In pre-season it looked like Romain Saiss was going to take Bennett's place in the XI...then just before the season started Wolves paid £12million for Leander Dendoncker, who would surely start at right centre back? Nope, Bennett has the shirt and it's his for the season if he keeps playing like this. Another excellent display full of commitment, passion and intelligence, typified when he won successive sliding tackles and bounded upfield in the first half. 8/10

Conor Coady

Not the busiest of afternoons for Coady but what he did, he did well. Very rarely gave the ball away and produced a couple of important clearances. Beaten by Arnautovic for that late chance but otherwise the captain was solid. 7/10

Willy Boly

Almost handed West Ham two goals with two really sloppy errors – headed across the face of his own goal to tee up Snodgrass in the first half and then after the break he dawdled on the six yard line when he should have cleared and it led to Antonio's header. Did his bit with headers, blocks, etc but he has got to cut out these silly mistakes. 6/10

Matt Doherty

A very accomplished performance from the Irishman who owned that right flank. Negated Snograss' influence with a composed defensive display and then going forward he was excellent, constantly making himself an outlet and getting involved in some of Wolves' best attacking play. Almost scored with a fierce shot from 12 yards and then should have had his first assist of the season when he teed up Jimenez with a perfect low cross. Could barely walk to the team bus after the game owing to the effort he'd put in. After that off day at Leicester he's recovered with two performances which suggest he'll do just fine in the top flight. 8/10

Joao Moutinho

Metronomically consistent, occasionally flambouoyant, incessantly hard-working – and an all-round class act. Yet another one of those 'can you believe this guy plays for Wolves?' players. Moutinho is the real deal, he's making Wolves tick and displaying all the class and experience that Wolves knew they'd be getting when they forked out just £5m for him. A pass accuracy of 92.4 per cent (source, Opta) tells a story but the most impressive aspect of Moutinho's performance was his constant haranguing of West Ham's midfielders as he repeatedly won the ball back in the Hammers half. Whipped in a great free kick which Jimenez could have scored from, too and put a cross on Jota's head for a big first half chance. The man exudes ingenuity. 9/10

Ruben Neves

Has quickly formed an effective partnership with Moutinho – the pair work in tandem with and without the ball and seem to have an excellent understanding. Won more than his fair share of tackles and turned the ball over quickly for the last-gasp winner. Careless at the back at times, like when he allowed Balbuena a free header for a good West Ham chance, but otherwise a solid afternoon for the mercurial youngster who really helped Wolves control the game, especially in the first half. 7/10

Jonny Castro Otto

His afternoon was more about his work off the ball as Wolves enacted their game plan of winning the ball in West Ham's half and pressing the Hammers' midfield. Won a large amount of tackles and certainly kept Antonio quiet, with the winger's departure cheered by some Hammers fans. Not as effective going forward. 7/10

Helder Costa

It's been a productive week for Costa who was again lively and effective here after good showings against Manchester City and Sheffield Wednesday. Linked up nicely with Doherty, teed up a couple of chances and produced some mazy runs from deep. 7/10

Raul Jimenez

On the one hand he led the line superbly, linked play, created chances for himself and held the ball up...on the other he contrived to produce one of the misses of the season when it looked easier to score from just six yards. It was a howler, pure and simple, and he had Adama Traore to thank more than most for that late winner. Let's hope it doesn't dent his confidence because Jimenez has shown plenty of promise in the opening weeks and his game is about far more than goals. 7/10

Diogo Jota

Not quite himself yet. A couple of decent moments when he had the opportunity to run at West Ham's defence and he could have scored when putting a header over from six yards. No lack of effort but Nuno made the right call when replacing him with Traore on the hour mark. A slow start to the season but it'll come for Jota. 6/10

Substitutes

Adama Traore (for Jota, 61)

By the lofty standards he's already set in his short time at Molineux he was having a fairly quiet afternoon...and then the express train left the station. Galloped into the box like a cheetah running for his last bus home, took one touch and struck the ball low and true into the corner for his first Wolves goal – and one that will live long in the memory. Surely he has to start against Burnley in two weeks. 7/10

Leo Bonatini (for Costa, 72)

After his goal in midweek Bonatini provided an assist with a perfect pass for the winner. Could have scored when set up by Jimenez but was denied by a good Fabianski save. 7/10

Ruben Vinagre (for Jimenez, 87)

A third substitute appearance already for the Portuguese youngster who helped stretch the play as a left wing forward. N/A

Subs not used: Ruddy, Hause, Saiss, Gibbs-White.