On this day: More Dimitri Payet magicpublished at 12:19
12:19
Media caption,
Another day, another Dimitri Payet free-kick stunner.
After we put up his FA Cup strike at Manchester United last week, today is nine years since he scored arguably the best free-kick in Premier League history.
The Frenchman stepped up and sent his 20 yard free-kick arcing past Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and into the top right corner.
Despite Payet's touch of class, the Hammers had to settle for a 2-2 draw against the Eagles in one of the final games at Upton Park.
Wolves 1-0 West Ham - Fans' verdictpublished at 11:22
11:22
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on Wolves' win over West Ham on Tuesday
Here are some of your comments.
Wolves fans:
Nathan: Good first half. We withstood the pressure and did what we needed to do in the second. Wolves under Vitor Pereira have worked out how to win and stop conceding so many goals. Long may it continue! I hope the board back him in the summer and we can push on.
Simon: Needlessly holding on at the end and subs should have come on much sooner. So many players were running on empty after playing a relentless pressing game in the first half. A lucky win - a point would have been worse than a defeat after playing so negatively and deep after scoring so early.
Kieran: Twelve points clear - we are staying up. Second half could have been better but we got the points and I think we are safe now.
West Ham fans:
Dave: Inexcusably poor. Wolves were on it in the first half and we decided not to close down at all. Slow passing, no attacking threat and terrible finishing for the three chances we managed to make. Very poor display. Graham Potter has a huge rebuilding job on his hands in the summer.
Ammers: Performance was disgraceful. Potter looks dejected already and it goes to show that it wasn't all down to Julen Lopetegui, and the players owe some of their wages to the supporters.
James: Poor. Hard to see where this team is going at the moment. It was always going to be about seeing the season out and then Potter having the summer to build a team in his identity. Lots of work needed in the transfer window and several players need moving on for any tangible improvements.
Wolves 1-0 West Ham: Fullkrug shows importance from benchpublished at 00:06
00:06
Alex Brotherton BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
West Ham underwhelmed for much of their 1-0 defeat by Wolves on Tuesday, but they improved in the second half.
A large reason for that was the half-time introduction of Niclas Fullkrug, who returned from a three-month injury absence to provide much-needed penetration at the top of the pitch.
Injury has limited the German striker to just 10 Premier League appearances since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in a £27m move last summer, but he would have scored his third goal of the season had his header dipped below the crossbar.
"Really good," West Ham boss Graham Potter said of Fullkrug's second half impact.
"[You] can see what he brings to the team. We can go long into him, he picks up second balls, a threat in the box. For the first time he has played 45 minutes for us in a very long time so that's pleasing."
If Fullkrug can stay fit, he could have a fruitful end to the campaign.
'We need to be better' - Potterpublished at 23:06 1 April
23:06 1 April
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West Ham boss Graham Potter, speaking to Sky Sports about his side's first-half performance: "We had a really good chance, a big chance and we didn't take that one and then they got into the game.
"We wanted to be more compact and as a result the first half wasn't a good one for us. We had to adjust things at half-time and we did. We were better in the second half, some other chances as well, but in the end not enough to win the game.
"It was a game of two halves. If you look at the big chances of the game, probably more for us ironically. From a performance perspective we certainly weren't happy with where we were first half. Second half was a lot better. Tomas' [Soucek] chance at the end was a big chance. We need to be better if we are to do better."
On Niclas Fullkrug: "Really good. Can see what he brings to the team. We can go long into him, he picks up second balls, a threat in the box. For the first time he has played 45 minutes for us in a very long time so that's pleasing."
On motivation for rest of season: "The motivation is to get up the table further. To win more points, every game is important for us. We want to get as many points as we can. To do that you have to play well, we didn't tonight in the first half. We have suffered for that ultimately.
"Some positives but overall we need to be better."
'The boost we did not realise we needed?'published at 09:07 1 April
09:07 1 April
James Jones Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Niclas Fullkrug's return to the West Ham squad after three months out might just be a bigger boost that many are currently anticipating.
The German has endured a nightmare season in east London. Two long-term injuries, just two goals and an unconvincing presence up front under Julen Lopetegui have left a lot to be desired.
There is subsequently little expectation that his return will kick-start a run of positive results, or even an improvement in the 9.3 shots West Ham have averaged per game since Graham Potter joined the club.
But there is cause for optimism.
Before Fullkrug limped off with a hamstring injury just 15 minutes into Potter's first game, he played a vital role in Lucas Paqueta's opener and was proving to be an effective link-up with West Ham's midfield in possession.
The moment he was forced off, West Ham's attacking impetus changed and we just did not look as effective going forward. It was very clear that Fullkrug's style was well suited to the way Potter intended to play and his absence ever since has led to an ongoing struggle for attacking returns.
He is not expected to walk straight back into Potter's starting XI against Wolves on Tuesday, but he no doubt provides West Ham with something uniquely different that we know can work under the new manager.
