West Ham hit Wolves for FOUR to drop Spurs into relegation zone!

0:07This is the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Thanks for joining us. The Premier League returns with a huge clash at the bottom of the table as West Ham took on Wolves at the London Stadium. Here is how the game finished.

0:34Well West Ham have found quite the way as Nuno does a number over his old club. A huge performance from the Hammers, Mavropanos with two goals and two goals as well for Tati Kastashianos. and a clean sheet as well. The Irons with a second half that took the game away from Wolves who weren't that bad, it must be said, but were taken apart by the Inns. Bowen with two assists tonight as well. And to lay down a marker to your relegation rivals. Well, what a marker. West Ham's biggest win of the season and the perfect time to get it at the business end of the season. A rare smile perhaps for Nuno. Well, what his side has achieved tonight is something for the others in the relegation fight.

1:37We'll have to follow. A big task for them as they have big matches, but West Ham have played their part. And for Wolves, well, is this the final now in their coffin in regards to safety. Their relegation could be confirmed the next time they play. But for West Ham, they've given themselves real hope and to go above Tottenham to boot. There's the big smile from the West Ham manager on a big night for West Ham United. A final score at the London Stadium. A resounding West Ham United for Wolverhampton Wanderers nil. Rob Green, four goals. Three freshest points out of the bottom three at the expense of Tottenham for the time being.

2:24This is a huge night. Wow, what a moment. What a moment for that man. What a moment for the team. What a moment for the fans. They've been waiting for this moment. And I think for the West Ham fans now, you can end the season now. Just call it quits there. But still work to do. They put themselves in a really, really good position with this performance. Seven games to play for the teams below them, including Tottenham. West Ham now out of the bottom three they've got a couple of decent fixtures coming up at home Jamie how much hope have they given themselves they've given themselves so much hope today I thought they were aggressive I thought the manager deserves credit before the game I wasn't sure it was going to work they played a 4-4-2, got the two up front Tati and Pablo very effective but the game completely changed with that first goal it just calmed everyone down because walks for the first 30 minutes were relatively dangerous they were starting to get comfortable on the ball and then Mavropanos produces an incredible header.

3:20Then everyone starts to calm down and then obviously the two goals from Tati after that, two minutes, 15 seconds between them. 99 seconds, I think, between the goals and that includes the celebration. Absolutely, and that man there, there's a lot on his shoulders, Jared, because everyone talks about the pressure and what it means for him, the family, everything that goes with it. I thought he was magnificent today. Popper caps his performance and it's a huge result and all the other managers, that we'll be looking at tonight that are in the bottom position thinking that's the last thing we wanted.

3:51It puts an enormous amount of pressure on all those other managers. And both goalscorers are now with Johnny Phillips. Dinos, it felt like such an important game where you had to get the win. To get that performance as well, what does it mean? Yeah, I think it's an incredible result. We've been working so hard the last couple of months. And yeah, this kind of game with this atmosphere, this is exactly what we need for the rest of the season. What was the key, do you feel, to getting that victory in that particular second-half performance? No, I think it was clear as a message to be calm because we didn't know when we were going to score.

4:25We just had to keep it how we wanted it. I think when we scored the first goal, then we felt a little bit more comfortable with the ball as well. As you saw, in the second half, we cleared the game. And Tati, to come in and score two great goals in such an important match, how did that feel? Yeah, very, very, very happy for my first bowling in Premier League in this stadium. So, yeah, I'm very happy for what we won. It looks like you're forming a great partnership with Pablo as well. Yeah, very happy. He's a really, really good player. I'm very happy for the group and for the people. Dinos, we're going into a really important few games now.

5:06Six games to go after this. Do you feel the squad is in the right place mentally and physically? Yeah, yeah, obviously. I think, as I said, in a couple of months, I think we've been working really hard and we saw it much more on the pitch right now. We just have to keep in the same mentality, keep working hard and, yeah, we will make it. And we saw with Tati and Pablo today and the players out wide, there looks to be a lot of creativity in the team too. Yeah, I think the effort from all the guys was unbelievable today. The fans helped us a lot through that. And, yeah, as I said, if we keep working like this, we will get more results like that.

