Tottenham 2-3 Wolves: Raul Jimenez scores the winner to stun Spurs

Tottenham 2-3 Wolves: Raul Jimenez scores the winner in North London to leapfrog Spurs in the table and send Nuno Espirito Santo’s men three points off fourth after edging five-goal thriller

  • Tottenham broke the deadlock as new signing Steven Bergwijn pounced on a rebound after Dele Alli’s shot 
  • But Wolves hit back just over ten minutes later after Matt Doherty smashed in after Spurs failed to get clear
  • Spurs regained the lead on the brink of half time as Serge Aurier cut in from the right and curled home
  • The away side got back on level terms again as Diogo Jota finished off a slick move after Doherty’s cross
  • Wolves had looked dangerous all game and took the lead for the first time through forward Raul Jimenez 

Last week Frank Lampard piled the misery on his former mentor Jose Mourinho. This week it was the turn of Nuno Espirito Santo who returned to haunt the Tottenham boss.

Wolverhampton Wanderers trailed twice at Spurs but fought back to take the points with goals by Matt Doherty, Diogo Jota and Raul Jimenez.

They are unbeaten in nine Premier League fixtures in London since promotion and climbed ahead of Mourinho’s team to move within three points of the top four.

Raul Jimenez was the hero for Wolves as his excellent finish capped off an impressive move to win them the game at Spurs

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men continue to surprise in the Premier League this season and are now just three points off fourth

Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has had more misery piled on him by Wolves after his team lost 2-1 to Chelsea last time out

The scramble for the Champions League places is intensifying and Tottenham are floundering. They have lost three in a row. They have no fluency, damaged confidence and evidence of a plan is hard find.

Mourinho made big changes at the back without managing to look any more secure. All this despite taking an early lead through Steven Bergwijn. Rui Patricio saved the first attempt from Dele Alli but Bergwijn arrived to force the rebound into the net. It was his second goal in five games since his £27million move from PSV Eindhoven.

Tottenham had the lead but Mourinho cut an agitated figure on the touchline as Wolves exposed familiar weaknesses in his defensive unit.

Captain-for-the-day Harry Winks looks to asset authority in the middle of the park for his boyhood side on Sunday afternoon

Wolves speedster Adama Traore manages to get away from Spurs defender Ben Davies as he skips over the challenge

Eric Dier gets up above Raul Jimenez to win a header but sends his effort looping over the bar in the early stages of the game

There was no Hugo Lloris, ruled out by a groin injury, and experienced Belgians Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen started on the bench.

Diogo Jota, who revelled in the space behind Aurier, flashed a warning shot over from the edge of the penalty area before the visitors equalised.

The goal created by one wing-back and converted by the other but the passage of play was littered with errors by the Spurs defenders.

MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS AND LEAGUE TABLE 

Season at a glance

TOTTENHAM (3-4-3): Gazzaniga 5; Sanchez 5, Dier 5, Tanganga 5 (Ndombele 76, 5); Aurier 6 (Gedson 82), Lo Celso 7, Winks 6.5, Davies 6 (Parrott 90); Moura 6, Alli 6, Bergwijn 6.

SUBS: Vorm, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Skipp.

GOALS: Bergwijn, Aurier

BOOKINGS: Lo Celso, Winks, Davies,

MANAGER: Jose Mourinho 5

WOLVES (3-4-3): Patricio 6; Boly 6, Coady 6.5, Saiss 6; Doherty 7.5, Neves 7, Moutinho 7.5, Vinagre 7; Traore 6.5 (Neto 75), Jimenez 7 (Podence 90+), Jota 8 (Dendoncker 79).

SUBS: Ruddy, Gibbs-White, Kilman, Buur.

GOALS: Doherty, Jota, Jimenez

BOOKINGS: Boly, Dendoncker

MANAGER: Nuno Espirito Santo 7

REF: Stuart Attwell 5

ATT: 58,064

New Tottenham Hotspur recruit Steven Bergwijn arrives in the box quickly to smash home a rebound from Dele Alli’s effort

The former PSV player performs his signature celebration and covers his face after giving the north London side an early lead

His Tottenham team-mates are jubilant after taking the lead in the crunch encounter in the race for a Champions League spot 

It wasn’t long before Wolves got their equaliser as Matt Doherty smashed in the net after Spurs failed to clear a teasing cross

Jota skipped ahead of Davinson Sanchez on halfway to release Ruben Vinagre with a flick. Vinagre forged down his flank and delivered a low cross which evaded Eric Dier and was blocked by Japhet Tanganga. But his heavy touch only served up the chance for Doherty to slam the ball low past Paulo Gazzaniga.

Wolves continued to dominate until the momentum twisted moments before the interval. Willy Boly blocked from Ben Davies and another overhead effort by Alli flew straight into the hands of Patricio.

Spurs kept the pressure on and reclaimed the lead in the next attack, a move left to right through Alli and capped by a fabulous finish. Serge Aurier cut inside onto his left foot and beat Patricio with a fierce drive which curled inside the post. It was his first goal in the Premier League for nearly two years.

The Wolves right-back wheels away and celebrates after securing their first ever goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Wolves are flying high in the Premier League this season and are pushing for a top four spot under boss Nuno Santo Espirito

Tottenham right-back Serge Aurier did brilliantly to put his team back in front as the Ivorian defender curled into the corner

The home fans are treated to an entertaining dance between Aurier and Lucas Moura, who both played together for PSG

The Tottenham players were delighted to go into the break one goal up after a difficult start to the game against Wolves

Diogo Jota was on hand to smash in from point blank range after Doherty slide a well-timed ball across the face of the goal

Tottenham had the edge and might have extended the lead when Alli escaped his marker to get on the end of a cross by Davies. His header flashed wide, Mourinho threw up his arms in anguish and Wolves were soon back on level terms. Once more, the Spurs defence was opened up with ease.

Adama Traore rode a challenge by Tanganga, advanced and found Jimenez who set Doherty charging forward again on the right. Doherty drove the ball low and hard towards the far post and whether it was intended as a shot, it caused problems. 

Gazzaniga who stuck out a boot and his touch took the pace from the ball and presented Jota with the simple task of finding the empty net.

The winner came in the 73rd minute, created by Jota, dancing his way out of midfield and finding Jimenez, who jinked past Tanganga before firing beating Gazzaniga with a powerful strike with his left foot.

Traore was forced off after another problem with his shoulder but the visitors survived without too much alarm and deserved their victory.

The Black Country side were well deserving of their second equaliser having remained dangerous for much of the game

Raul Jimenez latches onto a ball after a threatening attack and saw off a challenge from Japhet Tanganga to fire into the net

Nuno Espirito Santo is leading Wolves through an unthinkable top four challenge with his side now sixth in the league table

 






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