Wolves manager Cesar Peixoto was left impressed by West Ham’s performance after his side suffered their first defeat of the Championship season, falling 4-2 at the London Stadium in a pulsating encounter that showcased both the quality and resilience.
The visitors arrived in east London with an unbeaten record and brimming with confidence, but they found themselves chasing the game from the 33rd minute when Divine Mukasa opened the scoring with a stunning strike from outside the area. The Manchester City loanee, making only his second start for the Hammers, picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and unleashed an unstoppable effort that left Jose Sa with no chance. It was a moment of individual brilliance that set the tone for an entertaining evening under the lights.
Jarrod Bowen doubled the lead from the penalty spot nine minutes later after Djiga was adjudged to have handled inside the area, putting the Hammers firmly in control before the break. The West Ham captain stepped up with confidence and sent Sa the wrong way, giving the hosts a comfortable two-goal cushion heading into the interval.
Wolves showed resilience when Marshall Munetsi pulled a goal back just before half-time, capitalising on a rebound to finish precisely and give Peixoto’s men a lifeline heading into the break. The goal sparked hope among the travelling supporters that their side could mount a comeback in the second half.
However, West Ham quickly extinguished any hopes of a Wolves revival when Mukasa scored his second of the night in the 53rd minute. His shot deflected off Nasser Djiga, looping over Jose Sa and into the net to restore West Ham’s two-goal advantage. The deflection left the Wolves goalkeeper helpless, and the goal effectively killed off any momentum the visitors had built before the break.
But while Mukasa’s double grabbed the headlines, it was Arne Engels who quietly caught Peixoto’s eye in the West Ham midfield. The Belgian midfielder, who has been finding his feet since his £22 million move from Brighton in the summer, produced a composed and energetic display that helped the Hammers control large spells of the game. His presence in the centre of the park, intelligent distribution, and ability to support both attack and defence made him a key figure alongside the more eye-catching Mukasa. Engels dictated the tempo throughout, ensuring West Ham remained organised defensively while also contributing to their attacking transitions.
Peixoto, speaking after the match, made a point of singling out Engels for special praise despite the attention being on Mukasa’s brace.
“He was excellent tonight,” Peixoto said of Engels. “We created a lot of chances but they punished us. West Ham scored and we didn’t. Their midfield, particularly Engels, made it very difficult for us to build our attacks. He controlled the game in a way that not many players can.”
The Wolves boss acknowledged that while Mukasa’s goals were decisive, it was Engels’ unseen work in the middle of the park that truly made the difference. His ability to break up play, recycle possession, and find the right pass at the right time frustrated Wolves throughout the evening.
The Wolves boss, however, felt his side deserved more from the contest. Despite the heavy scoreline, Peixoto pointed to his team’s ability to create chances throughout the match. Wolves registered several promising opportunities but lacked the cutting edge in front of goal to truly test West Ham goalkeeper.
“It was not the result we wanted. It was unfair because we created a lot of chances and West Ham scored, we didn’t,” he told BBC Radio WM. “We stayed competitive until the end. I liked the performance, we created a lot of chances and played like we wanted even at 4-1. The players gave everything, and I cannot fault their effort.”
Peixoto also felt his side were unlucky, hitting the woodwork twice during the game. On another night, those efforts might have found the back of the net and changed the complexion of the contest. The Wolves manager acknowledged the fine margins that separate victory from defeat at this level.
West Ham made it 4-1 in the 64th minute when Konstantinos Mavropanos, from a corner, saw his header deflected onto the crossbar before lashing home the rebound. The Greek defender was quickest to react, smashing the ball past Sa to put the result beyond doubt. Wolves did manage to pull a goal back in the 69th minute when Mavropanos, sliding in to stop Jackson Tchatchoua setting up substitute Jordan James, inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net. It was a moment of misfortune for the defender, who had otherwise enjoyed a solid evening.
The Wolves boss was also left frustrated by what he felt was a block on goalkeeper Jose Sa during West Ham’s fourth goal, reminding that referees had said such blocks would be penalised this season. “We asked about this before the season started, and they told us it would be a foul if the goalkeeper was blocked. I don’t understand why it wasn’t given tonight,” Peixoto added.
For West Ham, the victory marked their first win of the Championship campaign, propelling them up to 11th place in the standings. While Mukasa’s double grabbed the headlines and earned the young loanee widespread praise, Engels’ composed midfield display will give Hammers supporters plenty of encouragement going forward. The Belgian has shown glimpses of his quality since his summer arrival, and this performance suggested he is settling into life at the London Stadium. Peixoto’s recognition of Engels’ contribution, despite the defeat, highlighted just how influential the midfielder was on the night.
Meanwhile, Wolves dropped to third in the table with seven points from their opening three matches, though Peixoto will take heart from his side’s attacking intent and chance creation despite the defeat. The Portuguese manager will look to address his team’s defensive frailties before their next fixture, knowing that fine margins will determine whether they can sustain a promotion challenge this season.
For West Ham, the challenge now is to build on this impressive victory and climb further up the table as they look to establish themselves as serious contenders in the Championship.
