Many thanks to Declan Mulcahy for this report:-
Sunday 13 April 2025, 2:00pm
Premier League
Wolverhampton Wanderers (2) 4 Tottenham Hotspur (0) 2
Wolves scorers:-
Ait-Nouri, 2
Spence, 38 (o.g)
Strand Larsen, 64
Cunha, 86
Spurs scorers:-
Tel, 59
Richarlison,, 85
Wolverhampton Wanderers (3-4-2-1): Vitor Pereira
1 J Sa; 2 M Doherty (4 S Bueno 45), 12 E Agbadou, 24 T Gomes; 22 N
Semedo (c), 7 Andre, 8 J Gomes (11 H-C Hwang 83), 3 R Ait-Nouri (10 M
Cunha 70); 5 M Munetsi, 27 J-R Bellegarde (21 P Sarabia 42); 9 J
Strand Larsen (19 R Gomes 70)
Subs not used: 25 D Bentley, 34 N Djiga, 6 B Traore, 59 M Mane
Booked: T Gomes (86 foul on Johnson)
Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3):
1 G Vicario; 14 A Gray, 17 C Romero (c), 33 B Davies, 24 D Spence; 29
P Sarr (L Bergvall 55), 8 Y Bissouma (R Bentancur 55), 10 J Maddison
(D Kulusevski 75); 22 B Johnson, 19 D Solanke (Richarlison 75), 11 M Tel.
Subs not used: 31 A Kinsky; 23 Pedro Porro, 13 D Udogie, 37 M van de
Ven, 47 M Moore
Booked: Bissouma (8 foul on Bellegarde), Davies (70 foul on Munetsi)
Molineux Stadium, Attendance: 31,463
Referee: Anthony Taylor.
Assistants: Gary Beswick, Wade Smith.
Fourth official: Rob Jones.
VAR: Michael Oliver.
Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis.
A comedy of errors but it isn't funny
Thanks to Cassim Patel for this picture
As preparation for the hugely important Europa League match away to
Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday this was far from ideal. Spurs
conceded a goal within two minutes. They ultimately lost 4-2 with all
four Wolves goals due to mistakes by the Spurs team. Even in a totally
mediocre season this display stood out for its ineptitude. It
certainly won't help the team's confidence levels for Thursday.
Ange Postecoglou only retained five players from Thursday night's team
against Frankfurt. Romero was the only survivor in the back four with
Gray, Spence and Davies replacing Porro, Udogie and van de Ven. The
latter was clearly being rested. Sarr and Bissouma came in to the
midfield for Bergvall and Bentancur. Tal was in the front three as Son
who had an injury didn't travel to Molineux. Kulusevski made a welcome
return to the bench. Notwithstanding the changes this was an
experienced Spurs eleven.
As expected Vitor Pereira did not start Matheus Cunha. The talented
but controversial Brazilian had just returned from a four-match
suspension for his second sending off this season. Both red cards were
for failing to control his emotions. He was on the bench.
Spurs self-destructed right after the game started. Sarr conceded a
free kick just to the left of the box. Bellegarde swung a high ball in
towards the far post. Vicario under pressure punched the ball weakly
towards the edge of the box. It fell to Ait-Nouri whose volleyed shot
hit the ground before scoring at the right post. This was the earliest
goal Wolves have ever scored in the Premier League.
A few minutes later following a Wolves attack Vicario's attempted
clearance went straight to Semedo in the box. He set up Strand Larsen
whose shot was wide. Spurs were very lucky not to be deservedly two
goals down in five minutes.
Spurs lost the ball in the Wolves half - a common feature today. Wolves
initiated a counter-attack and Bissouma pulled down Bellagarde to stop
it. He was booked for his troubles.
Ait-Nouri sent in a good cross but Strand Larsen's header was too high.
Spurs first effort came after about 20 minutes. A Maddison free kick
from the left was cleared but Spurs worked the ball back into the box.
Bissouma unleashed a goal-bound shot which brought a good save from Sa.
Tel created an opportunity with a cross from the left but Solanke's
effort was high. Romero came forward and set up Johnson but his snap
shot was also too high.
Wolves increased their lead thanks to more incompetence. Ait-Nouri's
cross resulted in a header on target from Bellegarde. Vicario parried
the ball but it hit Spence and deflected off him into the net.
Maddison went down in the box under pressure from Doherty but it
didn't justify the award of a penalty. Ait-Nouri provided another
fine cross from which Sarabia should have scored but he fluffed his
header. The final action of the half was a Maddison free kick but
Davies' header was too high.
Given the poor first half it wouldn't have been surprising if
Postecoglou had made changes but he elected not to do so. Bueno replaced
Doherty for Wolves.
An early counter-attack by Wolves put Munetsi clear but Spence made a
fine tackle to dispossess him.
Nine minutes into the half Postecoglou made his first changes with
Bentancur and Bergvall replacing Bissouma and Sarr. The changes had a
short positive impact. Bergvall made a great run from his own half
before setting up Johnson on the right. He crossed from the right
towards the far post. Semedo was there and should have intercepted the
ball. He failed to do so and Tel scored with a shot towards the right
post thus hitting the target in two consecutive league games.
Unfortunately the improvement was short lived. Ait-Nouri once again
made a dangerous intervention on the left. Romero was well positioned
in the box and should have stopped the attack. Ait-Nouri rounded him
with ease before setting up Strand Larsen at the far post who scored
with a shot.
Spurs won a free kick just outside the box in the centre of the pitch
but Maddison's effort was way too high.
With 20 minutes remaining Pereira replaced the outstanding Ait-Nouri
and Strand Larsen with Cunha and Gomes.
Davies was booked for a foul. Kulusevski and Richarlison replaced
Maddison and Solanke.
With about six minutes remaining Spurs won a corner on the left.
Bergvall's ball towards the far post was headed on first by Davies and
then Romero off the bar before Richarlison scored with a third header
from very close range. It was the only one of the six goals in the
game which didn't result from an opponents' error.
Unfortunately within 108 seconds normal service resumed. Bergvall was
caught in possession of the ball by Cunha. He got past Davies and
scored with a shot towards the centre of the goal.
This was one of the worst performances of the season. The timing is
unfortunate four days before a hugely important Europa League match
away from home.
The dreadful league season continues. Wolves who had spent the first
31 games in the bottom four are now up to sixteenth position one place
and two points behind sorry Spurs. They are now unbeaten in five
consecutive league games against Spurs something which hasn't happened
for 50 years. The last time Spurs lost three consecutive league games
at Molineux was in 1968. The last time Wolves scored four goals
against Spurs in a match was 1957 when Wolves were a top team.
Spurs have suffered ten Premier League away defeats this season and
only relegated Southampton, with 13, and Leicester City, with 11, have
worse away records. The only club that Ipswich Town, Leicester City
and Wolves have all won against in the league this season is Spurs.
There are now three clubs in the Premier League that Postecoglou has
played against four times without winning a game; Chelsea (lost all
four), Arsenal and Wolves (1 draw and 3 defeats each).
On Thursday Spurs face their most important game to date this season
in the quarter final second leg of the Europa League away to Eintracht
Frankfurt. It remains to be seen if this shambolic performance will
have an impact on that night. If Spurs win in Frankfurt there
continues to be something to play for. If they don't then the season
comes to a crashing halt with consequences for numerous people in the
club.
. Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
. Read the preview for this game.
. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats
