As preparation goes for the biggest game of Tottenham’s season by some distance, this was an ominous if not pathetic performance. If it did not do so already, then it increasingly feels like win or bust in the Europa League for Ange Postecoglou. After this defeat, a sixth in seven away games in all competitions, it is plausible to think Spurs could finish as low as 17th in the Premier League and the numbers suggest they should; only the bottom three have lost more matches in the division than them this season.
Spurs did not recover from conceding after 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 careless and 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, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie among those rested, but the manner of this defeat will surely dent confidence for the trip to Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday. The body language as Spurs’ players traipsed off the pitch said as much.
“They shouldn’t be in a bad headspace,” Postecoglou said. “We need to recover physically and mentally … The game on Thursday is massive for us.”
Spurs struggled to penetrate a Wolves defence tightened by Vítor Pereira and the reality is Mathys Tel’s strike to halve the deficit approaching the hour stemmed from a Nélson Semedo mistake, a lazy attempt at a clearance. Until Richarlison’s close‑range header with five minutes of normal time to play, after Romero headed against the crossbar, their only other effort on target was a first‑half strike by Yves Bissouma.
The positives for Spurs were limited largely to those not here, though Dejan Kulusevski has his first minutes since February, as a substitute. Wilson Odobert and Son Heung-min, who was missing because of a foot injury, are expected to be fit for Thursday. It remains to be seen whether a vulnerable side can cope with the pressure of such a significant game, for club and manager.
Nobody in blue emerged with any real credit. Tottenham were overpowered in midfield, easy to curb in attack. Guglielmo Vicario was shaky in goal and he seemed to transmit nerves to the rest of his defence. Ben Davies struggled all game and was eventually booked for taking out Marshall Munetsi. After Cunha pinched possession from Bergvall, Davies dived in to stop Cunha but the Brazilian nicked the ball past him and seconds later he was pointing towards his ear as the South Bank sang his name. Just like Postecoglou against Chelsea, his intention was obvious.
Spurs were in trouble from the moment Pape Matar Sarr sent Jean‑Ricner Bellegarde tumbling with a soft but clumsy early foul. Vicario punched Bellegarde’s cross towards Rayan Aït-Nouri. His strike was not the cleanest but beat Vicario. A check by the video assistant referee cleared the offside Munetsi, to Vicario’s right, of affecting play. That goal seemed to unsettle Spurs and Vicario apologised a few minutes later after his sloppy pass led to Strand Larsen scrambling a shot wide.
Wolves’ second goal was laughable from a Spurs point of view. Aït‑Nouri’s cross looped into the air off Brennan Johnson and into the box. Vicario saved the weakest of headers from Munetsi but the rebound bobbled in off Spence. Postecoglou cussed on the sidelines, shaking his head. Soon it was Romero looking to the skies after he failed to deal with a routine ball into the channel. The Argentina defender lost concentration and Aït‑Nouri seized the ball before picking out Strand Larsen towards the back post for an easy finish. Postecoglou bemoaned a stream of individual errors. “It’s not like they’re doing it on purpose,” he said.
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Cunha gave Wolves the buffer they deserved after Richarlison made the scoreline more respectable. After Wolves made it four top-flight wins in a row for the first time since 1972, the thoughts of Pereira, whom Postecoglou faced while the pair were working in Asia, turned to joining supporters at the pub. “Every time,” Pereira said, smiling, having been spotted at the local Wetherspoons and the Giffard Arms in recent weeks.
“My life here is very simple: either I stay at home or I go to be with the supporters and get the energy from them to recharge me.”
Even if Postecoglou triumphs in Europe, his bond with Tottenham supporters feels beyond repair.