FROM TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM – Spurs slipped out of the highest 4 as two objectives from Joao Gomes helped Wolves to a deserved 2-1 victory in north London on Saturday afternoon.
The disciplined Wanderers went forward on the stroke of half-time when Gomes headed in from a nook earlier than Dejan Kulusevski levelled proceedings with a wise end firstly of the second half.
However, a burst of tempo from Pedro Neto helped Wolves counter and Gomes arrived within the field to smash within the winner, cementing their place within the high ten.
How the sport unfolded
Both sides had been dealt damage blows within the build-up to Saturday’s assembly. Tottenham have been with out influential full-back duo Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie, whereas a hamstring damage left Wolves bereft of the objectives of in-form ahead Matheus Cunha.
Spurs have been left aggrieved as Anthony Taylor let some robust challenges go early on, leading to Guglielmo Vicario being known as into motion for the primary time as he diverted Nelson Semedo’s strike to Hwang Hee-chan. However, his first-time rebound sailed slowly into the gang.
Ben Davies despatched a robust half-volley excessive, however the opening 25 minutes largely consisted of Tottenham probing the well-drilled Wolves outfit, who seemed to interrupt rapidly by means of the likes of Hwang and Neto.
The hosts have been saved at bay through the first half, failing to register a shot heading in the right direction, and the guests took full benefit with the opener minutes earlier than half-time.
Gomes – all 5’8 of him – was left completely free at a nook, permitting the Brazilian midfielder to rise highest and plant an exquisite header into the highest nook, leaving Vicario stranded.
With Aston Villa forward at Fulham on the break throughout the Premier League, Spurs wanted one other huge second-half efficiency to put declare to fourth place for one more week, simply as they did within the late win over Brighton.
It took till the 61st minute to interrupt the Seagulls down, however they have been stage once more seconds into the second interval because of a slick run from Kulusevski.
A throw-in bounced between Richarlison and Pape Matar Sarr earlier than the Swede took it on, squeezing previous Craig Dawson and sliding his end between the legs of Jose Sa.
Tottenham have ridden the wave of momentum when coming from behind this season however their excessive line invited one other Wolves alternative as Pablo Sarabia crashed a first-time shot straight at Vicario.
That warning wasn’t heeded and Spurs have been caught out simply after the hour mark as the Wanderers took the lead.
Wolves turned over possession with Tottenham camped of their half earlier than Neto took it on and ran over half the size of the pitch. The Portuguese winger held off Emerson and picked out Gomes, who arrived with excellent timing to lash his facet forward once more.
A triple change from the bench got here as Ange Postecoglou seemed to summon extra late drama, although Wolves continued to look stable and will have put the sport to mattress by means of substitute Jean-Ricner Bellegarde. However, the midfielder tried an excessive amount of as Emerson recovered to make a last-ditch block.
Spurs could not summon a grandstand end, Ben Davies heading the final probability vast, as their five-match unbeaten run within the Premier League got here to an finish, permitting Wolves to increase their very own unbeaten spell away from dwelling to 4 matches.
GK: Guglielmo Vicario – 6/10 – Made some huge stops when Wolves received in behind Spurs’ excessive line.
RB: Emerson Royal – 4/10 – Evidently not as comfy as common right-back Porro, struggling to play easily infield.
CB: Cristian Romero – 5/10 – Charged round together with his typical intent however might have organised his defence somewhat higher.
CB: Micky van de Ven – 5/10 – Recovery tempo did not all the time bail Spurs out of bother.
LB: Ben Davies – 5/10 – Also seemed somewhat uncomfortable at full-back, although was all the time eager to get spherical the surface when attainable. Headed vast with the final probability.
CM: Pape Matar Sarr – 5/10 – Caught on the ball earlier than Wolves’ winner and will’t have an effect on the sport together with his ahead runs as Wolves sat deep.
CM: Yves Bissouma – 7/10 – Won the ball again incessantly, managing a team-high of 5 tackles, and helped with some very important interceptions.
RW: Dejan Kulusevski – 7/10 – Didn’t get a lot change out of Ait-Nouri earlier than catching Wolves napping with the equaliser. Delivery from vast wasn’t fairly there.
AM: James Maddison – 5/10 – Struggled to play incisive passes behind Wolves and did not handle a shot heading in the right direction.
LW: Son Heung-min – 5/10 – Largely shackled effectively by Semedo and was on the periphary on the sport.
ST: Richarlison – 5/10 – Made some good flicks at factors however largely struggled to get into the sport, being introduced off earlier than full-time.
Substitutes
SUB: Timo Werner (71′ for Bissouma) – 5/10
SUB: Rodrigo Bentancur (71′ for Sarr) – 6/10
SUB: Brennan Johnson (71′ for Richarlison) – 5/10
SUB: Giovani Lo Celso (85′ for Emerson) – N/A
SUB: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (86′ for Maddison) – N/A
Subs not used: Brandon Austin, Oliver Skipp, Radu Dragusin, Bryan Gil.
Manager
Ange Postecoglou – 4/10 – Reliance for high quality supply on Porro and Udogie was proven with out the pair. Changes could not implement a late turnaround this time.
GK: Jose Sa – 6/10 – Rarely known as into motion except for the aim which nutmegged him.
CB: Max Kilman – 6/10 – A number of hurried clearances right here and there. Probably the least comfy of the visiting defender.
CB: Craig Dawson – 7/10 – Made a few shrewd blocks and took outing of the sport when vital.
CB: Toti Gomes – 7/10 – Helped stifle Wolves’ proper flank and confirmed impressively fast toes every so often.
RWB: Nelson Semedo – 8/10 – Stood up tall throughout his one-on-one duels with Son within the first half.
CM: Mario Lemina – 7/10 – Combative in the course of the park, dropping deeper late on.
CM: Joao Gomes – 9/10 – Left wildly unmarked to move in simply his second Premier League aim. Busted a intestine to assist Neto earlier than firing in his third.
LWB: Rayan Ait-Nouri – 7/10 – Got up and down the left and did not shirk his bodily battles with Kulusevski.
RW: Pablo Sarabia – 7/10 – Whipped within the nook which assisted Gomes’ header.
ST: Hwang Hee-chan – 6/10 – Lifted over an excellent probability on the rebound early on.
LW: Pedro Neto – 8/10 – Looked threatening each time he remoted Emerson out vast. Scampered away and picked out Gomes for the winner.
Substitutes
SUB: Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (73′ for Sarabia) – 6/10 – Should have made it 3-1 but it surely proved tutorial.
SUB: Boubacar Traore (88′ for Hwang) – N/A
SUB: Matt Doherty (90′ for Neto) – N/A
Subs not used: Dan Bentley, Santiago Bueno, Hugo Bueno, Tommy Doyle, Tawanda Chirewa, Nathan Fraser.
Manager
Gary O’Neil – 8/10 – Another attribute efficiency from O’Neil’s facet, suffocating Spurs of any house to work with whereas pouncing on the counter.
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