Wolves vs West Ham United tips and predictions: Back both teams to score at Molineux
- George Dempsey
- 3 April 2024
An early goal at Molineux can help Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United buck the trends in the Premier League on Saturday (1500 BST)
Wolves’ 1-1 draw with Burnley on Tuesday may be a positive result as it leaves them within three points of seventh-placed West Ham.
Gary O’Neill’s side still have a chance of securing European football and have a game in hand on the out-of-sorts Hammers.
Matheus Cunha returned to the bench for Wolves at Turf Moor and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde may be fit to feature at Molineux this weekend.
They’ll still be without key contributors in Pedro Neto and Hwang Hee-Chan but things are trending in the right direction and ARE a tough nut to crack at home.
The same can’t be said for the Hammers. A more clinical finish from Michail Antonio may have won the game against Tottenham but it’s three wins in 16 for David Moyes’ side.
Edson Alvarez will return from suspension to add more steel to the midfield but it’s hard not to have one eye on the Europa League showdown with Bayer Leverkusen.
Regardless of who plays, the visitors can’t stop conceding goals. They’ve leaked 24 goals in 11 matches and 12 in five on their travels.
Likewise, Wolves have conceded in all but one of their previous nine, a 1-0 win over rock-bottom Sheffield United in February.
This fixture rarely catches fire with one team scoring in 12 of 13 meetings, but all the evidence points towards both teams finding the net this weekend.
Team news
Pedro Neto and Hwang Hee-Chan are ruled out for the hosts so Pablo Sarabia will likely start behind Cunha.
Craig Dawson and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde could be passed fit.
Alvarez returns from suspension for West Ham while Nayef Aguerd may be fit to feature.
Alphonse Areola’s extended absence means Lukasz Fabianski will continue in goal.
Key stats
- The home team have won 10 of 13 meetings to nil
- Both teams have scored 12 times at Molineux this season
- There have been over 2.5 goals in 12 of Wolves’ home games
- Both teams have scored in West Ham’s last six matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals in 12 of West Ham’s away games
