**Now we’ve all had a chance to have a breather since the emotional roller coaster of the Leeds game, attention quickly turns back to the league campaign as the Hammers welcome Wolves to the London Stadium this evening.**
The manner of West Ham’s FA Cup quarter final defeat was bitterly cruel. As the tie moved into added time, the Hammers overturned a two goal deficit with two goals in three minutes, courtesy of Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi, forcing the game into extra time and, eventually, another penalty shootout.
The drama continued when Alphonse Areola pulled up injured, resulting in an unexpected debut for third choice keeper Finlay Herrick. The 20 year old came on late in extra time and made an immediate impression in the shootout, saving Leeds’ first spot kick.
Ultimately though, it wasn’t to be for Nuno’s men. Two missed penalties saw Leeds win the shootout 4-2, bringing West Ham’s dreams of a trip to Wembley to an end.
With the dust having settled on that whirlwind of a game, the Hammers are back in Premier League action tonight, with the more pressing matter of getting out of the bottom three returning to the top of the agenda.
At one point this season, opponents Wolves looked almost certain to break the record for the lowest points tally recorded in a Premier League campaign. However, having picked up points since the turn of the year, the West Midlands side now find themselves just three points off Burnley who sit 19th.
They began the year with a clinical 3-0 win against the Hammers at Molineux, a dismal day at the office for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side. Since then, they have picked up a point against league leaders Arsenal and secured wins against Aston Villa and Liverpool.
Since their victory against the Hammers back in January, their first Premier League win of the 25/26 season, and their second win over West Ham following their Carabao Cup victory back in August, Rob Edwards’ side have played with a new found freedom.
With the pressure well and truly off, they have quietly gone about their business. They have lost just one of their last six matches, are on course for a much more respectable end to the season, and are closing in on Burnley.
From a West Ham perspective, every remaining league fixture feels like it carries the weight of a cup final. The Wolves game is significant, and Hammers fans far and wide will undoubtedly be full of nerves.
Time is running out. If West Ham are to avoid the drop and remain a Premier League side for another season, no games can be viewed as “free passes”. The Hammers need to mount a strong run of form in these final seven games to give themselves the best chance of survival.
That starts against Wolves. It is a must win game, there’s no getting around that. Three points is an absolute must.