Jesse Lingard heroics see West Ham leapfrog Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool as thrilling victory over Wolves takes Gary Neville by surprise

Jesse Lingard stole the show with a wonderful performance during West Ham’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Wolves as the Hammers climbed into the top four.

The Hammers forward, on loan from Manchester United, scored a contender for goal of the season before magical pieces of skill helped create two more goals for the visitors – converted by Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen.

But despite leading by three inside 38 minutes, a thrilling game filled with spectacular goals was far from over.

Lingard ran from his own half to score the opener, but Adama Traore’s run to set up Leander Dendonker just before half-time was even more special.

And when half-time substitute Fabio Silva converted a wonderful pass from Pedro Neto to set up a grand stand finish, Neville was left feeling rather red-faced in the Sky Sports studio.

Speaking before the match, the Man United legend had predicted a game that would be ‘difficult to watch’.

“I imagine it’ll be quite cagey and tight. I look at this game tonight and think it could be difficult to watch at times,” Neville said. “However, I would like to think the game will surprise us.”

It certainly did, starting as early as the sixth minute when Lingard scored his sixth goal in eight appearances for the Hammers to continue his spectacular return to form.

Michail Antonio dragged a couple of defenders away and Lingard shifted the ball onto his left foot, a combination which sent the entire Wanderers defence in the wrong direction.

His dazzling run still left plenty to do – and Lingard came up with a finish to match, dinking the ball over Rui Patricio with his weaker foot.

The West Ham forward then channelled his inner Dimitar Berbatov by recreating that iconic spin on the touchline against Blackburn, helping to set one up for Fornals.

And he wasn’t done yet. Lingard left Wolves chasing shadows with another piercing run before slipping in Bowen to make it three.

That means no other player has been involved in more Premier League goals than Lingard since the start of February, with the Man United loanee level with Harry Kane on nine goals or assists.

Wolves woke from their slumber just before half-time, but there was no seizing the occasion from Lingard – and no stopping West Ham from climbing into the top four above Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool.