West Ham United have been scouting Freiburg's 22-year-old German goalkeeper Noah Atubolu. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
James Jones
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesIf you had offered me a point away at Bournemouth before kick-off, I would have gladly taken it.
It was, though, frustrating that we did not come away with all three points after going ahead so late on. Giving away such a sloppy free-kick in a dangerous area, especially when the player is facing away from goal in the first place, is criminal and we were punished for it.
Enes Unal's free-kick was good enough to win any football match, and Bournemouth certainly deserved something from the game after having 29 shots, nine of which were on target.
So for it to secure a point for them was probably justified given the way the second half was going. We were the better side in the first half, but in the second it was all Bournemouth.
We have to respect the away point and move on.
There have been some very, very slight improvements of late. By no means has it been perfect and there is a long way to go before we can safely say that Julen Lopetegui is the right man, but we have looked a lot more sure of ourselves tactically over the past few games.
That said, we have conceded an average of over 18 shots per game in our three December fixtures. In attack, we have averaged over 22 shots but only scored four goals, one of which was a penalty.
That should be a major concern for Lopetegui. We are not clinical enough in attack and way too open in defence. That is just not sustainable.
However, if we can avoid defeat in our next two games against Brighton and Southampton - four points being the absolute minimum we should be looking for - then that will put us in a good position to push on.
Incredibly, we are closer to the top seven than we are to the bottom three.
This season can still be saved, it just remains to be seen whether Lopetegui is the man to save it.
Find more from James Jones at We Are West Ham, external
Image source, Getty ImagesWest Ham boss Julen Lopetegui is confident that Lucas Paqueta's future lies at the London stadium.
The 27 year-old has been linked with a return to his boyhood side Flamengo and posted a cryptic message on social media before Monday evening's Premier League clash. The midfielder kissed the West Ham badge after scoring the winner against Bournemouth on Monday.
"Did you see the match he did? I think this is the answer," Lopetegui said when asked about Paqueta's future.
"The commitment and behaviour that he showed was 100 per cent with us. The only future I can think about him is he has to be ready for the next big challenge we have against Brighton.
"He showed very, very good behaviour and we are very happy with him."
Paqueta himself reassured the fans that he is happy in East London, saying after the victory: "I love to play here with West Ham. I love these fans. With the coach, we have the same way.
"For me, it's very, very important to play. I like to play every day, every week. I am happy, I try to improve and focus on the next game."
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between Bournemouth and West Ham.
Here are some of your comments:
Bournemouth fans:
Sam: So frustrating when you see the amount of chances we create. We should be putting West Ham to the sword. I get the feeling if it was the other way round West Ham would win 4-0 against us, but we have to settle for a point. So irritating. Ah well - at least we didn't lose, which we didn't deserve to.
Jonathan: It's a point, at least we pulled it back. But... we need to be more clinical. Was it 29 shots? If we were more clinical we could have been out of sight long before West Ham took the lead. Penalty? Not sure. You can't sprint with your hands by your side. A lot of positives - we're playing some of the best football of any team in the league. Let's just score some more goals. In Andoni we trust!
Paul: Sub-par performance in the first half; much more like our usual selves in the second. Harsh penalty but Adams knows he has to keep his hands down in that situation. Sublime free-kick by Unal. Deserves to get a start at Old Trafford.
Mark: We played well but 29 shots, nine on target. We must convert more. We were lucky to come away with a point. Other teams will punish us for not taking our chances.
West Ham fans:
Mike: Lopetegui is doing a decent job - organised and tries to play on the front foot. Needs to be given more time. Changing a style of play is worth it. In the thick of it and makes positive changes. Good result.
Charley: The line-up was very questionable, especially with the exclusion of Crysencio Summerville. Despite that, the team defended brilliantly. Fabianski put in his best performance of the season. I did notice there was very little communication between the players, which needs to improve. Overall it was a very tight game and I'm happy to come away with a point against such an in-form side.
