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Full time: Spurs 2-0 Wolves
Peep peep! A comfortable win takes Spurs above West Ham into sixth place. Harry Kane and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg got the goals, while Kane (twice) and a bright Dele Alli also hit the post. With the honourable exceptions of Conor Coady and Adama Traore, Wolves looked like a team in urgent need of a holiday.
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90 min “I feel you are attempting to re-write history here about Beckham in the 2002 World Cup,” says Rick Harris. “The guy had been rushed back to play for England following a metatarsal fracture, so he wisely jumped out of the type of full on tackle that would potentially have broken his foot again. The ball was 80 yards from the England goal at that point.”
There was a lot of talk about it at the time, that’s all I was saying. Not sure that’s why he jumped out of the tackle though.
89 min Spurs bring on Moussa Sissoko for Gareth Bale, who didn’t add to his recent goal glut but played well nonetheless.
88 min After good play from Son, Kane shoots straight at Rui Patricio from 20 yards.
87 min Neves’s long-range shot is blocked by Kane. Moments later, Saiss shins a volley so badly that it spins away from goal. In his defence, he’s a defender, and it was a very awkward ball to hit.
86 min Tanganga is booked for a cynical pull on an unidentified Wolves player.
82 min Tanguy Ndombele replaces Dele Alli, who has had a really encouraging game. And Wolves bring on the Canadian teenager Theo Corbeanu for Fabio Silva.
81 min “Am I a bad football fan because I don’t know what you’re referring to for Beckham vs Brazil 2002?” says Dan C. “I remember the match - well I thought I did.”
You’re barred sunshine! Er, no, you’re not a bad fan. It was in the build-up to Rivaldo’s equaliser just before half-time. Beckham thought the ball was going out of play so he hurdled a challenge, but Brazil kept the ball in play and were level approximately 0.2 seconds later. Hoever did something similar: he dithered by the touchline, thinking Reguilon was going nowhere and/or the ball was going out play. But Reguilon pinched the ball off him and Spurs were away.
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78 min Dendoncker’s classy pass releases Traore on the right. He finds Willian Jose in the area, but he has his back to goal so he tees up the onrushing Moutinho. His shot from the edge of the area is deflected wide. That was a really good move from Wolves.
76 min “I think I and most Tottenham fans would not begrudge Kane a move to a big overseas tea,” says Peter McLeod. “He’s got more than enough ability to be a multiple Champions League winner, like Modric and Bale. Would be gutted to see him win the PL with another club, that’s just the way it is. What does bother me (and a lot of others) is how much of the punditocracy thinks the only subject worth discussing when it comes to Tottenham is whether and where Kane goes. There’s an entire football club here!”
It’s a fair point. One thing that has surprised me in the last few months is how little coverage there has been of Son’s dramatic dip in form. I’m no Spurs mastermind, but from afar that looked like one of the biggest reasons it all went wrong for Mourinho.
75 min Moutinho is okay to continue.
74 min Tanganga is lucky not to be booked for booting Moutinho, who is in a lot of pain.
73 min Another Wolves change: Ruben Neves is on for Morgan Gibbs-White, who has had a quiet game but showed his creative potential when he set up that great chance for Fabio Silva in the 65th minute.
70 min And now Alli shoots well wide from 25 yards.
69 min Son’s corner from the right is headed over at the near post by Tanganga.
69 min A change for Spurs: Harry Winks replaces Lo Celso.
67 min Wolves have come alive since going 2-0 down. Fabio Silva, playing on the left now, cuts inside and hits a shot that is deflected behind for a corner.
66 min Traore, the one Wolves attacker beyond reproach today, zips menacingly between Dier and Hojbjerg in the area but then drags a left-footed shot wide of the near post.
65 min: Fabio Silva misses a sitter! Wolves should be back in it. Gibbs-White plays a neat give and go with Traore on the right, surges into the area and picks out Fabio Silva by the penalty spot. He tries to sidefoot it first time into the bottom-left corner but mistimes the shot badly and the ball dribbles well wide.
63 min Wolves make a change - Vitinha off, Willian Jose on.
Alli, on the halfway line, clipped a pass out to Reguilon on the left. His touch was poor but then he slid in to nick the ball off Hoever before cutting it back to Son on the edge of the area. He moved it across to Bale, whose first-time shot was pushed out by Patricio. Hojbjerg was first to the loose ball and scored easily from close range. There were two Wolves mistakes in that goal - Hoever losing the ball on the touchline (think Beckham v Brazil in 2002), and then Patricio pushing the ball out in front of goal rather than to his left.
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GOAL! Tottenham 2-0 Wolves (Hojbjerg 61)
The faithful watercarrier has his moment in the sun!
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61 min “Foderoy78 is dreaming if he thinks Kane will move abroad,” says Rick Harris. “Looking at the PL clubs that need him and are likely to reward him with winners medals, then Chelsea, United and Liverpool are the names that spring to mind. Manchester City don’t look likely to buy anyone this summer given their already talent bloated squad.”