If he can remain fit then his return is undoubtedly the boost we did not realise we needed at this stage of the season.
While there is not much left to play for other than league position, ending the season strongly could be the catalyst for a positive summer of recruitment and the right mindset going into 2025-26.
Fullkrug might just be the guy to make that happen.
Sutton's predictions: Wolves v West Hampublished at 08:35 1 April
08:35 1 April
Wolves have got a nine-point cushion above the bottom three but they still have a bit of work to do to make sure they are completely safe.
Their best player Matheus Cunha is still suspended, and he is such a big miss.
West Ham are only one place above Wolves, but are another eight points clear.
Their results have not been spectacular under Graham Potter but when I look at them, I do think they are improving - they came very close to beating Everton last time out, and actually deserved the three points there.
I'd like to pick a winner but I am not sure that will get me anywhere - this game smells of a draw.
Wolves v West Ham: Did you know?published at 07:20 1 April
07:20 1 April
Image source, Getty Images
Wolves lost this fixture 2-1 in the 2023-24 season, but have not lost consecutive home league games against West Ham since a run of three between 1920 and 1922.
However, the Hammers have won seven of their past nine league games against Wolves, as many as they had in their previous 23.
Potter on Fullkrug, 'pushing hard' in the break and Ferguson criticismpublished at 09:20 31 March
09:20 31 March
Katie Stafford BBC Sport journalist
West Ham boss Graham Potter has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game at Wolves (kick-off 19:45 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
He said he has a "relatively full squad" but Crysencio Summerville remains sidelined through injury.
Forward Niclas Fullkrug is likely to travel after returning to training. Potter added: "He hasn't played competitive football in a while and has had a fairly significant injury, so we will have to build his minutes up."
He said "it is always good for our players to represent their country" and captain Jarrod Bowen "has come back in a good place" after his first camp under England boss Thomas Tuchel.
On the two-week break: "There's nothing you can do about the schedule. You just have to hope the players who are away have a positive camp and you work hard with the ones who are here. It's a strange time, but the boys that have been here have worked well and we've used it well in having time to recover a bit and getting to spend time with the family while at the same time working, pushing hard and being ready for when the international boys returned."
He said he would like to improve West Ham's home record in the run-in as it helps "to build that connection with the fans."
On Evan Ferguson scoring for Republic of Ireland: "He's been doing a lot well. It was always going to be a bit of patience with him but going away, getting some minutes and scoring is great for a forward."
In response to some comments that his loan move has been 'a failure so far': "From our perspective, that's unfair. You have to see the context of where he was and the minutes he's played previously. We got him at the early stages of that return to playing stage. To think you can just walk into a Premier League team and hit the ground running is difficult. We are happy with him. He is enjoying his time here and he is ready to help."
Potter 'a builder rather than a quick-fix manager'published at 15:19 27 March
15:19 27 March
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.
Chris from Tilbury asked: Hi Phil, bearing in mind Graham Potter has literally been hamstrung by having no forwards available how do you think he's started at West Ham? Our away form is solid but at home it's still very Moyes-like.
Phil answered: Very early days and Graham Potter is a builder rather than a quick-fix manager. I was not expecting him to make an instant impact when measured by huge changes and results.
I get the feeling this will be a steady process as this is how he works – although I'm sure he wouldn't mind a run of victories.
I think we will see the real Potter effect at the start of next season when he has had time to work in the summer market.
Premier League to have two summer transfer windowspublished at 13:57 27 March
13:57 27 March
Image source, Getty Images
Premier League clubs have agreed the dates for the summer transfer window.
The window will open early, between Sunday 1 June and Tuesday 10 June, due to an exceptional registration period relating to the Fifa Club World Cup.
It will then reopen on Monday 16 June and close on Monday 1 September.
FA Cup free-kicks - Payet at Old Traffordpublished at 08:43 27 March
08:43 27 March
Media caption,
There have been many standout free-kicks in the FA Cup over the years, so BBC Sport has wound back the years and selected a few to celebrate all over again.
Dimitri Payet against Manchester United in 2016 - need we say more?
The French wizard left the Red Devils defenders watching the ball fly past David de Gea into the back of the net from almost 30 yards out to give West Ham the lead at Old Trafford.
Payet celebrated his "magnificent" goal with a knee slide into the corner flag in front of the travelling fans.
Gossip: Hammers keen on Sunderland's Riggpublished at 07:28 27 March
Di Canio's magic moment - 25 years onpublished at 18:52 26 March
18:52 26 March
George Mills BBC Sport
Image source, Getty Images
If you offered West Ham fans the chance to end the season right here, right now, my guess would be that most would bite your hand off. Shut it down, pack it up, this one's been a stinker. Roll on next season.
