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As preparation goes for the biggest game of Tottenham’s season by some distance, this was an ominous if not pathetic performance. If it was not already the case, it increasingly feels like win or bust in the Europa League for Ange Postecoglou. After this defeat, a sixth in seven matches on the road, it is plausible to think Spurs could finish as low as 17th in the Premier League.
Spurs did not recover from conceding after just 85 seconds and a comical own goal by Djed Spence and a Jørgen Strand Larsen tap-in, after an error by their captain, Cristian Romero, were in keeping with a dreadful display.
Wolves’ fourth goal, courtesy of Matheus Cunha, was arguably the worst of the lot from a Spurs perspective, Lucas Bergvall punished for daydreaming close to halfway. It all surely made unedifying viewing for Daniel Levy, the Spurs chairman watching in the stands.
Postecoglou made six changes with the bigger picture in mind, with Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie among those rested, but the manner of this defeat will surely dent confidence before the trip to Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday. Spurs struggled to penetrate a defence tightened by Vitor Pereira, and the reality is Mathys Tel’s strike stemmed from a Nélson Semedo mistake.
Until Richarlison’s close-range header with five minutes of normal time to play, after Romero headed a Bergvall corner against the crossbar, their only other effort on target was a first-half Yves Bissouma strike. Son Heung-min, who was missing altogether because of a foot injury, is expected to return for their trip to Germany. It remains to be seen whether a vulnerable Spurs side can cope with the pressure of a game of such significance, for both the club and Postecoglou.
Spurs were in trouble from the moment Pape Matar Sarr sent Jean-Ricner Bellegarde tumbling with a soft but clumsy early foul. Guglielmo Vicario punched Bellegarde’s cross towards Rayan Aït-Nouri. His strike was not the cleanest but sufficient to beat Vicario.
A two-minute check by the video assistant referee cleared the offside Marshall Munetsi, who was to Vicario’s right, of affecting play. That goal seemed to unsettle Spurs and Vicario apologised a few minutes later after his sloppy pass, meant for Ben Davies, was intercepted and Strand Larsen scrambled a shot wide.
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Wolves’ second goal was laughable from Postecoglou’s point of view. Aït-Nouri’s cross looped into the air off Brennan Johnson and into the box. Vicario saved Munetsi’s effort, the faintest of headers from close range, but the rebound bobbled in off of Spence. Postecoglou cussed on the sidelines, shaking his head. It was a similar story when Cunha wrapped up victory.
