Wolves 0-1 Tottenham: Spurs show fight in relegation battle | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur have shown that they won’t be going down without a fight this season, winning their first game since December thanks to a late goal from João Palhinha.

Spurs remain inside the relegation zone, two points behind cross-city rivals West Ham United, who also won this afternoon.

As It Happened

Roberto De Zerbi made just a single change to his Spurs side for this one, with Djed Spence replacing Destiny Udogie. Meanwhile, the Wolves side saw five changes from their 3-0 defeat to Leeds last time out. Randell Kolo-Muani registered the first shot of the afternoon after 11 minutes, but his right-footed effort flew well wide of José Sá’s goal.

Pedro Porro attempted a rather speculative volley minutes later, which sailed into the Wolves fans behind the goal. The hosts’ first real chance to threaten came just shy of the half-hour mark, but Hugo Bueno saw his shot crucially blocked by Dominic Solanke.

Solanke was withdrawn due to injury shortly before the break and replaced by Richarlison, Spurs’ top scorer so far this season. The first yellow card of the afternoon was shown to André on the stroke of half-time for a reckless tackle on Yves Bissouma before the sides went in level. Mathys Tel was introduced at the break, replacing Kolo Muani.

As the news of West Ham’s opener broke around Molineux, Xavi Simons danced through Wolves’ defence in search of a goal himself, but the Dutchman fired high and wide from inside the area. Two yellow cards came shortly after, with Bueno and Porro added to the referee’s notebook.

Spurs lost another man to injury on the hour mark, this time Simons, who was replaced by Lucas Bergvall. João Palhinha was also introduced at the same time to replace Bissouma. Mateus Mané came flying in at the back post shortly after, but he couldn’t keep his header down.

Rodrigo Bentancur was shown a yellow in the 65th minute after he took out Mané, who was steaming on to the ball. Bueno nearly netted a pearler from the resulting free-kick, but the ball drifted just inches wide. Bentancur met Porro’s corner at the other end with a powerful header, but he was denied by a superb save from Sá.

Connor Gallagher and Matt Doherty clashed with a sliding challenge from both in the middle of the park, with Doherty coming out on top and won the ball whilst Gallagher received a yellow card. Adam Armstrong looked to break the deadlock late in the day, but the 29-year-old headed over the crossbar from close range.

However, it was Spurs who found the opener when Palhinha slid in at the back post and found the back of the net, a goal that could prove vital to their season.

Rob Edwards responded with a double change that saw Hwang Hee-Chan and Jackson Tchatchoua replace Doherty and Pedro Lima. Further changes came for both in injury time, Radu Dragusin replaced Gallagher for Spurs, whilst Bueno was withdrawn in favour of David Møller Wolfe for the hosts.

João Gomes was shown a yellow card by the referee in the final moments of the game, as was Kavin Danso of Spurs, conceding a free-kick in a dangerous area. However, Anthony Kinksy was equal to the strike from Gomes with a brilliant save to keep the ball out of the top-right corner.