The West Ham players are warming up in Yarmolenko shirts. At kick-off time Declan Rice holds up a Yarmolenko shirt and the big screens have a message of support for Yarmy and Ukraine. There's a moving round of applause and the Irons set about their business.
I'm joined by Nigel, carrying his lucky Status Quo tour plastic bag that now has a torn handle, plus his Wolves-supporting mate Adrian. Michael the possible fan of a cult science fiction show returns, dreaming of dinner with Whovian royalty Katy Manning and Nicola Bryant, plus Mystic Matt and Fraser, who is hoping his hero Big Fat Sam might be called in at Leeds to replace Bielsa. Alison and Scott appear to have been lost in the fog of war, or possibly Clacton.
The Hammers seem to have got some energy back. Moyes has made a clever tactical tweak, playing Cresswell as a centre back and Fornals as a left wing-back, a role in which he does well. It's WHU's best performance since the Chelsea game in early December. Soucek wins a tackle to set up a chance and is looking sharp.
The first half is all West Ham attacking, though Cody, Kilman and co are difficult to break down. Ben Johnson wins a free kick which Cresswell fires narrowly wide. Soucek finds Antonio, who forces a save from Sa, while Zouma pokes over from a corner with Antonio better-placed to score.
Fornals makes a good run down the left and finds Rice, who curls a great shot against the post. After the Irons' recent lethargy it's all quite a shock. Our only complaint is the sun in our eyes, despite the promises of the man at the WHU reservation office back in 2015.
But there's still time to almost concede a dodgy goal before half-time. Zouma makes a fine tackle to deny Saiss and then a clearance falls to Hwang Hee-Chan, who fires wide when he should hit the target.
NO DOUBTING TOMAS
At half-time Nigel distributes pieces of silver chocolate money from CQ's stocking and quips that they are a gift from from Paul Ince. Wolves improve after the break as they bring on three subs, with Trincao shooting narrowly over.
It's left to Mystic Matt to earn three points for WHU, as he exclaims, "We never do anything from throw-ins". Fraser counters that this one will be different and he's right. Fornals plays a neat backheel to Cresswell who finds Antonio. Michail plays in a low cross and Soucek is on hand to tap home on his birthday.
Wolves almost reply as the excellent Zouma (catgate seems a long time ago with a real war in Europe) blocks a Saiss effort. The Hammers almost wrap the game up as Fornals finds the free Bowen, who shoots straight at Sa.
Encouragingly Antonio uses his strength and speed to get past Cody and Kilman, who are both good defenders, and thrillingly advance on the Wolves goal, only to try and pass when he should shoot. That's more like it from Micky though, he's been a threat all game, even if he looks exhausted by the end.
The Irons are helped by Wolves' slow build-up, with Fabianski taking a series of crosses and then comfortably saving a Neves shot. Diop comes on in added time to make a great firm but fair tackle, Bubbles rings round the stadium and then it's all over - a very good three points against our close rivals.
BACK ON TRACK
Just maybe the dream of the top four is still on. We retreat to the Railway, which is bereft of most beers bar Guinness and Newcastle Brown. Somehow the conversation in the garden turns to John Major's affair with Edwina Currie, which Nigel describes as a "marmalade dropping" or "f**k me Nora" moment — phrases immediately noted down by Michael in his little black book.
Statto Matt is full of admiration for the anorak who has discovered that Soucek is only the second West Ham player to score on his birthday, following on from Michael's favourite player the great Ricardo Vaz Te. While I've forgotten all about Nigel's story of Robert Plant's Wolves' sticker on his suitcase allegedly causing a devil-worshipping scare at a US customs post.
Adrian takes his side's defeat well, though does order an extra pint of Cors, causing our rebels with a Cors to carry on drinking even longer. Still, a decent home performance is something to be celebrated. And after all we are staying up - 45 points should do it now. Irons!
PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 7; Johnson 7, Zouma 8, Dawson 7, Cresswell 7, Fornals 7 (Diop n/a); Rice 8, Soucek 7, Lanzini 7, Bowen 6; Antonio 7 (Vlasic n/a).
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