With goal difference separating West Ham in 16th from Premier League’s drop zone, the Irons re-start their 2019/20 Premier League campaign with major relegation worries this week.
A horrible run of one win from nine top-flight contests in the lead up to football’s postponement saw the Hammers tumble down the standings at a rate of knots, though David Moyes will be sensible enough to accept that a sequence that included games against the likes of Sheffield United, Leicester, Liverpool (twice), Man City and Arsenal was always likely to yield a poor return.
Nevertheless, there is a real danger that West Ham could lose their Premier League status for the first time since 2011 this season, and the source of much of their plight has been their dreadful defensive performances this term.
Only three clubs have conceded more goals than the Irons in 2019/20 (50), and West Ham’s record of keeping just one clean sheet in their last 11 league outings at the London Stadium points to a weakness that opponents Wolves will feel they can exploit.
For Wolves, Champions League qualification remains the target this season, and Wanderers still have two possible routes to European football’s elite competition open to them through a top five finish and via the Europa League.
Before the break, 6th placed Wolves’ form had been solid, with their 2-1 home reverse to champions elect Liverpool on January 23 their only defeat in eight Premier League fixtures, though four draws during the same spell means their points haul wasn’t as high as it might have been.
It’s worth noting that draw specialists Wolves have shared the spoils 13 times in total this term – a figure that accounts for just under half of the Premier League matches they’ve contests since August.
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