Gary O’Neil has added his own tactical twist to the groundwork laid by his predecessor Julen Lopetegui at Wolves, and they have routinely brought a keen competitive edge to their Premier League fixtures this season despite some mixed results.

Wolves’ haven’t had the rub of the green on the road this season and their return of five defeats in eight away games since August doesn’t quite reflect how high their performance levels have been.

Each of Wanderers’ last four defeats away from Molineux have been by single-goal margins, while 100% of their last six jaunts in the division featured goals at both ends, further highlighting Wolves’ ability to go toe-to-toe with their hosts.

With West Ham in the midst of a run of nine straight Premier League assignments without a clean sheet, Wolves will expect to get chances at the London Stadium, though Wanderers’ own defending isn’t strong enough to keep the Hammers at arm’s length at the other end for 90 minutes.

The Irons have impacted the scoresheet in all but two of their 16 league skirmishes since the summer and that makes backing both teams to score a logical step here at 1.67.

In terms of the fixture’s overall outcome, Wolves catch the eye at 1.62 in the double chance stakes. David Moyes chose to field a full-strength XI against Freiburg on Thursday evening and with fatigue a factor, the Londoners have already dropped points in four of the five Premier League matches they’ve played directly after their Europa League commitments.

Predictions:

🥅 Both teams to score @ 1.67

🏆 Wolves double chance @ 1.62

Jarrod Bowen has been West Ham’s primary source of goals this season and the talented technician needs just one more strike to breach double figures for the Premier League campaign.

Bowen is also the standout Hammer for average shots on target per 90 and he is the only West Ham player to average more than one accurate attempt per game in the league (1.40).

The in-form 26-year-old – who landed two shots on target in each of West Ham’s two tussles with Wolves last season – should be fed the ball as often as possible by his teammates again and Bowen is excellent value at 1.36 to find the target with an effort, a feat he has achieved in each of his last six Premier League appearances.

Matheus Cunha meanwhile, has been wielding plenty of menace for Wolves and the Brazilian forward managed to hit a whopping four shots on target in Wanderers’ last fixture against Nottingham Forest.

That was the fourth time in eight runouts where the pacey 24-year-old tested a goalkeeper with at least two punts, and while his fellow attacker Hwang Hee-Chan has outdone him for goals (8-5), Cunha is the sharper numbers man, racking up over twice as many accurate shots on average per game (1.36 to 0.63).

Cunha’s ability to drive forward with the ball from deeper positions could unsettle West Ham’s nervous backline and there is merit in backing the ex-Atletico Madrid star to clock 1+ shots on target again at an excellent price.

Predictions:

🎯 Jarrod Bowen to have 1+ shots on target @ 1.36

🎯 Matheus Cunha to have 1+ shots on target @ 1.57

Both West Ham and Wolves have some heavy-hitters in midfield and the battle for domination in that area of the pitch could feature plenty of hefty challenges and tough tackles.

The Irons’ Mexican enforcer Edson Alvarez has started 12 Premier League fixtures this season and he has committed at least one foul in ten of those runouts and at least two in five of them. Alvarez should have willing Wolves runners to track through central areas at the London Stadium and his chances of committing at least two fouls feel high.

Alvarez might also be worth a look to collect a caution at 3.30. The 26-year-old can be cynical when the game’s dark arts are required and he has already been booked nine times in 15 starts in all competitions for West Ham this season.

In Wolves’ midfield ranks, Joao Gomes looks like the standout pick in the same market at Alvarez at 1.44. The Brazilian has been one of the Premier League’s most potent hatchet men this season and only Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher has been committing more fouls per game on average (2.3 to 2.1).

Gomes has been throwing his weight around with more gusto than usual of late and the ankle-nipper has committed three fouls in three of his last four Premier League appearances. Indeed, Gomes has been collared for 2+ mistimed challenges in nine of his 13 starts in the top tier and he should be right at the heart of any midfield skirmishes again against West Ham.

Predictions:

🛑 Edson Alvarez to commit 2+ fouls @ 1.80

🟨 Edson Alvarez to be shown a card @ 3.30

🛑 Joao Gomes to commit 2+ fouls @ 1.80