Wolves vs West Ham predictions: European hopefuls to play out rare draw

Steve Davies

Spotlight

David Moyes' West Ham let a 3-1 lead slip in their last away game in a 4-3 defeat at Newcastle

- Wolves have won only one of their last five matches
- West Ham have lost seven of their last 10 away fixtures
- Recommended bet: Draw

Wolves return to Molineux for the first time since that horror 3-2 loss to Coventry in the FA Cup, and needing to rediscover their early-season home form as they make a last push for the European places.

However, they should not be expecting an easy ride from West Ham, who themselves are looking to stay in the race for a third top-seven finish in four campaigns.

Team news

Wolves’ boss Gary O’Neil had hoped defender Craig Dawson and striker Hee Chan Hwang would be fit but neither looks likely.

Pedro Neto is still out but Matheus Cunha came off the bench against Burnley and should start at the top of O’Neil’s 4-4-1-1 instead of youngster Leon Chiwome.

Edson Alvarez returns from a two-game ban for West Ham to slot in alongside Tomas Soucek.

David Moyes could deploy James Ward-Prowse further forward and bring in Danny Ings if he wants to freshen up his forward options, while Lukasz Fabianski will remain in goal.

The stats

Gary O'Neil's Wolves have lost only four of their 14 Premier League games at Molineux so far this season

None of the last 13 meetings between Wolves and West Ham has ended in a draw, while 12 of those 13 results were wins to nil.

O'Neil's men have won only one of their last five games, while the Hammers have won just one of their last six.

West Ham have been leading at half-time 12 times in the Premier League this season — only Manchester City and Aston Villa have led at the break more often.

A league-high 17 Wolves’ matches have featured either two or three goals.

The latest Wolves vs West Ham odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

This is a fixture that never seems to end in a draw — although a stalemate looks the right selection this time.

Not since 2010 have Wolves and West Ham shared the spoils but there looks so little between them.

And at the end of a gruelling Easter schedule, do not be surprised if this game peters out.

Certainly the Hammers looked out on their feet in the 1-1 draw against Spurs where Moyes somehow went 90 minutes without making a single substitution.

And neither side is in the best of form as the effects of a long, hard season take their toll on thinnish squads.

Just three points separates these two sides, hardly enough to take a strident view, so the draw seems a big runner.

Back Draw at 5/2 with LiveScore Bet.