Wolves made it fours win in a row as they capitalised on an error-strewn Tottenham performance with a 4-2 victory at Molineux.
Wolves took a two-goal lead through Rayan Ait-Nouri and a Djed Spence own goal, and though Spurs twice pulled within one through Mathys Tel and Richarlison, they restored the advantage each time through Jorgen Strand Larsen and Matheus Cunha respectively.
Ange Postecoglou made six changes from the team that drew with Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday with an eye on next week’s second leg, but it was his first-choice goalkeeper under scrutiny after a first half in which Spurs looked so uncertain.
Guglielmo Vicario parried an early free-kick into the path of Ait-Nouri for the Wolves wing-back to volley in after 85 seconds and should have been punished again when Nelson Semedo intercepted his pass but Strand Larsen missed a sitter.
The second Wolves goal came in calamitous fashion for the goalkeeper when he could only palm the ball onto Spence. The own goal goes against the full-back but eyes were on Vicario – and the coach who has presided over 17 league defeats this season.
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Lee Hendrie does not hold back on Tottenham’s goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario after conceding Wolverhampton’s second goal.
It was a better day for Vitor Pereira, whose much improved team have now four in a row, the first time Wolves have done that in the top flight since 1972. The call to leave Cunha on the bench despite available again after suspension was vindicated.
There was brief hope for Spurs when Semedo missed an attempted clearance to allow Tel to divert in Brennan Johnson’s cross but Cristian Romero’s error allowed Ait-Nouri to feed Strand Larsen soon after to make it 3-1 to Wolves.
Richarlison scored from close range late on but yet another Spurs mistake – this time by Lucas Bergvall – allowed Cunha to race through on his return and beat Vicario. There were just 101 seconds between the two goals. Spurs their own worst enemy again.
The West Midlands side move up a place to 16th with any remaining fears of relegation dispelled not just by their points advantage but their fine form. Tottenham are now only one place and two points ahead of them. Everything hinges on Europe for Postecoglou.
Postecoglou bemoans individual errors
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou:
“A disappointing result. It was a funny game because for the most part the football was decent considering all the changes we made. We controlled large parts of it. They are always a threat going forward but we obviously conceded some pretty poor goals.
“Obviously, we made some individual errors which is a bit unusual for us today and we got punished for them.”
On the errors by Romero and Bergvall, Postecoglou said: “It is not like they are doing it on purpose. Those two are pretty reliable in those situations. Today, it was just a collection of events that were unusual. That makes it really difficult.”
Could it have been a lack of focus?
“I don’t think so. When you look at those things in isolation, they are unusual for us and those players in those moments. It might happen once in a game, once in a season, but for us it happened multiple times in one game. But I don’t think it’s a lack of focus.”
Postecoglou also confirmed that Heung-Min Son missed the game with a knock and there was “no point” in risking him with that trip to Frankfurt coming up.
Was it the right team selection, then? “You always try to make the right decisions. We rested a few and hopefully that leaves us in a good position on Thursday.”
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Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou admits fans have a right to be unhappy after Wolves loss
Pereira targets fifth win – with Cunha in the fold
Wolves head coach Vitor Pereira:
“Now we need to look for the fifth [win in a row]. The next game, to win. Because this game was good, very good. But now we start to look for the next one.”
Wolves’ star player Cunha had been in the spotlight again after getting into a spat with supporters over a social media post that appeared to allude to his future plans.
Cunha’s name was chanted by the home supporters before he was introduced as a second-half substitute, the Brazilian coming off the bench to contribute with a goal, and Pereira defended the player, stressing that he is part of the family.
“He came to the pitch to help the team, to prove that he’s committed with the team, with the team-mates, with the staff, with everybody. He is a special player.
“But like everybody, like me, he needs the energy of love. He needs to feel that it’s important that the people recognise his work to help the team. Honestly, I feel that he went to the pitch not to think about him, but to think about the team.
“He’s part of our family. I understand the supporters. But he’s part of our family, and together we will be stronger if we are connected.”