Pete: Great free-kick and fair result. I wouldn't have wanted to win by that ridiculous penalty but, after a decent performance with plenty of shots, I would have been disappointed to lose. The substitutions and the change to a back three seemed to hinder but promising and good to see some young academy players introduced.
Paul: When you are winning with just minutes left in the game, the gameplan is simple - don't do anything stupid. Then up steps Mavropanos. He has had a decent game up until then, but makes an unnecessary challenge, gives away a free-kick and chucks away two points. The story of this team.
Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesMichail Antonio's absence was marked by the West Ham fans chanting his name in the ninth minute.
The reality is Antonio and his number nine shirt are almost certain not to be seen on the pitch for the rest of the season given the injuries he sustained in that car crash just over a week ago.
That means there is even more focus on Jarrod Bowen to deliver the goals to get West Ham out of trouble.
The England man has come a long way since scoring his first league goal for local club Hereford as a 17-year-old in what is now the National League.
Eight games at that level were enough to persuade Hull City to sign Bowen, whose winner against Wolves a week ago means he has now added 99 goals in the Championship and Premier League to that initial effort against Alfreton.
Playing centrally, it was no surprise Bowen should come closest to opening the scoring for the visitors.
After running on to Mohammed Kudus' through ball, with no immediate support to help out, Bowen showed real intelligence, allowing Illia Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen to sprint past, creating the space from where his curling shot flicked off the top of the crossbar.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross provided the opportunity to spin and unleash a shot Kepa Arrizabalaga proved the equal of, the former Chelsea keeper collecting at the second attempt.
It was something of a surprise Bowen did not take the penalty when it eventually came West Ham's way.
Image source, Getty ImagesWest Ham defender Maximilian Kilman, speaking to Sky Sports: "Conceding in the last minute is always tough. We managed to stay in the game and nicked a goal towards the end. Unfortunately, they finished with the free-kick.
"We have made a lot of improvements and we put in a proper shift. Credit to everyone. It's a tough place to come but we managed to match them."
On if there has been a shift in mood: "We have always had high belief. Things have not been going so well but there are still a lot of things to look forward to. Hopefully we can keep getting results. We have an incredible squad of players. We need to keep pushing and I'm sure things will be on the up."
Image source, Getty ImagesWest Ham boss Julen Lopetegui speaking to BBC Sport: "We were very close to winning against a very good team. That is why when you are very close there is frustration to lose these two points. But there are positives against a very demanding team in Bournemouth."
On the impressive first-half performance: "We deserved to score. In the second half we knew they were going to push more and they did. I prefer to be positive and look forward."
On if there is a momentum shift: "We deserved to win at Leicester. In this game we did well too. Above all, I want to highlight the behaviour of the group. All the players want to work very hard to do their best for the team. This is the first step to being a stronger and better team. We are going to keep this positive mentality."
Did you know?
Lucas Paqueta has scored all five penalties he has taken for West Ham in the Premier League, with three of his past four goals in the competition coming from the penalty spot.
Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?
Have your say on Bournemouth's performance
What did you make of West Ham's display?
Come back to this page on Tuesday to find a selection of your replies
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.
For week 16, he takes on darts star Stephen Bunting, who is a Liverpool fan.
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
West Ham's win over Wolves last time out was a step in the right direction under Julen Lopetegui but he needs to maintain that improvement over a longer period, otherwise he is always going to be under pressure.
Jarrod Bowen is looking sharp for the Hammers and I think they will make a game of this, but I can only see one winner here and it is Bournemouth.
What a team the Cherries have been this season. They always create a lot of chances and I'm expecting them to make it four wins in a row.
Bunting's prediction: 1-1
West Ham are playing for Michail Antonio after his car crash, so they have got a bit to play for, but I don't see them winning this.
West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against Bournemouth (kick-off 20:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
The squad are going to visit Michail Antonio tomorrow, who is still in hospital after a car crash: "The main thing is that we are happy he is recovering well. We are very close to him and his family, and we wish him the best for the coming days. Look at the car crash, it was one miracle - so we are happy for him. He is strong, for sure, and he will recover in the next months. The focus is for him to recover - firstly as a man, before as a player."
