Wolves 3, West Ham 2: Graham Potter Faces Intense Pressure as Hammers Falter in Carabao Cup After 115 Seconds of Chaos
GRAHAM POTTER is finding himself increasingly under pressure after his team squandered a lead late in the game, resulting in an elimination from the EFL Cup at Wolves.
An opportunistic strike from Rodrigo Gomes was answered by headers from Tomas Soucek and Lucas Paqueta, but a swift double from the in-demand forward Jorgen Strand Larsen brutally knocked the Hammers out.
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The match began as a tense tug-of-war, with both teams enjoying periods of possession dominance.
A clumsy trailing leg from Guido Rodriguez on Jean-Ricner Bellegarde awarded Wolves their first real opportunity in the form of a penalty.
Hwang Hee-Chan’s penalty rattled the post, but Wolves’ hopes sprang back when Rodrigo Gomes pounced on the rebound, sneaking it in at the near post just before halftime.
West Ham emerged revitalized after the break, pressing the Wolves defense right from the start.
That pressure paid off as new signing Kyle Walker-Peters created space out wide and delivered a ball for Soucek to drive home past Sam Johnstone.
The home side retaliated with a spell of possession, and it seemed only a matter of time before one of their attempts or dangerous corner deliveries found the net.
Yet, West Ham’s ace Jarrod Bowen came through yet again, sending in a precise ball for Paqueta to dive and flick into the goal with his head.
Wolves then looked to their bench for a lift, which came from standout forward Strand Larsen, who was quickest to the ball to net the rebound in the 82nd minute.
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Not content with just one, he pushed his team ahead just two minutes later with a powerful header, sealing his side’s first win of the season.
In contrast, West Ham continues to search for their first win of the campaign, suffering defeats in their last three matches with an aggregate score of 11-3.
A disappointing 3-0 loss on opening day against newly-promoted Sunderland sent alarms ringing in East London, followed by a 5-1 home hammering by Chelsea, which intensified scrutiny on Potter.
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The atmosphere at the club is tense, highlighted by captain Bowen’s actions after the final whistle when he seemed to have a heated exchange with a fan, requiring his teammates to pull him away from the confrontation.
Bowen later expressed his regret to fans on his Instagram, stating he needed to “set a better example” and assuring fans: “You all know how much I love you and this club.”
Potter commented on the Bowen incident, saying: “I have no idea what was said.
“The supporters have been incredible. They’re hurting due to the results we’ve had – and Jared clearly cares about the club and the team.
“I believed he gave everything once again. It was merely an exchange of views between individuals who care.”
When asked if it was an isolated incident, Potter responded: “I’m sure it was. We haven’t produced the results we desire. It’s natural.
“Jarrod has been a remarkable captain and servant for the club. I noticed the team’s spirit was there.
“We must draw positives from the game, and I believe there were several, yet we’re obviously disappointed.
“Our next match in the Premier League against Forest is crucial for us.
“We’re aiming to secure three points before the international break. That’s our goal.
“The performance was more aligned with our identity, closer to what we aim to be, and we need to build on that.
“The most vital connection within a football club is that between the fans and the team. The fans are the most important people.
“We need our fans; we want everyone to unite and support each other.
“West Ham has a family atmosphere, and we require everyone’s support as the team is going through a rough patch.
“I can assure you, no one is celebrating or content with our performance; we’re all feeling the pain. That’s the reality. So we need everyone’s help and support.”
The evening was filled with remarkable events in the Carabao Cup, with fellow East London club Charlton experiencing a shocking 3-1 defeat against League Two side Cambridge United, which included a dramatic red card during injury time.
Wrexham clinched a dramatic 92nd-minute winner from Kieffer Moore in a thrilling 3-2 clash with Preston, while League One Port Vale stunned Championship giants Birmingham City on their ground.
Brentford triumphed over Premier League rivals Bournemouth with a 2-0 scoreline, and Burnley’s late winner in the 91st minute against Derby preserved a completely upset-free normal time in the Premier League.
Leeds disrupted this flawless record in the penalty shootout, failing to convert any of their three attempts in the shootout against Sheffield Wednesday, including a missed penalty from debutant Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Sunderland followed in the footsteps of their fellow newly-promoted Premier League side, going out on penalties to League One club Huddersfield.