West Ham United have been handed an early opportunity in the Championship promotion race after Wolverhampton Wanderers were held to a dramatic 2-2 draw by Blackburn Rovers at Molineux.
Wolves needed a late Raúl Jiménez penalty to rescue a point after trailing 2-1, preventing Blackburn from completing a major opening-night upset.
The result still represents two dropped home points for one of West Ham’s leading promotion rivals before Nuno Espírito Santo’s side begin their own campaign at Burnley on Sunday.
Wolves draw gives West Ham early promotion opportunity
Wolves entered the Championship alongside West Ham and Burnley following relegation from the Premier League.
They were expected to challenge strongly for an immediate return, with ReadWestHam’s Championship promotion guideplacing Wolves among the Hammers’ closest rivals before the season began.
Friday night’s opener demonstrated how little can be taken for granted in the second tier.
Wolves took the lead at Molineux before Blackburn responded and eventually moved 2-1 ahead. Jiménez, back at Wolves this summer, then converted a late penalty to earn the hosts a point.
The Guardian provided live coverage of the Championship opener, with Blackburn causing Wolves significant problems after falling behind.
For West Ham, the significance is straightforward.
A victory at Turf Moor would take Nuno’s side onto three points and two clear of Wolves after the opening round.
That prospect is particularly interesting after ReadWestHam covered Jeff Stelling’s claim that West Ham could be weaker than Wolves without further attacking additions.
Stelling rated Wolves highly in the promotion race, while talkSPORT’s Championship outlook also placed the two relegated clubs among the leading contenders.
West Ham have no reason to read too much into one fixture, particularly before playing themselves.
But Wolves dropping points at home provides Nuno with an immediate opportunity to make a positive start and put one of the Hammers’ biggest promotion rivals under early pressure.
Burnley have injury problems of their own ahead of Sunday’s meeting, adding another layer to an opening weekend that has already started favourably for West Ham.
