Kudus and Paqueta double act hits new heights as West Ham destroy woeful Wolves
Box office Mohammed Kudus is already making his £38m transfer fee seem a bargain.
The summer signing from Ajax finished off two blistering breaks to sink Wolves and further enhance the belief that few can rival West Ham when it comes to devastating counterattacks.
Manager David Moyes may be repeatedly stressing that his team is trying to introduce a more ball-dominant style.
But a side that averages less possession than all but four teams - who are battling for survival - continues to find joy by exploiting their opponents’ attacking adventure.
Jarrod Bowen’s goal to make it 3-0 came from another swift burst forward and provided the Irons with a boost of confidence ahead of Wednesday’s EFL Cup quarter-final away to Liverpool.
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If Kudus enjoyed the glory, kudos must go to Lucas Paqueta for providing all three assists.
The Brazilian was permitted too much space for Kudus’ brace but he still provided exquisite through balls for his Ghanaian team-mate to finish off.
And his role for Bowen’s 10th league goal of the campaign was a simple, one-touch give and go.
By that point Wolves, who had a Pablo Sarabia goal ruled out for offside at 2-0, looked ready to board the coach home.
Gary O’Neil’s side enjoyed a larger share of the ball and fashioned a decent number of chances. The head coach also fumed when Vladimir Coufal escaped punishment for planting an arm in the face of Jean-Ricner Bellegarde approaching the interval.
Ultimately, though, their failure to nullify West Ham’s biggest strength and some dithering in the final third was not good enough.
Kudus’ 22nd minute opener came from a Wolves corner, cleared by a combination of Emerson and Nayef Aguerd. Paqueta then charged forward before playing in Kudus with a pass near the halfway line.
Kudus advanced down the inside right channel, cut in and, after sizing up Nelson Semedo, he struck clinically into Dan Bentley’s bottom right corner.
It should have been a lesson for Wolves to not allow Kudus such space.
Yet 10 minutes later they repeated their mistake and were duly punished. This time Kurt Zouma started the move by winning possession and picking out Paqueta.
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The Brazil international played a curved pass towards the right, which Bowen did well to dummy over, for Kudus to sprint on to and drive past Bentley.
Edging towards half-time Bowen, incensed by a penalty shout that went ignored 30 seconds earlier, saw an attempt from 20 yards rebound off the post with Bentley beaten - having once more been teed up by Paqueta.
And yet Wolves had their fair share of opportunities. Their problem was none of them made Lukasz Fabianski sweat.
Matheus Cunha was denied by the Polish goalkeeper, while Bellegarde and Toti had goalbound attempts blocked by Zouma and Edson Alvarez.
Wolves began the second half well and thought that they were back in the game approaching the hour mark when Sarabia tapped in following Semedo’s pass.
But a thorough VAR check ruled the Spain attacker’s toe was marginally offside.
They kept pushing but with 20 minutes remaining Bowen broke forward, played a swift one-two with Paqueta, and galloped into the penalty area under minimal pressure before drilling low past Bentley.
James Ward-Prowse sent a free kick narrowly wide as West Ham went in search of a fourth, prompting the Wolves fans to rush for the exit.
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