Thomas Frank must keep Dr Tottenham at bay against under-the-weather Wolves | OneFootball

No points, no goals away from home... but some hope for Wolves?

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

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The Dr Tottenham phenomenon is a long-standing one.

The idea goes that a struggling team or manager will find a match against Spurs the perfect cure for their woes.

Last season, Crystal Palace's winless start to the campaign was ended by victory over Spurs. Ipswich had not won a Premier League match when they arrived in north London in November but left later that afternoon with all three points.

David Moyes and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were among the other grateful patients. A 3-2 win in January was the Toffees' first under their returning manager and a goal from Calvert-Lewin in that match ended a 16-game run without finding the scoresheet.

This all brings us to Wolves, patiently sitting in the waiting room for their appointment. They are the only Premier League side yet to pick up a point this season and travel to take on Spurs in an 8pm kick-off tonight.

In charge: Thomas Frank

REUTERS

Thomas Frank has passed nearly every test he's faced in the Spurs dugout so far. He's made a winning start in the Champions League, progressed to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, and has his side sitting third in the table heading into the weekend's action.

The Dane has, at least for now, fixed the leaky defence and Spurs fans will be hoping that next on the agenda is shutting down surgery hours. Put simply, Spurs need to get in the habit of beating teams they should beat.

Under Ange Postecoglou last season, Spurs lost at home to Leicester and Ipswich. The team also have a strangely poor recent record against Wolves, who have won five of the past seven meetings between the two sides. Spurs have not beaten Wolves in more than three years.

Speaking on Friday, Frank was keen to emphasise that record as evidence that there will be no complacency from his side.

"You can see the games they have lost, except the [Man] City game, is very super tight," he said.

"So I expect a very difficult game. This is a team that the last five times we haven't been able to beat. So I think we are very fully aware that this is another game in the Premier League [where] you can take nothing for granted.

"You can't just think you can walk over any opponent. So we need to come flying out and be ready for it."

Revving up: Xavi Simons

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It is a game where Frank's side must show they can dominate on the front foot and put teams to the sword. If there has been a slight weakness in the opening weeks of the season, it has been the spells where Spurs have looked too safe and unproductive from open play.

Set-pieces have become an important weapon but matches like these are important for Spurs to prove they are just one tool in the armoury, rather than the entire battering ram.

Xavi Simons was handed a first start at No10 in midweek against Doncaster and again showed glimpses without really stealing the show. These are the matches where Spurs will be relying on him to unlock a defence, whether he plays centrally or out wide.

Wolves won in midweek in the Carabao Cup but have otherwise shown very little this season. Everton and Leeds both put three past them and they are yet to score on the road.

They arrive in north London under the weather - Spurs must ensure they do not leave on the mend.