The stakes for Tottenham Hotspur could not have been higher. Starting the day in the bottom three, Roberto de Zerbi’s side will not have a better chance to amass points this season than away to recently-relegated Wolves.
With Nottingham Forest thrashing Sunderland 5-0 at the Stadium of Light on Friday night, and West Ham hosting Everton at the same time as Spurs’ trip to Molineux, three points could not have come at a more important time for the Lilywhites.
If Spurs were hoping to encounter a Wolves side ‘on the beach’, days after their relegation to the Sky Bet Championship, they were in for a rude awakening.
As Hi Ho Silver Lining rang out around Molineux, it was clear that the Wolves supporters had far from given up on their side, despite losing Premier League status just days prior.
But as Wolverhampton rallied around their team, ready to rebuild in the second tier next season, nerves emitted from the comically horizontal away end. Such emotion appeared to be shared with the Spurs squad too, who all embraced individually ahead of kick-off. Maybe it was encouragement, or perhaps comfort to ease the evident apprehension.
Spurs’ first-half control flattered them, and unforced errors were a common sight, evidence that pre-match nerves had lingered.
Despite enjoying 69 per cent of possession in the first half, De Zerbi’s side lacked any kind of cutting edge. With no shots on target, something had to change quickly, but losing striker Dominic Solanke to injury shortly before halftime did little to inspire such efforts.
An already sombre away end was left further disheartened minutes into the second half, as news travelled through the Steve Bull Stand that West Ham had taken the lead against Everton at the London Stadium.
Add to that a serious injury for Xavi Simons in the 62nd minute, and thoughts of relegation once again circled as the Dutchman was stretchered from the pitch.
For all their faults, Spurs were unrelenting in their efforts to win, through necessity if nothing else. Their relentless attempts were soon rewarded.
Substitute João Paulinha was in the right place at the right time to poke home from a corner after it was fed back across the box to the far post. Pandemonium ensued in the away section.
The Spurs faithful were in full voice for the first time, and Everton’s equaliser in the capital was celebrated like another goal in itself.
Antonin Kinsky pulled off a superb stop in the dying embers to deny Wolves from a free-kick, and it could not have been more important after West Ham came back to secure three points over Everton.
An average display will be made notably better by three points, and the momentum that a win could bring, but make no mistake, Spurs are in trouble.
With West Ham and Nottingham Forest winning, it is as you were for De Zerbi’s side, and a trip to Villa Park next weekend will demand far more from the Lilywhites than they offered today. Progress perhaps, but the question remains, will it prove too little, too late?