Tottenham 2 Wolves 3: Strikerless Spurs throw away lead as Jimenez’s strike puts Nuno’s side above them in Prem table
JOSE MOURINHO must be one helluva teacher.
The master was defeated by one of his apprentices for the second weekend running.
After losing 2-1 at Frank Lampard’s Chelsea last Saturday, Spurs boss Mourinho saw his strikerless side slip to another defeat at the hands of Nuno Espirito’s Wolves.
The Wanderers manager used to be Mourinho’s reserve goalkeeper at Porto.
Nuno may not have any of his old gaffer’s charisma, but as Mourinho replied when this was put to him at his Press conference on Friday: “Charisma does not win you football matches.”
But the Molineux chief does have Mourinho’s way of winning matches by sticking to his guns.
And way things are going Nuno and Wolves could also end up taking Mourinho and Tottenham’s Champions League place next season – even without winning the Europa League.
This victory saw Nuno’s men leapfrog the North Londoners in the battle for Euro spots at the top of the Premier League table.
Wolves moved up to sixth spot level on points with Manchester United in fifth, while Tottenham dropped to seventh two points below, their season savaged by injuries.
Keeper and captain Hugo Lloris, having only recently returned from a dislocated injury, returned to the sick bay with a groin problem.
And with no recognised strikers, due to the long-term absences of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, Tottenham’s season is in serious danger of going nipples north.
Wanderers arrived here after a midweek trip to Barcelona’s second club Espanyol, where they made it through to the last 16 of the Europa League.
Yet, despite having one of the smallest squads in the Prem, they looked as fresh as daisies in their FORTY-SIXTH fixture of the campaign.
Mind you, they love coming to London.
Wolves have not lost any of their nine League matches in the capital since their promotion back to the top flight in 2018.
They managed to serve up some more capital punishment, despite falling behind twice.
Tottenham looked all over the place before they took a 13th minute lead against the run of play with a swift counter attack.
Giovani Lo Celso played in Serge Aurier down the right channel and Ivorian wing-back’s low ball across the box fell perfectly for Dele Alli.
Wolves keeper Rui Patricio did brilliantly to block the England midfielder’s shot but could do nothing to keep out Steven Bergwijn’s follow-up.
This seemed to settle Spurs and the signs looked ominous for the visitors when Davinson Sanchez hooked a dipping shot just over the crossbar moments later.
But Wolves drew themselves level in the 27th minute as Tottenham’s defensive flaws were highlighted again.
Ruben Vinagre played a lovely one two with Ruben Neves on the left before getting in behind Aurier and firing in a cross, which Eric Dier failed to cut out and Japhet Tanganga miscontrolled, gifting Arsenal fan Matt Doherty the simplest and sweetest of close-range finishes.
Spurs had shot themselves in the foot again - but to their credit they recovered, retaking the lead on the stroke of half-time.
And once again that man Aurier was involved as he collected Dele’s angled ball on the corner of the box, cut inside Vinagre and curled a left-footed shot beyond Patricio into the far corner of the net to stun Wolves - and just about everyone else.
Who knew Aurier had a left-foot?
It was the defender’s first Premier League goal since he netted in Spurs’ 4-1 win at Bournemouth on March 11, 2018.
An unmarked Dele should have increased the lead after the break when he headed Ben Davies’ cross wide from eight yards.
And the miss was to prove costly Jota - who had earlier flicked a header onto the roof of the net - tapped in Wolves’ second equaliser of the afternoon in the 57th minute after keeper Paulo Gazzaniga could only get an outstretched boot to Doherty’s toe-poked cross-shot.
Jota then turned provider to set up the 73rd minute winner for Raul Jimenez, who turned inside Tanganga in the box and curled a shot into the far corner.
Tottenham have only kept three clean sheets in Mourinho’s 24 games in charge and their fans will be wondering why the manager rested Toby Alderweireld on the bench.
The home crowd showed what they thought of his decision not to send 18-year-old striker Troy Parrott on until the final minute as they greeted the substitution with ironic cheers.
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Tottenham showed plenty of spirit but still look a mess at both ends of the pitch.
Mourinho should be proud of himself, though.
He clearly taught Nuno well.