But it's times like these we can cuddle up to nostalgia to forget about the nastiness of the present day. Let's remember the good old days, eh? Specifically one very good day at the beloved Boleyn Ground, the rickety old stadium that was Hammers' former home.
Today marks the 25th anniversary of a goal forever immortalised as one of the best in club history, delivered on that hallowed turf - or hovering slightly above - by a maverick with a… complicated… legacy.
Paolo di Canio was the scorer - who else could it be? I'm sure you already know the strike I'm talking about, so synonymous has it become with the mere mention of his name.
It came in March 2000, just eight minutes into the Hammers' fixture against Wimbledon. Trevor Sinclair picked the ball up in space just inside the Dons' half and, with all the time in the world, sent an inch-perfect ball over the defence to Di Canio on the far side of the penalty area.
With audacious precision, Di Canio leapt to meet it with a magical volley, lacing an unstoppable pedal-step strike past a helpless Neil Sullivan and into the far corner of the net.
To this day, it remains one of the most technically brilliant and aesthetically pleasing strikes of the Premier League era (watch it for yourself here), external.
"I was very lucky because I've tried this a lot of times in training but every time I missed," the balding striker smirked with an uncharacteristic modesty during his post-match interview on the day.
He was back to the Di Canio we remember while reflecting on it in May 2016 though. Speaking during a closing ceremony for the Boleyn Ground, where his goal was crowned the best-ever scored at the stadium, he added: "In an instant, I saw this ball arrive and I did a bicycle volley instinctively and the percentage of the difficulty is 99 per cent. But, if you see the change in the air, it is a harmony that only the dancer can have.
"I can understand in England why they show this because it was pretty much a perfect strike." That's more like it.
In a season short on joy, it is a reminder why we fall in love with football in the first place.
'We have such high hopes for him' - new deal for young midfielderpublished at 16:21 25 March
16:21 25 March
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West Ham youngster Freddie Potts has signed a new contract with the club until the summer of 2029.
The 21-year-old midfielder - the son of former defender Steve Potts - is on loan at Championship side Portsmouth, where he has made 30 appearances, scoring one goal.
Potts, who has been with the Hammers since the age of five and made his debut in 2021 in the Europa League against Dinamo Zagreb, said: "I've wanted to be a West Ham player my whole life."
West Ham sporting director Mark Noble told the club's official website: "When I was captain, we used to go over to Chadwell Heath to watch the younger age groups and do some coaching.
"I remember seeing Fred when he was in the under-11s, you could see straight away his enthusiasm and love for the game."
"Obviously, his dad is a legend at the club... but he's not going to play for West Ham because of that. He's going to play for West Ham because he's got the qualities and the ability and the mindset to play.
"I truly believe he can play for us. We have such high hopes for him, and it was important to get this deal done to secure his future."
Kudus 'is a shadow of the player' of last seasonpublished at 17:33 24 March
17:33 24 March
James Jones Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
The one player West Ham need more from for the remainder of the campaign is Mohammed Kudus. He has been a shadow of the player who hit the ground running in east London last season.
After signing from Ajax almost two years ago, Kudus announced himself as one of the most exciting forwards in the Premier League. He registered 20 goal contributions in 45 appearances, had a goal nominated for the Puskas Award and was heavily linked with a move to a club playing in the Champions League all summer.
The expectation was that he would only get better this season, but it just has not happened.
Granted, the changing of managers twice since last season will not have helped his flow, but his drop-off in form has been so extreme it cannot purely be attributed to that alone.
This season he has just five goal contributions in 27 appearances. He has gone from scoring or creating a goal every 2.25 games to every 5.4 games. For a player who everyone is touting as Champions League level, it is not good enough.
It is no surprise, then, that rumours linking him with a move away from east London have quietened in recent months.
Graham Potter will no doubt be keen to keep him but must also be wondering how he can get the very best out of someone who is undoubtedly a very talented player.
Perhaps that is what we are going to see between now and the end of the season.
Quite frankly, something needs to happen. We are in a situation where Kudus is too good to be dropped but, equally, so out of form there will be other players in the squad itching to take his place.
If we can get the old Kudus back for the rest of the season, there is no doubt we will win more games than we will lose. Fingers crossed!
Tomkins announces retirement published at 15:19 24 March
15:19 24 March
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Former Crystal Palace and West Ham defender James Tomkins has retired from professional football.
The 35-year-old's last appearance came for Palace in May 2024 - and he featured 136 times for the club across an eight-year spell.
He also spent over eight years at West Ham, where he played nearly 250 games and scored 11 goals, and he had a short loan spell in the Championship with Derby.
In a post on Instagram, he said: "Thank you to my amazing family for making my career even possible and their continued support over the years.
"Also, thank you to all the brilliant coaches and players I have worked with throughout my career.
"I was lucky to play for three clubs - all with amazing fans who make football what it is. I will miss the game, but it's time to announce my retirement."