5:42Well, it was a great performance from you both. Goals from you both that were great too. But, Dinos, you get the player of the match. You for me. Thank you, thank you. Thank you very much. Well done. Not just a win, but a statement win for West Ham against the Wolves side, who may be bottom of the league, but as the guys were saying before the game, have really improved under Rob Edwards and have started to get a run of form and a run of results together. it was nowhere near enough for them this evening a 4-0 defeat for Wolves and that really crucially important 4-0 victory for West Ham and that is this Premier League weekend up and running their lunchtime kick-off is Arsenal against Bournemouth where concerns are at the top of the table at 3 o 'clock Brentford take on Everton who are Champions League chasing Burnley against Brighton Saturday night footballers Liverpool looking to recover from their night in Paris in midweek They're at home to Fulham.

6:37Super Sunday. Crystal Palace against Newcastle. Nottingham Forest also looking to put some distance between themselves in the bottom three. They're at home to Aston Villa. Sunderland take on Tottenham Hotspur. Roberto Deserbi will be taking charge of his first game with Tottenham inside the bottom three. That one's on Sky Sports main event. Chelsea against Manchester City is on Sky Sports Premier League. That one is a 4.30 kickoff. And then the Monday night football. Manchester United against Leeds. 8 o 'clock kickoff with all the build-up from 6.30. Here it is then. It is much easier breathing for West Ham fans who will sleep better tonight knowing that they are out of the bottom three for the time being at least.

7:19They go level on points with Nottingham Forest, a point behind Leeds United, but crucially, two points clear of Tottenham Hotspur who drop into the bottom three.

7:38Hello, Andy Scott here, host of the Sky Sports Toe-to-Toe podcast. Alongside a host of top guests, we're here every Tuesday bringing you the very latest boxing news. And we go toe-to-toe with the biggest names in the sport. So, if you love boxing, join me on Toe-to-Toe, wherever you listen to your podcasts. That's toe-to-toe, a Sky Sports podcast.

8:33for West Ham and West Ham supporters. But look, for themselves, the main priority is their safety come the end of the season. And this was the game, Rob, that we said beforehand wasn't necessarily a must-win, but it was very definitely a must-not-lose. A 4-0 victory more than satisfies that brief. Yeah, that second half ticked every box, I think. They defended with intensity. We'll see it in the goals. And you look at how they pounced on Wolves with their lax moments. But even when they weren't at their best in the first half, typical Nuno display, just stay in the game. and then nick your opportunity when they can.

9:05They were at their clinical best this season so far and it shows in the scoreline. We'll be able to talk about this in more detail later on, but the difference that Nuno has made at West Ham, bringing in that kind of resolve, how important is that, particularly at this stage of the season in a relegation battle, Jamie? Yeah, and personnel have made a big difference as well. I think De Sazi's made a massive difference too. You mentioned it, Rob made a great point at half-time. The partnership with Mavropanos and De Sazi has been really important because it's made Mavropanos look a better player.

9:35I think they know their limitations. They don't try to do anything too clever. I think West Ham can be a bit more direct on the back of that because I think when you're asking players, and this is no disrespect to them because they have tremendous attributes as well, playing out from the back too much, asking them to receive the ball in their own six-yard box and playing back to the keeper. It doesn't work. When you're in a relegation fight, you need to play to your maximum. You need to know your strengths, know your weaknesses. Your strengths are up the front. Players like Somerville, players like Jarrod Bowen, the two centre-forwards today.

10:02Give yourself something to go on. Don't try to take too many risks. And I thought that's what worked perfectly for them. So the manager has to take credit. In midfield, Suchek and Fernandes did their jobs. They were efficient. They worked hard. They showed desire. All the things that tick a box to stay in the Premier League, now they've given themselves a great chance. It was a huge win for them. As I said, that sends shockwaves for all the other clubs, all the other teams at the bottom, those bottom four places that everyone's sort of talking about. It was huge for West Ham. They had to get those three points tonight, and they did it.

