EPL: Spurs Stunned By Wolves At Home

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Wolves profited from two unfortunate defensive errors to stun Tottenham 0-2 at the Tottenham Stadium, as the visitors avenge their reverse fixture loss to the North London side.

Raul Jimenez and Leander Dendoncker were the two players who capitalized on these lapses to inflict on Tottenham their second successive home loss in the league.

Looking to tweak his team, Antonio Conte granted a first league start to winter arrival, Rodrigo Bentacur, while also giving the nod to former Wolves player, Matt Doherty and Ryan Sessegnon as both players featured as wing backs.

Bruno Lage switched to a five-man midfield as he granted a league debut to academy graduate, Luke Cundle. Rayan Ait Nouri also started in place of Marcal at left back.

The gates were opened as early as the 6th minute when Hugo Lloris was assaulted with a truck load of shots which eventually broke Spurs. Ruben Neves saw his shot saved by Lloris, before Dendoncker followed up with the rebound, which was also saved by Lloris, but his punch travelled only as far as Jimenez in 12 yards range and the Mexican powered in on the half volley.

Spurs tried to respond when Bentacur found Heung-Min Son on the right. The South Korean cut inside his left to let one fly, but his effort did little to trouble Jose Sa.

Lightening would strike the second time in less that a quarter of an hour later when a fumbled pass from Lloris to Ben Davies was poorly cleared by the latter, allowing Daniel Podence to strike at goal. His shot was saved by Lloris and the ball deflected off Davidson Sanchez and then Bentacur, before Dendoncker who was on hand stabbed home.

The visitors were not resting as they went in search of a third when Ait Nouri sent a cross into the Spurs box. The ball was poorly cleared by Doherty onto the path of Jimenez, who hit another half volley, but this time, Lloris stung away.

The French stopper continued to be the busiest man on the pitch as he had to deny Podence again from a Nelson Semedo cross to keep the scoreline realistic.

Tottenham's brightest moment came on the stroke of half time when Lucas Moura found Harry Kane with his cross, but the striker's effort was comfortable for Sa.

The England striker opened the second half with another great opportunity from a free kick, which was this time too close to Sa, who saved easily. At the other end, Podence troubled Lloris with another effort after stealing the ball from Sanchez.

The home team looked to give Wolves a tensed closing minutes as they saw a number of attacks stopped by Jose Sa. The Portuguese stopper first denied Kane from point blank range after the England captain was set up by a fine play between Son and Emerson Royal. Sa also did enough to block Romero's last minute header.

Concluding Thoughts

Despairing times in North London for Tottenham and Antonio Conte as his side suffered their third successive league loss and the second at home in that time.

Still sulking from that bitter loss to Southampton the last time out, Tottenham were out of sorts again on the afternoon, failing to test Jose Sa appropriately as most of their chances were straight at him.

It is definitely too early to call for Conte's head having gone unbeaten in his first nine league games. Nonetheless, the times we are now doesn't allow too much room for lapses.

Although they have three matches on hand and at least one on the teams above them, they currently sit five points adrift of the last Champions League spot.

What a time to be a Wolves' fan as they continue their journey upwards, especially in the road with this their fourth successive on the road, one of which included the victory at Old Trafford.

Momentum is definitely with Lage's men as they have only failed to earn a point in one of their last five league matches, the loss to Arsenal, winning the other four. I believe the target for Lage and his men now would be a place in at least the Europa League.