This feels like the one. Tottenham Hotspur likely needs three wins in the final five to stave off the once unthinkable, and Saturday is unquestionably the one that looks best on paper. A win would provide some much needed hope, and could even land get Spurs back to 17th should West Ham not beat Everton. Failing to earn three points would eliminate all margin for error over the next four matches.
Even having this conversation regarding the already relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers is depressing in itself. As terrible as Spurs have been, Wolves are far worse, yet absolutely no one is expecting straightforward outing. After all, this side is 2-3-3 over the last eight (must be nice!) and have been significantly better at Molineux this season, unbeaten in the past three home fixtures. Nevertheless, Tottenham has no choice but to win.
Match Details
Date: Saturday, April 25
Time: 10:00 am ET, 5:00 pm UK
Location: Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton
TV: USA Network (US)
Table: Spurs (18th, 31 pts), Wolves (20th, 17 pts)
This has not been a kind fixture for Spurs. They are winless in the past six contests, including a 4-2 demolition at this venue last April that also featured two clubs in the bottom five of the table. The reverse fixture this campaign came back in September, when the home side needed a late equalizer from Joao Palhinha just to rescue a point; Thomas Frank’s side generated only 0.87 xG that day.
Two Things to Watch
Youth or experience?
It felt like Roberto De Zerbi made a statement with his lineup against Brighton, particularly with the midfield trio of Yves Bissouma, Conor Gallagher, and Rodrigo Bentancur. When times are tough, it makes sense to lean on experienced veterans, and for the most part they lived up to the challenge. On the road in a desperate situation, it would be no surprise to see the new manager make the same sort of choices again.
However, it would be unfair to suggest younger options like Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray are unreliable or not up for the task, and perhaps it is their very youthful exuberance that would be their strength. Wolves are dead last in goals (by a wide margin) and are not exactly known for possession, so loading up the midfield with defensive-minded destroyers is not necessarily the requirement like last weekend.
Still, I would expect De Zerbi to lean on those he trusts the most in the center of the park and perhaps bring that youthful energy up front with Xavi Simons and Mathys Tel. Everything is still new for him, but time has almost expired, so there is just not much space left for tinkering with different starting XIs. Having multiple available options has not always been the case this year, though, so perhaps the manager should feel fortunate to even be in this situation.
Moral victories
There have been enough false dawns already. The draw against Liverpool, the second leg against Atleti, the effort last weekend — these were all positive outings, but ultimately have done very little to change the club’s survival prospects. With just one month remaining in the season, there is no time to accept good performances that do not result in three points. Any win will do, regardless of how ugly it may be!
Perhaps the biggest benefit for Spurs is that Wolves might also be well beyond moral victories. Last weekend confirmed the club’s return to the Championship and it is difficult to expect a ton of motivation throughout the run in, and especially so in their first match as an officially relegated side. If any club could bungle this it would be Tottenham, but as far as circumstances go, this is pretty perfect.
So yea, this is it. Maybe fewer than 40 points will be enough to escape relegation, but the pressure will be unbearable if Spurs fall short in this one. I just struggle to believe this team will be capable of suddenly locking in over the last four if it fails to take advantage of its easiest fixture remaining. If this contest is not considered “must win” it could hardly be any closer.