Tottenham 1-1 Wolves Match Report, Joao Palhinha rescues Spurs after flat second half

Joao Palhinha’s late equaliser against 20th placed Wolves rescues Spurs a draw as the points were shared at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

It would not be Tottenham if they did not make life difficult for themselves. A Wolves side with no points from five games, rock bottom of the table and badly out of form turned up in N17, and instead of being put to the sword, they left with their first point of the season.

A good first-half display was followed by a sloppy and disjointed second half from the hosts, and it could have been a lot worse had Joao Palhinha not rescued a point after Spurs gifted the visitors their opener.

Thomas Frank named a starting XI that was strong enough to overpower a struggling Wolves team but fans were left frustrated as to why Xavi Simons did not start in the number 10 role, a position where he had impressed in recent weeks.

First half: Tottenham 0-0 Wolves

Spurs came out sharp and nearly went ahead early when Mohammed Kudus rose at the back post to meet a Xavi Simons cross. He headed goalwards, but Sam Johnstone reacted quickly, tipping the effort onto the bar.

Destiny Udogie then drove forward on a counter and threaded a pass into Lucas Bergvall. A deflection forced the ball awkwardly into his path, and the teenager could only scuff a volley straight into Johnstone’s gloves.

The breakthrough seemed to arrive through a lovely move between Kudus and Bergvall. The Ghanaian slid in the youngster who flicked the ball back with a neat backheel before Kudus finished past Johnstone. Unfortunately, it was a shame the flag was up and the goal was ruled out for a clear offside.

Udogie then linked up with Richarlison and burst into the box, but delayed his decision too long, allowing Matt Doherty to recover.

Bergvall went for the spectacular shortly after, connecting with an overhead kick from a Kudus corner that was not far off target.

Kudus himself later cut inside onto his right and drew a flying save from Johnstone, before almost laying one on a plate for Richarlison with an outrageous outside-of-the-boot cross that was just out of reach.

At the other end, Wolves almost nicked one right before half-time when Doherty’s effort from a corner hit the post. It was the visitors’ first real chance, and the half ended goalless.

Second half: Tottenham 1-1 Wolves

Wolves made two changes at the break while Spurs made none, and the difference was immediate. Tottenham switched off and conceded within 10 minutes of the restart.

A corner was met by Krejci, whose header was saved by Guglielmo Vicario, but the loose ball deflected off Palhinha and was destined to roll over the line before Hugo Bueno poked it in on the line.

Suddenly, Wolves looked transformed, and Frank’s substitutions only made matters worse. Kudus, the best player on the pitch in the first half, was shifted out to the left to make way for Brennan Johnson, who offered nothing on the right while Kudus disappeared from the game after that switch.

Wolves almost doubled their lead when Bueno was played through and forced a sharp stop from Vicario with his outstretched foot. Spurs did muster a chance of their own when Pedro Porro sent in a perfect cross for Richarlison, but the Brazilian’s header was nowhere near the target.

The boos began to ring out around the stadium as the game ticked into injury time, but Joao Palhinha stepped up. Mathys Tel did well on the left to cut the ball back into the box, where Pape Matar Sarr laid it off for the Portuguese midfielder. Palhinha curled a first-time finish into the bottom corner to rescue Spurs at the death.

There was little time left for either side to threaten again, and the whistle went with the points shared.

FT: TOTTENHAM HOSTPUR 1-1 WOLVES

Spurs Web man of the match: Joao Palhinha

What’s next for Spurs?

The late equaliser lifted Spurs from seventh to third in the table, though Frank will know he got this one wrong. The first half was typically Spurs, but once he tinkered, the team collapsed.

Simons did not start in his best role and when eventually moved into the number 10 late on, he was already out of rhythm. Richarlison endured a miserable evening with the fewest touches of any Spurs player, completing just five passes and never looking like scoring. Pressure will surely mount once Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani return from injury.

Kudus was excellent before being moved out wide, completing the most dribbles of the match and looking Spurs’ sharpest threat.

Spurs now have three days to prepare for a trip to the Arctic Circle to face familiar opponents Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday.