Jorgen Strand Larsen piled the misery on West Ham manager Graham Potter as Wolves came from behind to win their second-round Carabao Cup tie.
The striker – subject of a £50m bid from Newcastle this week – came off the bench to score twice in the final eight minutes and send the hosts through to the third round.
Lucas Paqueta and Tomas Soucek had West Ham ahead – after Rodrigo Gomes’ opener for the hosts – but Strand Larsen’s strikes mean the Hammers have lost their opening three games of the season.
West Ham came to Molineux having conceded eight goals in their opening two Premier League games with Potter only winning five of his 21 matches in charge.
Predecessor Julen Lopetegui lasted just 22 matches before being sacked in January and, as Potter reaches the same number, doubts over his position will continue to grow.
That tension, following a winless start, ensured it took 25 minutes for any spark, when Soucek was denied by Sam Johnstone before the goalkeeper needed to be alert to parry Jarrod Bowen’s effort.
Yet Rodrigo Gomes put Wolves ahead in the first half, following up after Hwang Hee-chan’s penalty hit the post, with Guido Rodriguez having tripped Jean-Ricner Bellegarde in the area to concede the spot-kick.
West Ham, though, recovered and were ahead 18 minutes into the second half when first Soucek headed in soon after the restart and Paqueta seized on poor Wolves defending to convert Bowen’s cross.
But Strand Larsen pounced twice in two minutes to earn Wolves their first win of the season.
Bowen confronts crowd at full-time
It should not look this bleak this early but it is hard to pick out the positives for West Ham.
When Bowen walked over to applaud the travelling fans at the final whistle it was a show of support.
Yet stewards then appeared to stop Bowen getting any closer to the supporters as the forward became angry, potentially over something said in the crowd.
What started as a show of unity ended in highlighting the Hammers’ fractures and it underlined the tension which has already started to boil over after just three games.
Three defeats, 11 goals conceded and just days of the transfer window left.
The Hammers go to Nottingham Forest on Sunday and Potter needs quick results, especially after being undone in the final 10 minutes.
Wolves brought on their best attacker in Strand Larsen and his quickfire late double ensured a game that drifted in the first half exploded.
The striker has shown how to handle the transfer window. Newcastle’s £50m offer was rejected this week and he stepped off the bench to send his side into the third round.
The Magpies are an attractive option for him but the forward has remained professional through the process and has spoken with his behavior and goals.
Wolves will need those goals – losing him could cost them a Premier League place and that would be more expensive than selling him for £50m.
They still want another striker – Gefate’s Christantus Uche has been a target – but Wolves and Strand Larsen still look a perfect fit.
What’s next for these teams?
Wolves host Everton at Molineux on Saturday and then go to Newcastle after the international break next month.
West Ham travel to Nottingham Forest on Sunday before a London derby with Tottenham on 13 September.
