WEST HAM’S woeful start to the Premier League season continued yesterday, as they recorded their fourth defeat in a row.

The game was in many ways similar to the previous home encounter with Bournemouth, the home side enjoying long periods of dominance but always looking vulnerable to the swift counter-attack.

The Hammers began brightly enough, with Felipe Anderson forcing a smart save out of Wolves keeper Rui Patricio after just three minutes.

Robert Snodgrass also had a shot saved by the keeper diving to his right.

In the second half, Michail Antonio headed against the upright but the warning signs were there from the visitors.

On the hour, Joao Moutinho crossed for Raul Jimenez to see his forceful header saved by Lukasz Fabianski.

Then with 12 minutes to go, Jimenez fluffed his lines when it looked easier to score, after Ruben Neves leaving Jiminez alone on the edge of the goal area.

Sure enough, with home fans leaving in their droves, resigned to at least getting a point, Carlos Sanchez was dispossessed in the middle of the field, the ball was fed out, via Neves and Leo Bonatini, to substitute Adama Traore who rammed the ball home. 

A tight-lipped West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini admitted his team needed to defend better and eliminate mistakes.

Upbeat Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo felt his side were rewarded for pushing to the end.

He declared “organisation” to be the most important part of the game, something Pellegrini might ponder, given that it is something West Ham plainly lack.

It now looks an uphill battle for the east London side, with games coming up away to Everton, home to Chelsea and Manchester United, followed by a trip to Brighton after the international break.