Many Hammers fans, particularly the older ones, are having some difficulty coming to terms with the team's current success and are waiting for the inevitable 'bursting of the bubble' to happen. Having lifted his team to the summit, the hallowed ground that is the Premier League top four, David Moyes is under no illusions as to the test(s) ahead of him and his team, it is one thing to reach the top, it is another to stay there!
That task begins this afternoon with the away trip to Molineaux against a resurgent Wolves team guided by Bruno Lage, both teams have microscopic squads compared to their more illustrious neighbours and although steeped in history, both teams have had little success since the Premier League began.
Today will be the first time Angello Ogbonna will not be available, unfortunately he will now NOT be seen in Claret & Blue until NEXT season as a result of needing surgery for his ACL injury. Moyes has Dawson and Diop to choose from and will more than likely use Dawson.
We worry that Dawson's lack of pace will be exposed by 'Antonio 2:0' in the form of Adam Traore, his pace will shred virtually any other player and he is sure to show 'Les' a clean pair of heels given any opportunity. In addition it should be remembered that a little less than two years ago Wolves were juggling competing on four fronts, sounds familiar?
What is also 'familiar' is the fact that Wolves have a very impressive goals from corners statistic bettered only by West Ham, their goals scored from other set pieces is exceptional as well. This will be a HARD game, make no mistake about it, a nil nil draw it will definitely NOT be!
During his pre match presser, David Moyes alluded to the fact that there are NO easy games and how getting a result at Wolves is a tough ask. IF Hammers can navigate a tricky fixture like the Wolves game, it will bode extremely well for the club's efforts to keep its place in the upper echelons of the Premier League, failure to do so will NOT be the end of the World, but it would bring back the 'points paranoia' of certain sections of the club's support.
One reassuring aspect ahead of the game is the togetherness of the players, which is obvious to any onlooker. Back in the day Hammers would follow up a sensational victory, as was the 3-2 win over Liverpool, with a timid capitulation to a lesser placed team. The result might not go Hammers way, but at least fans know that their team will give it their all, and if their all is not good enough on the day, then so be it! -Ed