10:30The other thing that Jamie touched on there was the player acquisition that happened in January. And we'll be able to talk about that in a bit more detail. But it's something that the West Ham haven't always got right over the past few years. But they might well have done so at the moment. But it's also about the players who've been here for a long time, like Jared Bowen, who's making his way over to talk to us now after a fantastic win. And another goal involvement. Jared Kelly, nice to meet you. Thanks so much for coming over. Look, it's a big win. It takes you out the bottom three and it's a statement win as well.

11:01You've done it in style. Yeah, a lot easier coming out and speaking tonight when you're on the back end of a 4-0 win and out the relegation zone, which we knew what was at stake before the game. I think first half was a cagey game. I think there's a lot of nerves, understandably, a game of the magnitude. But in football, there's going to be highs, there's going to be lows in games. It's about sticking together as a team and then showing our quality like we did in the second half, I think. I know you're going to tell me that all games are the same and you look forward and you prepare to each of them in the same way.

11:29But for this one in particular, did this feel like a real opportunity, particularly because it's on a Friday night? It's against the team who are bottom of the table. Yeah, and you play before everyone else around you plays. And, you know, people always say, oh, I don't look at the results. But everyone looks at the results in the position that you're in. All you can do is, cliche, focus on yourself. But that's all we have to do. We're in a situation that we don't want to be in. But ultimately, we're in a situation we have to face up to it. Tonight was about facing up to it. Like I said, there's going to be different moments in the game that were difficult.

11:56but we're sat in now with a 4-0 win at home. That first goal seemed to really settle the team. It just turned things around. The only thing with the goal though that we will take a look at is whether or not it should have been a corner. We'll come to that in just a second but at the end of it, it was a fantastic, great ball and a fantastic header. Yeah, and I just try and put the ball in an area. Trust that the runs are going in there. Dinos has got great timing. From the corner, we want to be a threat. He nearly got on the end of that one and then when the ball came out, it wasn't pretty in terms of my touch and stuff but I think as soon as I got half a yard, you know, as a winger like me, I just want to put the ball in the box and make something happen, you know?

12:31It was a bit like the Man City one, wasn't it? Yeah, yeah. Great header, crashes it off the bar. Look at those neck muscles. The timing that he's got and the leap that he's got, honestly, it's incredible. And yeah, that first goal always settles you a little bit going into half-time, 1-0 up. And definitely a corner? I don't know, you're going to have to show me. By the way, I will say this, Joe, because we were up in the studio, you're a fantastic actor because I was convinced, You styled this out really well. That won't happen when you go to the World Cup, will it? Let's make the most of it while we can.

13:01But maybe we got away with one there. Touching on the set pieces, you've got a lot of assists this season. Second most in the Premier League, which is incredible for yourself. But you look at the corners, you look at the guys you've got in the team. You've got some real targets in there. What are you looking for when you're stepping over the ball? What are you looking for in terms of timing, in terms of movement and your delivery as well? I think trusting my delivery, trusting that the runs are going to be there and all I can do, listen, I could put the worst ball in and someone scores from it and everyone says, what a ball.

13:29But, you know, you've got specific places that you work on in terms of the timing, signals, all those things. So we know that we can be a threat. We've got Dinos, we've got Tom, we've got Axel, we've got players in the box that want to get on the end of it. I think that's the main thing as well. I think you've got to have a mentality to not just run up and, you know, make the most of it. I think you've got to get into the box and want to score the goals. and I think that's our mindset going finger because games like this and the position that we're in, games can be decided by set pieces and it's something that we've been really good on over the years and something that I think we've been good on this year as well.