I’m not sure he’ll leave this summer, except perhaps to PSG. It wouldn’t surprise me if he ended up in Manchester in the summer of 2022.
60 min Wolves haven’t been great today, but we shouldn’t forget that they are without three of their best players in Daniel Podence, Pedro Neto and Raul Jimenez. The season has been a write-off since Jimenez’s awful injury.
57 min “So much talk about how our defence is the problem despite being the third meanest in the league,” says Toby Thatcher. “So little talk about how our offensive strategy is best summarised as ‘receive ball, wait until pressed, panic, pass backwards + hope opposition makes a mistake or we get lucky with a 50/50 & hope Kane is there to capitalise’.”
I know what you mean, though I still think the new manager will fancy his chances with that collection of attacking players. A rejuvenated Alli would make a difference.
56 min Spurs are all over Wolves like a cheap cliche. Conor Coady has already made almost 15 clearances.
55 min Bale’s jaunty backheel finds Kane, who cracks a low shot towards goal from 20 yards. Patricio makes a comfortable save this time.
54 min: Kane and Alli hit the post! Well I never. That should have been a second goal for Spurs. Alli stole the ball off Moutinho in midfield, moved forward and played a classy through pass to Kane. His first time shot was pushed onto the post by Patricio, a quite outstanding save low to his right. The ball rebounded to Alli, who slid a low shot off the other post. That was lovely play in the build up from Alli, who waited an age until the right pass presented itself.
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53 min The corner leads to a bit of a scramble in the Wolves area before Patricio takes the ball off Alli’s toes.
52 min Lo Celso flicks a nice pass to his left for Reguilon, who charges into the area and cracks a rising drive that is pushed over by Patricio. It was a comfortable save in the end, and Reguilon should probably have done better.
50 min: Saiss misses a good chance! A Wolves free-kick is only half cleared, with Vitinha picking up possession on the left. He booms a superb first-time cross towards the far post, where Saiss gets between Kane and Alderweireld but heads straight at Lloris from eight yards. He must have mistimed the heade r because it bounced tamely into the arms of Lloris.
48 min “I disagree with Mary Waltz,” says Foderoy78. “Kane can go anywhere... abroad. All goodwill will evaporate if he goes to United.”
Really? That surprises me slightly. I thought it would be anywhere... outside London.
46 min Traore’s cross is cleared by Lo Celso, who slips and takes out Fabio Silva in his follow through. Silva went down in pain but I don’t think anybody appealed for a penalty.
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46 min Peep peep! Wolves begin the second half.
Half-time reading
“Where will Kane land?” says Mary Waltz. “I have no idea. But I am sure of this. He has righteously earned the right to go wherever he pleases. He has put up with the chaos that is Spurs for so long, he has played hurt, and he is simply a stunning footballer. He deserves to raise a trophy and I doubt that will happen with Spurs.”
Whatever happened to Gary Cooper? He’s there, Tony, up front for Tottenham Hotspur!
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Half time: Spurs 1-0 Wolves
Harry Kane’s goal gives Spurs a deserved lead at half-time. They started slowly but were increasingly dominant as the half progressed, and would have gone ahead earlier but for some fine defending from Conor Coady. Kane, who hit the post from distance early on, finished expertly on the stroke of half-time.
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GOAL GIVEN! Hojbjerg threads a stunning long pass between Saiss and Coady to find Kane, who is being played onside by the right-back Hoever. He moved into the area, dummied the sliding Coady and Patricio in one movement and clipped the ball into the empty net. That’s a masterful finish.
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GOAL! Spurs 1-0 Wolves (Kane 45)
Harry Kane gives Spurs the lead, VAR permitting.
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43 min: Coady clears off the line - twice! Lo Celso’s corner from the right is headed up in the air by Coady at the near post. Kane beats Patricio - who thought he was fouled - to the ball and heads towards goal from a couple of yards. Coady blocks it and then does the same a few seconds later when Lo Celso’s cross threatens to sneak in.
43 min Tanganga’s cross is kicked behind by Coady, who has made a number of important clearances.
41 min Bale skins Semedo on the right, gets to the byline and cuts the ball back towards Alli at the near post. He is just beaten to the ball by the lunging Saiss, who had to get that right or it would have been a penalty.
38 min: Good save from Rui Patricio! A quick-witted header from Kane finds Son in a bit of space on the left of the area. He moves the ball away from Coady and cracks a left-footed shot that is pushed away at the near post by Patricio. The ball ricochets off Dendoncker and back into the loving embrace of Patricio. That could easily have been an own goal from Dendoncker.
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35 min Moutinho plays a good ball inside the full-back for Semedo, whose imperfect low cross is cleared at the near post.
34 min Alli goes over in the area after a slight push in the back from Coady. He appeals for a penalty; nobody else does and play continues.
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33 min Saiss is lucky not to be booked for a foul on Alli, who beat him with a lovely deft touch.
30 min “Very obvious yesterday against Leicester that Chelsea are crying out for a top striker and while I can see a Werner-plus-cash bid for Dortmund’s Haaland, surely Harry Kane would more than fit the bill?” says Rick Harris. “Kane won’t win anything if he stays at Spurs and as the club has demonstrated that loyalty isn’t something they value if an ESL slot is on offer, I doubt Spurs fans would blame him for leaving.”