There are "two little issues" in the squad that will need to be reassessed "in the next few days" to make a "final decision" on their availability.
Niclas Fullkrug has "fully recovered" from his injury but Lopetegui was hesitant to say whether or not the striker is ready to start a Premier League match yet: "I think it's good news for us that he is back and he is going to be ready to help us. Let's see whether he is going to be [starting] or not but, step by step, he is feeling stronger."
On whether any pressure on himself or his players has been alleviated following the win over Wolves on Monday: "The pressure is always there in our work. We are talking about the Premier League so each match is very difficult. In the same way, each match is a very good opportunity and challenge. We are working to be ready to show our best phase against Bournemouth."
He is expecting a competitive match against Bournemouth, who are currently eighth in the Premier League: "We have to be ready to show our strengths and compete. I think that is what we're going to need against a team that is going to demand a lot. In my opinion, they are the best at home - so we are going to be ready to give a good answer there."
Gameplan-wise, his side will focus on "the things that are under our control" while being ready to have a "good answer, believe in ourselves and go there with the right mentality".
Lopetegui also praised fellow Spaniard Andoni Iraola for doing "very well" with the Cherries, having beaten Manchester City and Tottenham on home turf already this season: "At the start, he had some problems but they allowed him to show his quality as a coach. It is showing now and he is doing very well. He has a team with good players too, so that's why they are a strong challenge for us. Their demands for how we have to be, in these matches, are very high."
When asked how he would sum up the start of his managerial career at London Stadium, he replied: "I enjoy my work, always. I love to be here and manage West Ham. We didn't have the start we wanted, but I think we are improving things."
He added: "I'm happy with the behaviour and commitment of the players. I'm happy with the kind of club that I'm working at, so I enjoy my work every day."
Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
West Ham are considering signing a striker on loan in January following 34-year-old Jamaica international Michail Antonio's injury. (GiveMeSport), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesTony Cottee played up front for West Ham with Frank McAvennie during the 1980s and says his strike partner was not one for an early night.
On the most recent episode of BBC Radio Scotland's Sacked in the Morning podcast, Cottee shared a time when his approach to a night on the town was quite different to McAvennie's.
"I can tell you one funny story," he said. "I didn't really go out, but for whatever reason, [one night] in the 1985-86 season, I decided to go out with my best pal who played for Leyton Orient and we went into London. We ended up in Stringfellows, which was a nightclub in those days, not the lap dancing club it is nowadays.
"I'm in the nightclub and I've had a few drinks. It gets to about half past one in the morning and by this time, I'm sort of half drunk and I'm tired and I want to go home. So, me and my mate thought we'd make our way upstairs as we were in the basement.
"We got to the middle floor and on the middle floor, where reception is, I bumped into Frank McAvennie and I give him a big cuddle. The paps were taking pictures of Frank and all that sort of stuff.
"I looked at Frank and I said: 'Have you had a good night?' He went: 'Good night? I've just got here'.
"So, I was going home and Frank's only just arrived at half one in the morning. That perfectly summed it up."
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
BBC Sport, with the help of data from website Premier Injuries, external, has taken a look at which side has suffered most from injuries this season.
Fabian Hurzeler has had a tough start in English football from an injury perspective - although his side sitting seventh in the Premier League table suggests he is more than capable of coping with it.
West Ham fans may be even more frustrated about their season when they learn that they have had the least amount of injury setbacks in the top flight.
Comparing the injury situation now with the same stage last season, the overall numbers are actually down, according to Ben Dinnery of Premier Injuries Ltd.
"Year on year, there has been about a 20% reduction in the number of injury incidents and about a 30% reduction in the 'burden' on clubs - the amount of days missed by injured players," he said.
