Tottenham stumble again as Wolves pounce in Molineux mauling

Despite flashes of promise, Spurs' defensive lapses handed Wolves a deserved victory, leaving manager Ange Postecoglou to rue a string of costly mistakes.

Wolves struck early, with Rayan Ait-Nouri capitalising inside two minutes to set the tone.

The hosts doubled their lead when Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario's errant punch deflected off Djed Spence for a comical own goal. Though Matys Tel and Richarlison clawed Spurs back into contention with well-taken strikes, Wolves responded ruthlessly.

Jorgen Strand Larsen and Matheus Cunha pounced to restore the two-goal cushion, sealing Wolves' fourth straight top-flight win, a feat they last achieved in 1972.

Postecoglou, reflecting on the defeat, insisted his side showed quality despite the scoreline. "We controlled large parts and looked threatening, but we conceded poor goals," he said. "Individual errors hurt us today, which isn't typical for us. They're not deliberate, but they cost us."

Tottenham, now languishing in 15th, face mounting pressure as their Europa League campaign offers their only realistic shot at silverware. They head to Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday for a crucial quarter-final second leg, with the tie delicately poised at 1-1.

Recent updates from the club suggest Postecoglou retains the squad's backing, with captain Son Heung-min stating on X: "We're fighting for the gaffer and each other. Frankfurt is a big chance to show who we are."

For Wolves, the resurgence under Vitor Pereira continues to impress. Since his December arrival, they have surged clear of relegation danger, now sitting just two points behind Spurs.

Pereira, however, dismissed talk of mere survival. "I didn't come here to just stay up," he said. "We're building something bigger. Our mentality is to compete and win."

Pereira's decision to bench Cunha, fresh off a four-match ban, raised eyebrows, especially given the striker's recent comments hinting at a summer exit.

Quoted in an interview last week, Cunha said, "I love Wolves, but I have ambitions to play at the highest level." Yet Pereira downplayed any rift, stating, "Matheus is committed. He came on and played for the team, not himself. He's part of our family."

Wolves' latest triumph underscores their growing belief, while Spurs' struggles deepen. With Frankfurt looming, Postecoglou's men need a response, fast.

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