Wolves made it four straight wins in the Premier League and handed Tottenham Hotspur another embarrassing defeat on Sunday, as Vitor Pereira’s side scored early (and late) and often (and easily) in a 4-2 victory at Molineux Stadium.
WATCH – Wolves vs Tottenham Hotspur full match replay
It was 1-0 to the home side less than 90 seconds after kickoff, and just the start of Guglielmo Vicario’s miserable day in goal. Vicario initially punched a free kick away but it didn’t even make it out of his penalty area before Rayan Ait-Nouri smashed a side-volley into the ground and found the back of the net from the edge of the box. Vicario gave the ball away inside his own box just four minutes later and only avoided conceding because Jorgen Strand Larsen’s shot went wide of the post. Djed Spence was charged with the own goal that made it 2-0 in the 38th minute, but it was Vicario’s indecisiveness and another weak parry that caused it.
Mathys Tel gave Spurs a lifeline in the 59th minute, but that was short-lived as Strand Larsen poked home an empty-netter just five minutes later. Again, Spurs clawed their way back through Richarlison in the 85th but Matheus Cunha marked his return from suspension with a goal a minute later, dispossession Lucas Bergvall with ease and going all by himself to beat Vicario.
Wolves (35 points) are up to 16th in the PL table, now just two points behind Tottenham Hotspur in 15th.
Wolves stock rising, Spurs stock plummeting
With four straight wins over the likes of Southampton, West Ham, Ipswich and now Spurs, Wolves just keep beating up on teams currently in the bottom-six of the PL table, and suddenly they find themselves one more win away from exiting said doldrums themselves — if they can beat another struggling side, Manchester United, next weekend. Six of Wolves’ 10 PL wins have come in their last nine games (eight of 10 have come Vitor Pereira, who made his debut on Dec. 22), after the side lost 15 of 23 games to start the season. On the flip side, should Spurs progress in the Europa League on Thursday, there is a very real chance they finish 17th, the last of the un-relegated sides, this season. On the flip flip side, there is a very real chance Postecoglou could be out of a job on Friday if they lose on Thursday.
Player ratings - Wolves vs Tottenham Hotspur (via FotMob.com)
What’s next?
- Eintracht Frankfurt vs Tottenham Hotspur — Thursday, 3 pm ET (Europa League)
- Manchester United vs Wolves — Sunday, 9 am ET
- Tottenham Hotspur vs Nottingham Forest — Sunday, 11:30 am ET
Wolves vs Tottenham Hotspur live updates - by Andy Edwards
Wolves vs Tottenham Hotspur final score: 4-2
Goalscorers: Rayan Ait-Nouri (2'), Djed Spence (38' - OG), Mathys Tel (59'), Jorgen Strand Larsen (64'), Richarlison (85'), Matheus Cunha (86')
GOAL! Wolves 4-2 Spurs: Cunha takes the ball off Bergvall and Davies, beats Vicario (86')
GOAL! Wolves 3-2 Spurs: Richarlison heads home from close range (85')
GOAL! Wolves 3-1 Spurs: Strand Larsen scores after Romero loses possession (64')
GOAL! Wolves 2-1 Spurs: Tel turns home Johnson’s cross (59')
GOAL! Wolves 2-0 Spurs: Vicario palms the ball on to Spence and in (38')
GOAL! Wolves 1-0 Spurs: Ait-Nouri side-volleys a cleared free kick (2')
Wolves starting lineup
Sa - Doherty, Agbadou, T. Gomes - Semedo, J. Gomes, Andre, Ait-Nouri - Munetsi, Bellegarde, Strand Larsen
Spurs starting lineup
Vicario - Gray, Romero, Davies, Spence - Bissouma, Sarr, Maddison - Johnson, Tel, Solanke
How to watch Wolves vs Tottenham Hotspur live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 9am ET Sunday
Venue: The Molineux — Wolverhampton
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock
Wolves sit 17th on the table but have improved their advantage over the bottom three to 12 points with just seven matches to play this season.
Spurs’ season has been a remarkable disappointment from health to performances, and Ange Postecoglou’s job status has become uncertain and perhaps even held above water by the club’s place in the Europa League quarterfinals. That tie took them through a tough 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday, and the 14th-place North Londoners may have one eye on the second leg as it is their route back to Europe at this point.
Wolves team news, focus
OUT: Pedro Lima (ankle), Yerson Mosquera (knee), Enso Medina (knee), Sasa Kalajdzic (knee), Leon Chiwome (knee - out for season)
Tottenham Hotspur team news, focus
OUT: Dejan Kulusevski (foot), Radu Dragusin (torn ACL - out for season), Kevin Danso (hamstring)
Wolves vs Tottenham Hotspur prediction
Matheus Cunha is back for Wolves, who are not only fresh but perhaps favored to win this fixture. Spurs were the better team at home to Eintracht Frankfurt but Heung-min Son and Dominic Solanke were again held in check. Son hasn’t scored since March 9 against Bournemouth and his lone assist came in the Europa League, while Solanke’s last goal came January 4 against Newcastle — That was 10 games ago. We’re going to use this to say they are overdue, however, perhaps putting one last bit of faith in Postecoglou and his magic. Wolves 1-1 Spurs.
