2-1 v Wolverhampton Wanderers - 15 December 2019 - Away

Tottenham Hotspur Badge

Spurs 2

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wolverhampton Wanderers

1

  • Traoré
    67'
Details
Match Number

7392

Opposition
Wolverhampton wanderers

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Competition
Premier League

Premier League

Season

2019/20

Date

15th December 2019

Kick Off

14:00

Venue

Molineux

Attendance

31,674

Referee

Stuart Attwell

VAR

David Coote

League Position

5th

Opposition League Position

8th

Opposition Form

DDWWDL

Weather at Kick Off

5.8° - Snow

Facts & Milestones
  • 7356th overall match (3521 wins, 1610 draws, 2212 losses)

  • 5759th competitive match (2606 wins, 1342 draws, 1811 losses)

  • team

    100th match vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (48 wins, 21 draws, 31 losses)

  • competition

    1055th Premier League match (453 wins, 262 draws, 340 losses)

  • 6711th match in England (3167 wins, 1498 draws, 2033 losses)

  • 51st match at Molineux (18 wins, 9 draws, 24 losses)

  • 13th consecutive match with a goal scored

  • Dele Alli
    Dele Alli: 200th appearance
  • There were 6 changes to the starting lineup from the last match.

Against STATS For
19 Attempts 9
5 Attempts on Target 5
0.9 xG 0.9
58% Possession 42%
649 Touches 546
407 Passes Completed 287
550 Passes Attempted 406
74.0% Pass Completion 70.7%
33 Crosses 10
18 Throw-ins 17
11 Corners 2
9 Tackles 10
5 Blocks 16
13 Interceptions 11
14 Fouls 10
4 Yellow Cards 4
0 Offsides 1
Report

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho said his side had won an "incredible three points" against a Wolves team he believes can challenge for the Champions League places.

Jan Vertonghen scored a dramatic late winner as Spurs ended Wolves' 11-match unbeaten Premier League run to narrow the gap on the top four with victory at Molineux.

Vertonghen headed in from a corner in injury time, after Wolves' relentless approach had been rewarded as Adama Traore thumped in a deserved equaliser from the edge of the box midway through the second half.

On Wolves, Mourinho said: "My feeling is they are fighting for more than they said. They are not just there for the top six. They can do more. They are a fantastic team. This is a big victory.

"This game is a special game because the opponent is a special opponent. Nuno [Espirito Santo] has to be very proud of Wolves' record."

On his own side's progress, he added: "We went about a year without winning a Premier League game away and we've managed two in a short amount of time. Now we are not looking to the bottom of the table, we're looking higher up."

Following a breathless opening period, Lucas Moura's mazy run and exquisite finish into the roof of the net had put Tottenham ahead after eight minutes.

Spurs had to withstand intense pressure as Wolves chased an equaliser, but it was they who went closest before half-time as Eric Dier struck the post from Dele Alli's delightful, dinked pass.

Tottenham goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga produced an excellent save from Romain Saiss' header in the closing stages as Mourinho's visitors appeared to be hanging on, before Vertonghen's decisive goal.

Victory sees Tottenham climb above Wolves to fifth, three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea who they face next Sunday (16:30 GMT).

Ahead of his side's trip to Molineux, Tottenham boss Mourinho made clear his belief that Spurs will qualify for next season's Champions League via a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Vertonghen's late header has suddenly turned that into a very realistic prospect, with Spurs set to welcome the Blues - who slumped to a fourth league defeat in five against Bournemouth on Saturday - to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next weekend.

Aiming for a fifth consecutive top-four finish, Spurs have narrowed an 11-point gap to the Champions League places with four wins from five league games since Mourinho's appointment.

With the top-four door ajar, Spurs made a purposeful start as Son Heung-min saw an attempt stopped by Rui Patricio, but it did not take long for their early enthusiasm to pay off as Moura's fast feet and emphatic finish stunned Wolves.

A second goal always appeared crucial for Mourinho's side, who had conceded at least two goals in five of their six games under the Portuguese prior to kick-off, as the energetic hosts dominated in possession and territory.

Often unconvincing, the Spurs backline weathered the storm and allowed for counter opportunities - but Dier was unable to provide the finish that Alli's sublime pass over the Wolves defence deserved.

Outplayed and having not kept a clean sheet away from home since New Year's Day - a club-record run of 16 matches - Traore's equaliser came as no surprise.

What will delight Mourinho, however, was the determined manner of his side's response to conceding, and a confidence-boosting late winner that puts their top-four hopes firmly in their own hands.

As the halfway stage of the season approaches, a Wolves side which could be forgiven for suffering a hint of fatigue played with an intensity and determination that was fully deserving of a point - if not all three.