They would if he goes to Chelsea! I can’t see him joining another London club personally. He might not leave at all; I suppose it depends on who they appoint as manager, and what Kane thinks of them and their style of play.
29 min Traore heads a loose ball away from Alli and storms through the middle of the field. He runs 50 yards to the edge of the area before pushing the ball to the right for Silva, who shoots just wide of the far post. That was a decent chance, and another spectacular run from Traore.
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27 min Lovely play from Alli. He nutmegs Dendoncker on the right, then swerves away from Semedo near the byline and forces a cross towards the near post that is kneed behind by Coady. The referee gives a goalkick but it was definitely Coady’s touch.
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25 min I expected more intensity in Spurs’ play, partly because they need to win and partly as a response to their dismal performance at Leeds last week. Bale, who does look quite lively, has a shot well blocked by Saiss after running across the edge of the penalty area.
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23 min Free-kick to Spurs 35 yards from goal. Bale clips it over the top towards Kane, whose shot on the turn goes wide on the near post. That was an extremely difficult chance as he was running away from goal and had to take it on the half-volley as it came on his outside.
21 min Bale strikes the free-kick cleanly but it’s not in the corner and Rui Patricio holds it comfortably as he falls to his right.
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21 min Saiss commits a silly foul on Lo Celso 25 yards from goal. Bale and Kane are over it.
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20 min Lo Celso’s corner is headed away at the near post by Coady.
19 min Lo Celso’s long-range shot hits the head of Saiss and loops over the bar.
17 min Lo Celso threads a superb pass down the left towards Son. He tries to find Kane in the area but his cross is well blocked by Hoever.
14 min A quiet spell, with nothing to report.
10 min Traore goes on another charge through midfield and is brought down by Alli. That might have been a yellow card, but it wasn’t.
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8 min Traore leads a Wolves break, charging 60 yards before stabbing a pass to Fabio Silva on the right side of the box. His relatively tame shot takes a deflection and goes behind for a corner. Moutinho swings it in and Lloris claims at the second attempt.
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7 min Fabio Silva runs onto a long ball down the inside-left channel, holds off a woolly challenge from Dier and works Hugo Lloris from a very tight angle. There was never much chance of scoring from there, and it was an easy save for Lloris, but at least it was a shot on target.
6 min That was such a good effort from Kane, a simple turn and an instant hit. He really is a majestic player.
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5 min: Kane hits the post! Hojbjerg plays a short pass into Kane, unmarked 25 yards out. He turns and drags a terrific shot that beats Patricio and bounces up to hit the far post.
3 min Bale goes on his first run, away from Gibbs-White, but his cross is headed away.
1 min Peep peep! Spurs kick off on a beautiful afternoon in north London. They are in white; Wolves are wearing their Portugal kit.
The first game of the day was a cracker - it finished Palace 3-2 Villa
⚡️ Warm-ups underway in N17... 💪@Vivo_Power ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/sH268cVhf5
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 16, 2021
The teams in formation
Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1) Lloris; Tanganga, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon; Lo Celso, Hojbjerg; Bale, Alli, Son; Kane.
Substitutes: Hart, Doherty, Sanchez, Winks, Ndombele, Sissoko, Lamela, Bergwijn, Lucas Moura.
Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-2-3-1) Patricio; Hoever, Coady, Saiss, Semedo; Moutinho, Dendoncker; Traore, Vitinha, Gibbs-White; Fabio Silva.
Substitutes: Ruddy, Ait-Nouri, Marcal, Neves, Willian Jose, Boly, Cundle, Kilman, Corbeanu.
Referee Martin Atkinson.
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Pre-match entertainment
Team news
𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 ⚪️ Lloris (C), Tanganga, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilón, Højbjerg, Dele, Lo Celso, Bale, Son, Kane.#THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/w20GMOvIFs
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 16, 2021
Here's how Wolves line-up for this afternoon's @premierleague fixture against @SpursOfficial. #TOTWOL
— Wolves (@Wolves) May 16, 2021
🐺📋 pic.twitter.com/S7hh6QBXNn
Preamble
It’s already been a good weekend for Spurs. West Ham’s draw at Brighton last night means that a Europa League place is back in their admittedly slippery hands. If they win their last three games they will qualify, the end. It’s a mixed bag of fixtures: Wolves at home today, Aston Villa at home on Wednesday and Leicester away next Sunday.
The doom and gloom surrounding Spurs in the last few weeks obscures some pretty decent home form. They’ve won four of the last five, hitting 15 goals in the process, and are odds-on to beat Wolves today.
More than half of those 15 goals have been scored by Gareth Bale. In his second spell at Spurs, Bale has carved out a niche which, though not entirely virtuous, could be very useful this week. All nine of his Premier League goals have been at home to teams in the bottom half of the table. Wolves (12th) and Villa (11th) are eligible for punishment.
Kick off 2.05pm.
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