His data is calculated from the opening day of the season, so players who were already injured going into the campaign - such as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries to Brentford's Rico Henry, Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings and Brighton's Solly March - do not count.
"Perhaps the narrative [of an increase in injuries] is driven by some high-profile managers and the prominence of major injuries to higher-status players, such as Manchester City's Rodri," Dinnery added.
"The injury narrative is not being pushed by Kieran McKenna at Ipswich or Brighton's Fabian Hurzeler.
"They are not using their sidelined players as excuses, even though Ipswich have lost some huge players as they try to adapt to the intensity and rigours of Premier League football.
"Brighton didn't have a great record last year, but had European football to contend with. The headline numbers are one thing, but football is a contact sport. Perhaps it is testament to their recruitment of a squad with strength and depth that they are still doing well despite the number of injuries."
James Jones
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesThat was a huge result, one that we so desperately needed.
Beating Wolves surely means Julen Lopetegui keeps his job for a little longer. It is a stay of execution for the Spaniard, but for how long?
While three points are three points, it was not a convincing performance to suggest a corner has been turned by this West Ham team. The players do look a lot more sure of themselves tactically than they did a month ago, but my fear is all this win does is kick the can down the road.
We had our moments, especially in the first half, but for the second game running we appeared to run out of ideas the moment we entered the final third. Loads of shots, loads of corners, but not much in the way of confidence or conviction in front of goal.
Meanwhile, Wolves regularly found themselves with loads of space on the counter-attack. Had their finishing been better, it would have been a very different story at London Stadium.
And Wolves have every right to be angry not to have been awarded at least one penalty by VAR. In truth, they should have had two.
But despite now having a nice nine-point gap from the bottom three, I am still not convinced we have got it in us to put together a run of results that would take us out of conversations involving relegation and into conversations surrounding a top-half finish.
There are too many aspects of our play that still aren't perfect - and better teams would have punished us at key moments in Monday's game.
But we have to be delighted with this win and can now look forward to travelling to Bournemouth next week.
Find more from James Jones at We Are West Ham, external
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between West Ham and Wolves.
Here are some of your comments:
Mark: Simply awful from West Ham. One set of fans went away happy and it wasn't Hammers supporters, despite picking up three points. The football was dreadful. If Wolves had been better, we would have been beaten. Julen Lopetegui lives to fight again for a few more games.
Brendan: A fortunate and unconvincing three points. There are two clear problems at West Ham: communication and confidence. If Lopetegui can crack the first one, he will boost the second. If not, they are doomed to mediocrity.
Rob: We did OK, but we were playing a struggling Wolves side. You can see the quality of the players, but there is no unity and no obvious plan. The win has probably bought Lopetegui time, but things are not going to improve with him and his slow brand of football at the helm.
Stephen: A win is a win. You could say we got away with a couple of penalty appeals, but Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville were outstanding. Now let's push on and start to get some more positive results. COYI.
Image source, Getty ImagesWest Ham boss Julen Lopetegui, speaking to Sky Sports: "We are happy for our fans. We dedicate the victory to Michail Antonio.
"We deserved the three points. It's much more than football. We were able to compete well and fight until the end. Wolves drew in the only action they had in the second half. We had very clear chances. But the most important thing is that we won.
"The fans have supported us a lot through the bad times. I am happy for them.
"We were strong with our mentality. We stayed in the game and took advantage. It's a fantastic goal from our captain, Jarrod Bowen. He is a fantastic player and a fantastic professional. It wasn't an easy week, believe me."
On his position after win: "I don't talk about noise, I talk about football. If you ask me about football, I will. A win is always good for me."
Did you know?
Bowen has scored six Premier League goals against Wolves - only Carlton Cole, with seven against Fulham, has scored more for West Ham against one team in the competition.
Graham Potter is willing to take the West Ham job, initially until the end of the season, if the Hammers sack Julen Lopetegui. (Talksport), external
West Ham will step up their interest in 20-year-old Brighton and Republic of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson when the January transfer window opens. (Football Insider), external
