Three things we learned from Tottenham draw as familiar weakness returns in missed opportunity | OneFootball

Victory would have moved Spurs to within two points of the top of the table but they stumbled against Wolves

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri

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Instead it was a 1-1 draw, Palhinha running to the corner and whipping his shirt off after finding the back of the net. Most in the stands, though, did not leave in particularly celebratory mood.

This was a sluggish, disjointed performance, particularly in the second half, and Spurs barely had a chance of note after the break until their goal.

Frank and his players now face tricky away tests against Bodo/Glimt and Leeds before the international break and they must significantly improve.

Familiar narrative for Spurs

Spurs had the chance to go just two points off Liverpool at the top of the table and they were facing a Wolves side who had not picked up a Premier League point this season.

This match also came on a day when Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United were all beaten - it felt too good to be true for Spurs and so it proved as they wasted a huge chance to gain significant ground on rivals.

These are the type of fixtures Spurs have slipped up in over the years, handing first Premier League wins of the season to Ipswich and Crystal Palace last term.

Frank has changed a lot already since taking charge but poor displays against out-of-form teams have seemingly carried over into his tenure.

It is more than three years since Spurs last beat Wolves and this result makes it six without a win against them. There were boos from some fans at full-time but past experiences means most were probably not surprised.

This was another frustrating night for Spurs against Wolves

AFP via Getty Images

Frank unable to find answers with tweaks

Spurs still had the best part of 40 minutes to respond after falling behind but the response to that Wolves goal was incredibly poor.

There was a panic to the Spurs players, not helped by the home fans becoming increasingly agitated. Guglielmo Vicario hurriedly booted the ball straight out of play on more than one occasion, leaving not just the supporters frustrated but Frank too.

The Spurs boss might also be frustrated with his tactical tweaks, which had little impact and left Spurs looking confused for much of the second period.

Brennan Johnson and Pedro Porro were brought on after an hour in a complete change on the right flank, as Mohammed Kudus shifted over to the left.

Later in the half, Mathys Tel came on for Destiny Udogie in a shift to a back three and it left huge spaces in midfield and at the back. There was no platform from which Spurs could build attacks and pile the pressure on the Wolves defence.

The equaliser came from substitute Pape Matar Sarr laying the ball off for Palhinha, but overall this felt like a match where Frank’s changes and tweaks, of which there were maybe too many, did not help change the momentum.

Thomas Frank struggled to find answers as Spurs toiled

AFP via Getty Images

Kudus the man Spurs turn to

When Xavi Simons signed for Spurs in the final days of the summer transfer window, it felt inevitable that he would become the chief creative threat and the man his team turned to for moments of inspiration.

That might eventually come but for now it is Kudus who you would most rely on for moments of magic.

He had the beating of Hugo Bueno and was electric for much of the first half. Kudus had a goal ruled out for offside after lovely combination play with Lucas Bergvall, while only an outstanding Sam Johnstone save tipped his header onto the bar.

There were dangerous crosses too, one of which was acrobatically turned over by Bergvall and another deflected just out of Richarlison's path.

Tellingly, Simons was brought off in the second half even with Spurs pushing for an equaliser, while Kudus stayed on and was shifted across the pitch.

Having started on the right, he moved over to the left when Brennan Johnson came on and then finished the match at No10. His importance to this Spurs side is key.