Graham Potter’s position at West Ham is coming under increasing scrutiny after his side collapsed late on to suffer a 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat at Wolves.
The Hammers looked on course to turn a corner when second-half headers from Tomas Soucek and Lucas Paquetá overturned Rodrigo Gomes’ opener. But the optimism quickly evaporated as substitute Jørgen Strand Larsen struck twice in as many minutes to dump West Ham out and extend their winless start to the season.
It was a bruising night for Potter, still searching for his first victory since taking charge. His side have now conceded 11 goals in three games, and the sight of Jarrod Bowen clashing with an angry travelling supporter after full-time only added to the sense of a club in disarray.
Familiar Collapse
For a brief spell, West Ham showed resilience. Soucek’s equaliser was followed by Paquetá’s thumping header, sparking hopes of a morale-boosting win. But as Wolves pushed forward, old frailties resurfaced. Strand Larsen’s late brace silenced the away end and left Potter standing motionless on the touchline, hands on his head, as his players failed to find a response.
“It hurts, for me and for the players,” Potter admitted afterwards, his tone markedly subdued compared with the tetchy dismissal of relegation talk following last week’s heavy defeat to Chelsea.
Wider Problems
The defeat extends beyond just poor form. Much of the squad predates Potter’s appointment, and questions remain over how many of this summer’s new signings were actually his choices. The malaise, many argue, stretches back into last season, when performances and results tailed off despite flashes of fight.
For a coach known for his composure and emotional intelligence, Potter appears short of solutions. West Ham head to Nottingham Forest this weekend still without a win, confidence ebbing and pressure building rapidly.
A Club at a Crossroads
West Ham fans were briefly given hope at Molineux, but the late collapse summed up a team sliding into trouble. With three defeats, a leaky defence, and mounting unrest in the stands, Potter’s tenure already feels precarious. Unless results change quickly, the patience of both supporters and the board may run out.
