West Ham suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Wolves on Tuesday night at the Molineux.
Excluding a close-range effort from Evan Ferguson, which the Irishman couldn’t wrap his foot around, the first half was arguably one of the worst of the season.
In a game against a team sitting one place below the Hammers in the league, the way Potter’s side was pinned back for the majority of the first half was simply not good enough.
Wolves were merited for their control of the first half with a deflected goal from Jorgen Strand Larsen in the 21st minute, which ultimately proved to be the winner.
Potter made three half-time changes, which included Edson Alvarez, Carlos Soler, and the introduction of Niclas Fullkrug for the first time since January.
The impact of the subs was clear, with West Ham far more aggressive and dangerous on the ball, reflecting how perhaps Potter picked the wrong starting XI for the game.
West Ham came agonisingly close to scoring in the second half when Fullkrug’s header smashed the bar, only for Emerson to miss-kick the follow-up. The Hammers came even closer in the dying minutes when Tomas Soucek had a shocking miss from close range, summing up what was a frustrating evening for the visitors.
West Ham struggling for goals under Potter
This defeat marked the fourth game under Potter in which the Hammers have failed to score, emphasising the side’s struggles in attack since his arrival.
A photo showing Sky Sports’ stats for West Ham under Potter following the defeat to Wolves has been circulating on X, and the numbers are damning.
The Hammers have had just 84 shots and created 56 chances since the 49-year-old was appointed, making it the worst in the league since his appointment.
Potter’s side has also scored just nine goals in the ten league games he’s been in charge of, making it the fourth worst in the league.
While Potter has made clear that improving the defence has been a priority, the lack of threat going forward will undoubtedly worry West Ham fans.
These shocking numbers will have to be addressed, particularly with an almost fully fit squad at the manager’s disposal.
While a squad overhaul in the transfer window seems inevitable, Potter’s team must take more risks going forward in coming games which can showcase their attacking potential, otherwise, Hammers fans may soon grow frustrated.