14:01So I'm just glad you didn't show my other corner about five minutes after because I'm just seeing what I'm doing. So give us an insight into that dressing room because that goal, as you said, changes the whole complexion of it. It's a bit of calmness, but the manager may be thinking, shall I change it? Shall I do anything? You're calm. What was it like in there? How did the players react after that? Yes. No, at half time, I just kind of said to him, let's just stay calm because there was a little bit of frustration from us. I think, you know, a few people gave the ball away. I gave the ball away.

14:27A few missed controls. You know, it was a little bit nervy, a little bit edgy. So I think the main message at half time was just stick together as a team. It's going to be one of those games where three points are vital for us. We're 45 minutes away from three points that would mean the world to us. So we had to stick together and then show our quality a little bit more. I think we could have been a little bit better in the final third and certainly second half. And certainly quality for the second goal. A great piece of play, fantastic pressing. It all comes from Somerville. You can see him there, number seven.

14:53The ball gets played into Mane. He's not quite checked his shoulder. Then Somerville just gets in front of him. And then you react really well from here. Yeah, that's the thing. The manager wants our wingers to work hard. And then when we get the ball forward, we have the quality to do that. And the assist is incredible. This touch by Pablo, how difficult is that when there's a bit of pressure as well? When you're running and obviously you've got head down looking at the ball and you've got defenders, they're sprinting back to try and keep the ball out of their net. There's, what, four people around in there against two.

15:25And the little touch from Taty there, just a little one, and then the one from Pablo there is. He was pointing there. Was he not expecting it back? Because he's looking. I think he's saying, hold it. Yeah, maybe. Because I think I was on the other side, someone else. So maybe he didn't expect it. But even the touch from Taty to have it just there and just stretch enough there just before the defender blocks it. You struggled a little bit in the first half, yourself and Somerville on the other side because of the shape of Wolves. Yeah, yeah. That changed in the second half and you seemed a lot more dynamic in the press.

15:54Yeah, and I think we just went a little bit, we see there, win the ball back. I don't know, I don't think it was. It didn't feel like it was. But then here, I kind of saw Tati in the corner of my eye and it was just waiting for the moment and then obviously Tati's got the quality to, you know. Was this front kickoff in the third? Exactly, 15 seconds. Oh, was it? 99 in all and that includes the celebration between the two goals. Yeah, here and then when you win the ball back, we've got speed, we've got athleticism going. We've got people that want to score goals. Tati wants to score, he's the number nine.

16:22And, you know, one of them scruffy ones is keepers that you ate. But sometimes if you miss it a little bit or I don't know, I can't remember. It's a little deflection. Yeah, those scruffy ones, but, you know, we take those. And the roof comes off and then the calmness. Then it's almost, then you stop because it's not always easy here when the pressure's on. But it felt like you all started to enjoy it then. and then once that pressure comes off, that's what you need to do somehow to stay calm in these moments. Yeah, take the pressure off and then we could enjoy the game. Never want to settle because I thought there was opportunity to score even more, five, six and really put a statement out.

16:53But, you know, for defenders would be more happy with me. Clean sheet as well. Four goals. It's brilliant. Are you claiming a third assist in this game for the fourth goal? I don't know. Maybe FPL give it me. But I think it took a little... Are you on your own fantasy team? Yeah, of course. so I've been yeah but yeah I think there was just a little just a touch so I think it just takes it to I was more shouting at Adama for when Adama went through on goal I thought I could get a hat-trip assist here but no again it's just putting the ball in an area and then that finish from Dimas he was moaning to me earlier that he needs we done a little jog at the pitch earlier this morning and he said oh I need to do a jog around because my hips don't feel very well and I said to him after you've done a bit of mobility before the game there because the way he got his hips up there it's an incredible finish but yeah he's been incredible for us.

17:40Two goals, clean sheet, man of the match, brilliant. Even without that extra assist at the end, that's 16 goal involvements for you this season and they've all come when you've started the day inside the relegation zone. So are you the player to call on when the chips are down and when it's needed to dig in? I don't know. I think for me, I've got such a big love for this club, affiliation with this club. It obviously hurts to be in the position that we're in and I know I haven't done enough individually probably to get us out of it. So I think for me, all I want to do every single week is try and play my A game.

