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West Ham can live or die by the crossing game against Wolves

By Jeremiah Carson

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 01: General view outside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield United at Molineux on December 01, 2019 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 01: General view outside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield United at Molineux on December 01, 2019 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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In this short and crowded week for West Ham, their first challenge is against Wolves. In this match, it’s simple as they can either live or die by the crossing game.

Ok, maybe it’s not that simple but it has been a key for West Ham so far this season on both ends of the pitch. Both clubs have been suspect as of late and in the Wolves last match, they both scored from a cross in and gave up a goal from a cross in.

Defending the Cross

According to WhoScored.com, the Hammers give up on average 19 crosses per match so far this season. West Ham has also given up 15 goals from either open play or on the counter with about half of them coming off of a good cross in.

The Hammers opponent, Wolves, has scored 48% of their goals from either the counter or open play with one in particular against Sheffield United last weekend that was a beauty to watch. Wolverhampton relies a lot on their pace down the wings which result in a bunch of counters and crosses from the wings.

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 30: Angelo Ogbonna of West Ham United battles for possession with Olivier Giroud of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on November 30, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 30: Angelo Ogbonna of West Ham United battles for possession with Olivier Giroud of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on November 30, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

Before West Ham’s win on Saturday, they have been torched by key crosses and balls into the box. So, if they want to have at least some sort of success on Wednesday, they need to tighten up and play well as they did against Chelsea. Players key to this will be Cresswell, Angelo Ogbonna, and Ryan Fredericks.

Crossing for Points

Moving to the more positive side of this argument, the attack and the Hammers’ ability to use the crossing ball to their advantage. Once again according to WhoScored.com, we look at the Hammers attack and the Wolves susceptibility to it.

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 30: Mark Noble of West Ham United in action during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on November 30, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 30: Mark Noble of West Ham United in action during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on November 30, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /

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So far this season West Ham has completed on average 18 crosses a game successfully. On the other side of the ball, Wolves has had about 21 crosses per game completed on them. They have let in 13 goals from open play and 0 from the counter meaning that they use their 3-5-3 formation really well.

You would have to go back to September to be able to find a solid team effort to complete crosses and well into the box. Fortunately for the Hammers, all they have to do it look back to last week when Sheffield put in a beautiful cross just 2 minutes into the match to take the lead on Wolves. The Hammers will need Aaron Cresswell, Robert Snodgrass, and Noble to be on their A-game.

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If the Hammers can use Wolverhampton’s recent weak points and their own formation and team play, they can take advantage of this matchup with much-needed implications towards 3 points. With the busy part of the season incoming, the Hammers need all the help they can get to make things easier for them and their unity.