Unfocused, disorganised Tottenham suffer worst possible preparation for Eintracht Frankfurt | OneFootball

Ange Postecoglou blamed ‘unusual’ errors but Wolves defeat suggested a wider failing with the team ahead of do-or-die Europa League clash

There is, however, now a very real possibility that Spurs will finish this season on a new low, as the 'worst of the rest' in the Premier League, with only resurgent Wolves and West Ham - who host Postecoglou's side on May 3 - between them and the bottom three.

The top-flight, of course, long since ceased to matter for Spurs and there remains a chance the campaign could also finish on a historic high if they win the Europa League.

Another rough afternoon at Molineux was, though, dreadful preparation for Thursday's quarter-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt, Spurs' only remaining hope of salvation this term.

Defeat at Molineux was a dreadful way to warm up for Thursday’s quarter-final return leg in Germany

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Three of Postecoglou's most important players - Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero and Lucas Bergvall - will travel to Germany on the back of poor mistakes leading to goals, dealing their confidence a blow.

Vicario twice flapped at crosses in the first half to gift Wolves a 2-0 lead through Rayan Ait-Nouri, who volleyed home the Italian's punch in the second minute, and a Djed Spence own goal.

On both occasions, Vicario was having to contend with slack marking from his outfield players, though he might have been stronger, particularly when pushing the ball directly into the oncoming Spence, leaving Postecoglou visibly exasperated after re-watching the goal on his dugout monitor.

After the break, Ait-Nouri robbed an overly-casual Romero to square for Jorgen Strand Larsen to make it 3-1 and Bergvall was pickpocketed by Matheus Cunha for Wolves fourth goal - the young Swede afterwards pounding the turf in frustration.

Postecoglou's suggestion that the errors were “unusual” and not a result of “tactical” or “organisational” failings could be read as an attempt to absolve himself from responsibility, though the sheer number of Spurs mistakes and from so many different players suggested a wider failing with the team.

Spurs were sloppy, unfocused and disorganised, crumbling at the slightest pressure from Wolves, who barely had to be at their best.

Spurs crumbled against Wolves and are in danger of finishing 17th in the Premier League

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Having twice hauled themselves back into the game with scrappy second-half goals, Mathys Tel converting Brennan Johnson's cross after Nelsen Semedo's botched clearance, and Richarlison nodding home from close range, on both occasions Spurs quickly conceded again to restore Wolves' two-goal cushion - clear evidence of their brittle mentality.

There was less than two minutes between Richarlison's head to make it 3-2 and Cunha robbing Bergvall and skipping away from Ben Davies to score.

Spurs lack of focus was perhaps understandable given the significance of the Frankfurt game, which is a one-off contest for a place in the quarter-final after a 1-1 draw in the first leg, but pointing at the Europa League and Postecoglou's rotation just feel like more excuses for a 17th loss in 32 league games this season.

First Spurs were losing because they were rebuilding; then they were losing because of an injury crisis; now they are losing because the Premier League does not matter.

All that said, the mood will dramatically change if they can raise their game against Frankfurt in a ferocious atmosphere, particularly if the upshot is a semi-final against Bodo/Glimt, who beat Lazio 2-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final.

The Norwegian champions are dangerous on their plastic pitch but their revenue of around £45million last year is roughly 12 times smaller than Tottenham's turnover, and the north Londoners would be strong favourites for that tie.

First they must get past Frankfurt, whose preparations for the second leg were significantly smoother.

They thrashed Heidenheim 3-0 at home to consolidate third-place in the Bundesliga and should be confident of inflicting another difficult away day on Spurs.