(Reuters) - Leander Dendoncker netted a first-half goal and Italian forward Patrick Cutrone came off the bench to add a late second as Wolverhampton Wanderers cruised to a 2-0 Premier League home win over West Ham United on Wednesday.
Having showcased some intricate set-pieces early on, Wolves took the lead from a more straightforward corner as Joao Moutinho fired the ball into the middle and Dendoncker stretched to poke home his first goal of the season.
Robert Snodgrass had a great chance to level on the hour mark but he fluffed his lines when he found himself one-on-one with Rui Patricio, and a poor touch allowed the Wolves keeper to win the ball and avert the danger.
With Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore tormenting the West Ham back line, Wolves remained the more dangerous of the two sides, but it took the arrival of the 21-year-old Cutrone to put the game beyond doubt.
Having only scored a single Premier League goal since his arrival from AC Milan during the summer, Cutrone rifled the ball home two minutes after being brought on in the 84th minute to put the game beyond doubt.
Wolves climbed to fifth in the table on 23 points after 15 games, while West Ham remain in 13th place on 16 points.
"We knew before the game this would not be easy. It was a tight game. Unfortunately for us, one more time a set-piece goal was decisive. We had the chance to draw but Robert Snodgrass didn't take it," West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini told reporters.
West Ham face Arsenal next Monday, while Wolves, who have won three of their last four league games, make the trip to 16th-placed Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.
"The games keep going and won't stop. It's good for us, we have to carry on playing the way we're playing," goalscorer Dendoncker said.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Toby Davis)