The midfielder stepped off the bench to convert from close range with eight minutes remaining to score the only goal of a tense and scrappy game against Wolverhampton Wanderers and give us a massive confidence boost ahead of our remaining four matches.
But we still needed a stunning save from Antonin Kinsky to keep out Joao Gomes’ free-kick in the dying seconds to ensure victory – one that was so important considering all the teams above us all won as well. It means we remain third from bottom, but this could be the start of our revival.
Knowing we pretty much had to win the game against already relegated Wolves, we made a bright start and went close in the 11th minute when a loose ball from Joao Gomes went straight to Randal Kolo Muani who advanced a few yards before drilling just past the near post from 20 yards out. Djed Spence then had a shot blocked and Pedro Porro’s low ball across the six-yard box was turned behind by former Spur Matt Doherty as we continued to set the pace. Wolves grew into the game and had a good chance when a corner was cleared to Rodrigo Gomes who hit a clean volley well blocked by Dominic Solanke.
Unfortunately the England striker was forced off with an injury towards the end of the first half, replaced by Richarlison, while it was Wolves with the next half-chance as Adam Armstrong flicked on a corner but it went over everyone and out for a goal-kick. The first half ended goalless and, in truth, it had turned into a lacklustre affair to that point.
Seven minutes after the restart we almost took the lead following a wonderful move. Some neat one-touch football down the right then saw Pedro Porro switch play with a delightful pass to Xavi Simons, who cut onto his right foot inside the area, only for Doherty to come across and divert his shot over the crossbar.
The game started to open up a bit more and on the hour mark, the home side threatened again when a deep cross was turned back into the box by Pedro Lima but Mateus Mane couldn’t keep his header down before Armstrong almost got on the end of a long ball which Kevin Danso tried to head back to Antonin Kinsky but the keeper got there first to punch clear.
Our cause wasn’t helped when we also lost Xavi to injury, carried off on a stretcher with what looked a knee problem, however we went close twice in quick succession, the first when substitute Mathys Tel saw a dangerous shot blocked for a corner and, from the set-piece, Rodrigo Bentancur produced our first effort on target with a powerful header in the 69th minute that Jose Sa saved well. Back and forth we went, Armstrong heading over from a good position at one end before Doherty got the slightest of touches on Pedro Porro’s cross to deny Richarlison a free header at goal at the other.
Then, finally, the moment we so desperately craved. With eight minutes left on the clock, a corner fell to Richarlison who swept the ball forwards and there was Palhinha to poke home from close range. We had a nervous wait for VAR to confirm there was no offside, but the goal thankfully stood.
The final stages were tense, nervous, anxious – everything one would imagine considering the situation we’re in, as we did what we could to hold onto the slender lead. In the end, it came down to virtually the last kick of the game as Wolves won a free-kick 22 yards from goal, centre of the pitch. Up stepped Joao Gomes, getting his shot over the wall and heading for the back of the net until Kinsky’s wonderful diving save to push it away – one which ensured we returned home with three most valuable points.
Line-ups
Wolverhampton Wanderers (3-4-2-1): Jose Sa, Doherty (c) (Hwang 85), H Bueno (Møller Wolfe 90+4), Toti, Lima (Tchatchoua 86), Andre, J Gomes, S Bueno, R Gomes (Arokodare 71), Mane, Armstrong. Substitutes (not used): Bentley, Bellegarde, A Gomes, Olagunju, Edozie.
Spurs (4-2-3-1): Kinsky, Pedro Porro, Danso, van de Ven (c), Spence, Bentancur, Bissouma (Palhinha 62), Kolo Muani (Tel 46), Gallagher (Dragusin 90+1), Xavi (Bergvall 63), Solanke (Richarlison 40). Substitutes (not used): Austin, Souza, Gray, Maddison.
Match data
Goal: Spurs – Palhinha 82.
Yellow cards: Wolves – Andre, H Bueno, J Gomes; Spurs – Pedro Porro, Bentancur, Gallagher, Danso.
Referee: Anthony Taylor.
Venue: Molineux Stadium.
Weather: Sunny, light winds, 20 degrees.
Attendance: 31,253.