Wolves jumped into the top half of the Premier League table, overtaking Chelsea for 10th, with a thoroughly deserved 2-1 victory away to Tottenham on Saturday.
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Joao Gomes scored both goals for Wolves (35 points), making it five wins from their last eight PL games and dropping Tottenham (47 points) out of 4th place after Aston Villa (49 points) beat Fulham.
While Tottenham had a nearly two-to-one advantage in possession during the first half, it was Wolves who were most dangerous in the final third. Eventually, in the 42nd minute, they were rewarded for their efforts. Once again for Spurs, it was a corner kick that caught them out, with Gomes winning an uncontested header seven yards out. Tottenham conceded twice from corner kicks, including a stoppage-time equalizer, in their disappointing 2-2 draw with Everton two weeks ago.
The lead lasted barely 40 seconds into the second half, as Ange Postecoglou’s side re-emerged from halftime and immediately went on the front foot. Dejan Kulusevski found a bit of space in behind the left side of Wolves defense, where he danced past one defender and poked the ball between Jose Sa’s legs to pull the hosts level in an immediate response.
And again, Tottenham had much of the possession going forward, but again they left themselves exposed to counter-attacks and finally paid the price after Guglielmo Vicario twice denied Pablo Sarabia with first-half saves. This time, it was a Spurs corner kick that set the wheels in motion. Yves Bissouma lost possession and the ensuing challenge to win it back, and Wolves were off to the races. Pedro Neto carried the ball all the way to the end line before cutting back and teeing up Gomes for an emphatic finish from near the penalty spot.
Tottenham can’t overcome Udogie, Porro absences
With Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro unavailable due to minor injuries, Ben Davies and Emerson Royal were deputized at left and right back on Saturday, and though both struggled mightily, it was one of the full backs’ few bright moments — in the 57th minute — which stuck out and highlighted the noticeable drop-off in Spurs’ squad.
Royal raced forward, cut out a pass to Rayan Ait-Nouri’s feet and quickly started the counter-counter-attack back the other way. It was the kind of recovery that keeps the opposing team trapped inside their own half; the kind of recovery that forces their forwards to retreat and defend an extra 10 or 15 yards deeper, making the eventual counter-attack that much less threatening and easy to thwart; the kind of recovery that makes one or two think twice the next time they play the ball out of the back. It was the kind of recovery that Porro (and Udogie on the left) make a half-dozen times each game, and it was the only recovery that Royal made in the attacking half of the field all game long.
That’s not a dig at Royal, who isn’t particularly suited to do what Porro does, but an example of how important those inverted roles are in Postecoglou’s system. It looks brilliant when it’s working like a well-oiled machine, but one or two missteps and it’s 10 white shirts chasing back toward their own goal again and again, with acres of wide open space down each flank. Few teams in the Premier League are better suited than Wolves to capitalize on that.
What’s next?
Spurs will have next weekend off, as their Premier League fixture away to Chelsea has been postponed due to the Blues’ participation in the League Cup final next Sunday. Wolves will continue their fight for a top-half finish when last-place Sheffield United visit Molineux Stadium on Sunday (8:30 am ET).
Player ratings - Tottenham vs Wolves
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Tottenham vs Wolves, final score: 1-2
Goalscorers: Joao Gomes (42', 63'), Dejan Kulusevski (46')
42nd minute - GOAL - Joao Gomes heads home a corner kick to put Wolves ahead
46th minute - GOAL - Dejan Kulusevski dances down the end line and slots home for 1-1
63rd minute - GOAL - Spurs corner kick turns into another goal for Wolves, Joao Gomes
How to watch Tottenham v Wolves live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10am ET Saturday
TV Channel: Peacock
Online: Online via Peacock Premium
Tottenham starting lineup
Vicario — Royal, Romero, Van de Ven, Davies — Bissouma, Saar, Maddison — Kulusevski, Son, Richarlison
Wolves starting lineup
Sa — Kilman, Dawson, Toti — Semedo, Lemina, Gomes, Ait-Nouri — Sarabia, Hwang, Neto
Tottenham focus, team news
Son coming off the bench last weekend was key in Spurs’ win against Brighton as his quality set up the winner. He’s the leader of this team and Tottenham will now look to kick on to cement their spot in the top four. Now everyone is back fit Postecoglou has lots of options in attack and it will be intriguing to see which quartet he goes with from the start. Balance is key. Tottenham should start Bissouma and Sarr in midfield again which will be a huge boost.
OUT: Destiny Udogie (knee), Pedro Porro (undisclosed), Manor Solomon (knee), Ryan Sessegnon (thigh), Fraser Forster (foot)
Wolves focus, team news
Missing Cunha is a big blow but Hwang is back and should slot straight into his spot. Wolves are now playing with house money as they’re not going to get relegated (which was a very real fear at the start of this season) and all of the focus is now on a top 10 finish and potentially a late-season push for Europe.
OUT: Matheus Cunha (hamstring)