West Ham United delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on tonight at the London Stadium, a result that lifted the Hammers out of the Premier League relegation zone for the first time since December and sent Tottenham tumbling into the bottom three (for now).
West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo resisted the temptation to tinker. Instead, he stuck rigidly with the 4-4-2 formation and personnel that had fueled the club's recent upturn in form, pairing January arrivals Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos up front. The decision proved masterful.
Nuno had flirted with different personnel and formations over the last 6 weeks, including experiments with three at the back or a more cautious 4-2-3-1. But recent success came through a compact, energetic 4-4-2 that allowed West Ham to press high, win second balls, and threaten in numbers.
Mads Hermansen started in goal, with a back four of Kyle Walker-Peters, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Axel Disasi, and Malick Diouf. The midfield featured Tomás Souček and Mateus Fernandes anchoring, with Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville providing width and dynamism. Up top, the duo of Pablo and Taty led the line, offering a blend of physicality, movement, and finishing threat.
The approach was straightforward: maintain defensive structure, win the ball in midfield, and spring quick transitions through the front two and wide players. No unnecessary rotation, no surprise tactical shifts — just the system that had been working.
West Ham took control late in the 1st half and never looked back. Defender Konstantinos Mavropanos opened the scoring in the 42nd minute with a powerful header or close-range finish from the center of the box, giving the hosts a deserved 1-0 lead at the break.
The second half turned into a rout. Taty Castellanos exploded into life with two goals in quick succession (66' and 68'), the second assisted by Jarrod Bowen. His brace showcased the kind of clinical edge the Hammers had been missing in tighter games and it showed how Taty can be the kind of prolific goal scorer he was during his time with New York City FC. Mavropanos then added his second of the night in the 83rd minute to round off the scoring and complete a memorable personal haul.
The Pablo-Taty Partnership Delivers
The decision to start both Pablo and Taty together paid immediate dividends. Pablo, still adapting to the Premier League after his January arrival, provided hold-up play and clever link-up, while Taty's movement and finishing proved lethal. Their partnership stretched Wolves' defense, creating space for Bowen and Summerville to exploit.
This was no fluke — it was the direct result of Nuno trusting the formula that had previously sparked improvement. By avoiding experimentation in such a crucial fixture, the Portuguese coach allowed his players to play with confidence and familiarity.
Survival Hopes Reignited
The 4-0 win was West Ham's most emphatic result of the season and a huge boost in their battle against the drop. It not only moved them above the relegation places but highlighted how far the squad has come since earlier struggles, including a heavy defeat to these same Wolves just 3 months ago.
West Ham now heads into the final stretch with renewed belief. If they can maintain this level of organization and ruthlessness from their settled 4-4-2, survival is very much within reach. A statement win for the Hammers — built on tactical discipline and attacking firepower from the front two. Nuno got it spot on.