Nuno Espirito Santo has praised his players' commitment and togetherness during their packed campaign, which has seen them play 31 games as they juggle domestic competition with their first European campaign in almost 40 years.

Wolves typically relish their match-ups with the Premier League's big sides and responded to their early setback in style with a swashbuckling home display.

The ever-improving Traore's low drive forced Gazzaniga into action, while Raul Jimenez dragged wide and Diogo Jota saw an attempt blocked following a swift counter as the hosts began to pick their way through the Tottenham defence.

Despite contesting their fifth game in 15 days, Wolves pressed and harried Spurs, boasting 87.5% of possession in the final five minutes of the first half, but to no avail.

They emerged in the second half with the same intent, as Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves continued to dictate the play and Jimenez again went close before Traore's spectacular equaliser after 67 minutes.

A menace all game, Toby Alderweireld and Vertonghen struggled to cope with Traore's frightening pace down the right, with Spurs resorting to fouling the 23-year-old as he threatened to burst away on several occasions.

With a point on the horizon, conceding in the 91st minute will come as a huge disappointment to Nuno's side - though once the dust settles they will surely feel proud of another excellent showing.

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho: "We knew the game was going to be difficult. They didn't catch us by surprise. We had a very good start like we tried to. We almost scored a second goal but against Wolves that would not have killed the game.

"We knew if we arrive in the last part we could score. After that we had to close the door for the last five minutes. Three incredible points."

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo: "Of course I'm pleased with the performance. We played very good. We weren't perfect, almost. We should have defended better. We played well and created chances. I'm very pleased with the boys.

"The final moments require a lot of focus. We must stay in the game until the end. We were more obsessed about scoring than defending."

Timeline
KO
HT

João Moutinho

60'

Jonny

65'

Adama Traoré

67'

Romain Saïss

75'

Leander Dendoncker

89'
FT
Location
League Table
# Team PL W D L GF GA GD PTS
1
Liverpool
17 16 1 0 42 14 28 49
2
Leicester city
17 12 3 2 40 11 29 39
3
Manchester city
16 10 2 4 44 19 25 32
4
Chelsea
17 9 2 6 31 25 6 29
5
Sheffield united
17 6 7 4 21 16 5 25
6
Manchester united
16 6 6 4 25 19 6 24
7
Wolverhampton wanderers
16 5 9 2 23 19 4 24
8
Tottenham Hotspur Badge Tottenham Hotspur
16 6 5 5 30 23 7 23
9
Arsenal
16 5 7 4 24 24 0 22
10
Crystal palace
16 6 4 6 14 18 -4 22
11
Newcastle united
17 6 4 7 17 24 -7 22
12
Burnley
17 6 3 8 22 29 -7 21
13
Brighton hove albion
16 5 4 7 20 24 -4 19
14
Afc bournemouth
17 5 4 8 19 24 -5 19
15
West ham united
17 5 4 8 19 28 -9 19
16
Everton
16 5 2 9 19 28 -9 17
17
Aston villa
17 4 3 10 23 30 -7 15
18
Southampton
17 4 3 10 18 36 -18 15
19
Norwich city
17 3 3 11 18 35 -17 12
20
Watford
17 1 6 10 9 32 -23 9
# Team PL W D L GF GA GD PTS
1
Liverpool
17 16 1 0 42 14 28 49
2
Leicester city
17 12 3 2 40 11 29 39
3
Manchester city
17 11 2 4 47 19 28 35
4
Chelsea
17 9 2 6 31 25 6 29
5
Tottenham Hotspur Badge Tottenham Hotspur
17 7 5 5 32 24 8 26
6
Manchester united
17 6 7 4 26 20 6 25
7
Sheffield united
17 6 7 4 21 16 5 25
8
Wolverhampton wanderers
17 5 9 3 24 21 3 24
9
Crystal palace
17 6 5 6 15 19 -4 23
10
Arsenal
17 5 7 5 24 27 -3 22
11
Newcastle united
17 6 4 7 17 24 -7 22
12
Burnley
17 6 3 8 22 29 -7 21
13
Brighton hove albion
17 5 5 7 21 25 -4 20
14
Afc bournemouth
17 5 4 8 19 24 -5 19
15
West ham united
17 5 4 8 19 28 -9 19
16
Everton
17 5 3 9 20 29 -9 18
17
Aston villa
17 4 3 10 23 30 -7 15
18
Southampton
17 4 3 10 18 36 -18 15
19
Norwich city
17 3 3 11 18 35 -17 12
20
Watford
17 1 6 10 9 32 -23 9
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