0-1 v Wolverhampton Wanderers - 12 December 2009 - Home

Wolves achieved successive top-flight victories for the first time in 26 years after edging out Tottenham.

They struck after only three minutes when Kevin Doyle got the faintest of headers on a cross from Nenad Milijas.

Jermain Defoe had a near-post volley saved, Robbie Keane headed over and Niko Kranjcar struck a volley wide as Spurs struggled to find a way back.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake twice sent a shot narrowly wide but Wolves had done enough to move out of the bottom three.

Wolves's win, which was their first top-flight success in the capital since 1976, was reward for a tenacious, determined and disciplined display as they effectively suffocated Spurs.

Boss Mick McCarthy would have been aware that Tottenham have been in free-scoring form at home of late, notching 13 goals in their last three games at White Hart Lane.

But McCarthy, up against Spurs manager Harry Redknapp for the first time, formulated a plan to nullify that threat and it was executed superbly by his players. They were helped by the hosts lacking their usual cut and thrust, but it would be unfair to not give Wolves a lot of credit for stifling their opponents.

And for a side that went into the game having kept only one clean sheet all season, Wolves showed tremendous resilience, not to say improvement, to hang on to their lead.

They could hardly have had longer to keep Tottenham at bay after taking the lead with their first attack of the afternoon when the impressive Milijas curled in a free-kick and Doyle glanced the ball in.

It was Doyle's fourth goal of the season and made him joint top scorer with centre-back Jody Craddock - a statistic that goes some way to explain why Wolves had won only one game away from home.

Inevitably, Wolves's strategy was to sit back and protect their advantage - cue an afternoon of frustration for Spurs, who were even booed by their own fans.

Despite the game mostly being played in Wolves's half, Spurs could not find a penetrative pass.

Defoe's 25-yard shot was easy for Marcus Hahnemann, Craddock's intervention helped Robbie Keane's shot over the bar and the Irishman later headed over.

Aaron Lennon, quiet throughout, hit a tame shot at Hahnemann, who also got down well to deal with Defoe's volley, while Tom Huddlestone poked an effort wide.

In fact, the clearer chances fell the way of Wolves, with Ebanks-Blake going close after a breakaway and much later the striker had a shot that was deflected narrowly wide.

Tottenham's desperation was evident, with high balls going into the box aimed at substitute Peter Crouch but nothing came from them.

Redknapp had also brought on Luka Modric for his first game since he broke his leg back in August but still opportunities were hard to come by.

When Spurs did fashion a decent chance, Kranjcar hit his volley into the ground and wide.

Huddlestone did manage to test Hahnemann with a fierce drive but the American was equal to it.

And it was no more than Wolves deserved as they shut Tottenham out and earned three points that could prove vital at the end of the season.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp: "It was frustrating - we conceded early on and then could not break them down.

"We had lots of possession but we did not find that cutting edge to open them up. We probably had 80% of the possession but they defended very well.

"Full credit to Wolves - Mick McCarthy has done a great job there."