PREVIEW: Nuno’s West Ham seek revenge in season-defining clash with Wolves | OneFootball

West Ham host bottom club Wolves in tonight’s relegation six-pointer at the London Stadium, with both teams desperate for a vital three points.

On 17 points and 13 from safety, Wanderers have refused to go out without a fight. In their last six games, they have drawn against the league leaders, beaten Liverpool and disposed of Aston Villa.

Their opponents, a point from safety in 18th, have also seen an upturn in form with victories against Sunderland, Fulham and rivals Tottenham, and were denied a place in the FA Cup semi finals on penalties by Leeds United last Sunday.

Last time out, Wolves came from behind to earn an impressive 2-2 draw against European hopefuls Brentford, highlighting their recent resurgence and spirit.

This is a newly resurgent Rob Edwards side who have seen a massive improvement in performance, especially at the back. According to Opta data, Wolves conceded an average of 2.2 goals per game in their first 17 matches. But across the 14 games since, that number has plummeted to 1.2 per 90.

This upturn in form has been inspired by the January signings of Adam Armstrong and Angel Gomes, who have provided an influx of energy and quality into the squad.

Although it may be a little too late for Wolves in their bid for survival, they are now a far more dangerous opponent and will look to go down swinging.

Hammers boss Nuno Espírito Santo will know that recent draws with both Manchester clubs, albeit as impressive as his recent victories, will not be enough, and his side simply cannot afford to walk away with anything less than three points.

He will also be hoping his side’s lacklustre performance against Aston Villa was just a blip, with the Hammers outplayed for much of the ninety minutes.

The Hammers boss will also be demanding a response following their last meeting with Wolves, where they were dominated and conceded three unanswered goals, yet both sides look very different to that game in January.

West Ham’s January signings, especially Axel Disasi and Taty Castellanos, have provided a spark and a willingness to fight that has boosted their chances of survival in the relegation battle.

That fight was evident in their last game against Leeds, where they scored twice in injury time to inspire a comeback that fell just short.

In terms of injuries, Wolves have confirmed that Sam Johnstone and Enso González are definitely out, while Matt Doherty looks doubtful.

For West Ham, Nuno is hopeful of welcoming back Crysencio Summerville after teasing his return. It also looks likely that Mavropanos, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo and Hermansen could all be available after missing the game against Leeds.

With both sides fighting for survival, and momentum building for both teams, this Friday night clash could prove season-defining.

The game kicks off on Friday at 20:00 (GMT), with live coverage on Sky Sports Main Event.