18:10Of course, when you're a winger, you're close to the goal. You've got more chance of scoring, getting assists. And for me, that's the most important thing. Obviously, the two boys tonight scored two goals. I think that's the most important thing. I want to contribute every single week that I can, but it's not always going to happen at the post tonight. But those things happen in football. For me, it's just the team's the most important thing. The situation that we're in is the most important thing. I want to get us out of it. You can't put any more pressure on him. He's carrying everyone as it is at the minute, so you can't put any more.

18:36I definitely wasn't putting pressure on that. That's not what I was doing there. But look, you'll sleep a lot better tonight and you'll be able to, I know you said you're going to keep an eye on the results over the weekend. Will you watch the games? Yeah, I'll watch the games. I'm not sure what I'm doing. Probably got a weekend off now, so I've got three kids to entertain. So maybe I won't have the time to watch all the games, but certainly keep an eye on the results. But yeah, like you said, certainly can go into the weekend now with three points. I think we'll play next Monday away at Palace now.

19:00So you've got a little bit of time to recover. and then go again against Palace. And your plan for the remainder of the season, obviously, you're looking at the blueprint there, aren't you? As a formation, as a system with the two guys up front, the two guys at the back, you've got everything there now, haven't you? Yeah, definitely. And just the spirit and the togetherness, I think that is so important in a situation that we're in. I think you can always have the quality, but you need that grit, you need that desire, you need that will to win throughout the whole core of the squad. Every single player, people that come off the bench, everyone needs to be ready.

19:30And that's the only thing that I know, that's the only thing that we know as this club, is to keep fighting and keep doing what we're doing tonight and take it into the next six games. Jared, appreciate you coming out to talk to us. Thanks so much. Congratulations. Thanks very much.

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20:22West Ham are out of the bottom three in the Premier League. Their place has been taken by Tottenham, but for Wolves, they're still looking for their first away win of the season. Rob Edwards is with Johnny Phillips. Rob, did that come as a bit of a surprise in the second half, given what happened in the first? Yeah, it did, Johnny. Obviously bitterly disappointed. I thought the performance in the first half was good. I thought we started really well. And, all right, going 1-0 down, it can happen. We talked about making sure we finished our attacks better. but then two quick-fire goals, they latched on to our mistakes, you give them credit but it's poor from us, obviously two goals in a minute and the game is done and then what started off looking like it could be a positive night for us ended up really difficult.

21:13Those are the sort of mistakes you look to have been cutting out lately as well, does that make it extra disappointing? Yeah, look, of course it does, it doesn't matter who makes them, we make them as a team, and a couple of our best players have been robbed of the ball, it can happen. There's still a lot to do. So, look, it's not an individual mistake, it's a collective anyway and they took advantage of those tonight. How do you reflect on it? Because I know it looked a nigh-and-impossible situation to get out of anyway, but does this just feel like a bit of a nail in the coffin? Look, for us, it's the same message, John, we've got to try and finish strongly.

21:52We've got to respect every single game and we've got to go for it. We're all under the microscope and we've got to make sure we perform. Tonight is strange because we did, especially in the first half, and then we got punished in the second half. We've got to make sure we respond now at Ellen Road, which will be a really difficult game. Without making an excuse, it had been such a long time since you'd last played and you did look to have a bit of momentum with the league form up until then. Do you feel that might not have helped as well? I don't think it's helped 25 days without playing, but it's not an excuse.

22:20I won't make any excuses. I won't stand there and make any. In the end, we got punished for our mistakes and West Ham won the game deservedly. So it's just frustrating because we'd started the game so well. And going forward, the message now to the dressing room and to everyone at the club, really, is it just give it all you've got for these remaining games? Of course, that's always been the case. Tonight is a difficult night. We've got to lick our wounds. We've got to take our medicine, take the criticism. And then we've got to come back and respond well. Appreciate your time, mate. Thanks, Johnny.