The Mirror

As the Premier League season approaches its midpoint, Tottenham Hotspur are set to welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 29th, 2024. This clash promises to be a captivating encounter as both teams look to end the year on a high note.

Tottenham have been enjoying a strong campaign under the management of Ange Postecoglou. Currently sitting in the upper echelons of the league table, Spurs have been showcasing an attacking brand of football that has thrilled their fans. Key players like Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min have been instrumental when things have been great but need more of that if they are to shake off the inconsistencies in their form. Spurs will be keen to maintain their momentum and secure another vital three points at home.

Wolves, meanwhile, have had a challenging season, despite showing glimpses of potential, they find themselves in the lower half of the table and are eager to climb out of danger. Under Vitor Pereira's leadership, Wolves have been working hard to tighten their defence and improve on taking their chances - something they displayed against Leicester City. The return to form of players like Pedro Neto could be pivotal in their quest for points.

This match is crucial for both sides: Spurs are aiming to solidify their position among the top teams, while Wolves are desperate to distance themselves from relegation worries. With contrasting styles and objectives, this fixture is set to deliver an exciting spectacle for football fans.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Wolves Odds

Spurs - 42/100 (CopyBet)

Draw - 4/1 (CopyBet)

Wolves - 9/2 (CopyBet)

Tottenham Hotspur vs Wolves Betting Tips

Spurs to win and both teams to score - 13/10 (CopyBet)

Over 2.5 goals - 32/100 (CopyBet)

Dejan Kulusevski to score anytime - 9/5 (CopyBet)

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Ange Postecoglou is "100 per cent" the right fit for Tottenham - he just needs to translate performances into results.

That is the verdict of former Spurs winger Andros Townsend, who is adamant it would represent a mistake if Daniel Levy was to eventually opt for change if fortunes fail to improve.

Amazon Prime pundit Townsend said of the club's herky-jerky campaign ahead of today's visit of Wolves : "The way Spurs were before under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, no disrespect, but supporters were crying out for attacking football.

"I'm a Spurs fan, I've got loads of Spurs fans that are friends and the one thing they say is we don't care if we lose, we just want to be entertained. That's one thing that Postecoglou will do, he will entertain the fans and they play great football.

"The consistency is not there but I think the consistency in how they dominate games and how they throw men forward and how attacking they are is there - it's just the consistency with results.

"I think in the Bournemouth game there were three or four goals disallowed by VAR and they dominated Ipswich so I think sometimes the performances are there they just need the results now to follow. For me, Postecoglou has to stay."

Surprisingly, scoring goals has been no issue since the devastating departure of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich in 2023. But at the other end, injured-ravaged Tottenham are leaking them for fun and ultimately, that is what is halting their chances of making any notable progress.

However, Townsend insists that level of frailty is a historic problem embedded into their DNA. He continued when asked to pinpoint the reason behind their concerning defensive record: "I think it's the way they play even dating back to when I was there many moons ago.

"We always used to struggle against the sides at the bottom of the table and beat the sides around the top, it was strange. Now they're so open and so aggressive.

"If they're dominating a game they will throw bodies forward until they get their goal and if they're pressing with seven or eight players and a team breaks through the press - like Ipswich did for one of their goals - they're going to concede.

"When you've got your first-choice centre-halves injured in Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven and you've got makeshift players doing a shift for the team, it's always going to be difficult."

Mauricio Pochettino achieved consistent results while playing an attractive brand of football, so was he under-appreciated five years on from his dismissal given Spurs now seem to be chasing what they once had at their disposal?

Townsend, now playing with Antalyaspor in Turkey, concluded: "The problem with Poch is he did so well that he made getting to a Champions League final seem normal.

"That is not normal for Spurs, he did so well, he built up their stature and built Tottenham up to be a team that were in the Champions League every season and fans got too complacent.

"I wouldn't say they hounded him out but there was definitely a small section of fans that did want him sacked.

"Honestly, he did an amazing job in taking them from what I wouldn't say was mediocrity but I remember the last season before Poch, we lost 5-0 at home to Liverpool and I think we lost 6-0 at Man City.

"We were a bit of a laughing stock and five years later, the five-year plan ended with Spurs in a Champions League final. I feel like he's appreciated now but at the time, he wasn't entirely."

Andros Townsend was speaking on behalf of Amazon Prime, who aired over 10 hours of live festive football on Boxing Day at no extra cost of their Prime membership.

Ange Postecoglou’s job as Tottenham manager is safe for now – but his fate could depend on the upcoming Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool.

Postecoglou’s position has been questioned after Nottingham Forest claimed a 1-0 win to condemn Spurs to a fourth defeat from the last five Premier League matches. Spurs are 12th in the table, 11 points adrift of the top four, despite having the best attack in the division.

Injuries have taken their toll of late, but Postecoglou’s insistence on playing an open style with a depleted squad has drawn heavy criticism. Tottenham were thrashed 6-3 by Liverpool before Christmas, and although the Spurs boss retains the support of chairman Daniel Levy, a similar defeat in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on January 8 could see that change.

The Daily Mail reports that Postecoglou is safe for now, although the desire of the club to end their trophyless spell weighs heavily. Spurs haven’t lifted a trophy since winning the League Cup in 2008 and the same competition holds huge significance for Postecoglou, who is the bookies’ favourite to be the next Premier League manager sacked.

The club hierarchy dream of consistency and the Australian has so far failed to deliver, with their reputation as the great entertainers not enough to satisfy. The man himself is not worried about his position as he looks forward to Sunday’s league game against Wolves, who climbed out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 win over Manchester United on Boxing Day.

“I get where people kind of look at my situation and think: ‘Jeez, he needs to do something or else he is in trouble’ but I don’t think that way. It’s not how I am wired,” Postecoglou said after the 1-0 defeat by Forest.

“I’m not concerned about that aspect of this role. Like I said, what excites me about this role and what I love about doing what I do is the possibilities you can create something special and that’s what I am going to try and do.

“I will keep doing what I am doing. It doesn’t add any pressure or I don’t feel any extra anxiety about anything. I firmly believe we will get through this and come out stronger and create the team we want to be."

Postecoglou has a history of winning trophies and will therefore be confident of delivering a first piece of silverware in 17 years for Spurs. He won league titles with South Melbourne and Brisbane Roar and the Japanese championship with Yokohama F Marinos and the Scottish title in both seasons with Celtic.

Tamworth have copped huge criticism after deciding to charge a staggering £42 for a ticket for their FA Cup clash with Tottenham.

The National League outfit landed a blockbuster tie and will welcome Tottenham to the Lamb Ground next month. They currently sit 15th in the fifth tier of English football but are clearly looking to cash in when the Premier League side head up to the Midlands.

Tamworth stadium holds 4,963 - although only 518 of them are seated. They have decided to charge top dollar for the contest and a seated view for an adult in the main stand will cost £42. Even an adult wishing to stand on the terraces will have to pay £38.

The club, who have never played in the football league, are facing huge backlash after announcing their prices with those on social media taking aim at the mammoth price hike.

One user said: "How short sighted are these prices. A chance to repay and respect the fans that go and support you every week, and instead you release this monstrosity. Shameful."

Another fan said: "That pricing is an absolute disgrace. You should seriously reconsider what you’re doing. What a joke." One supporter added: "£42 quid sheesh, I get it's a big match but surely that will not bring any new fans in." Another said: "Thoughts with regular match goers, and in particular families just after Christmas and with this pricing. Awful".

Based on the prices broadcast on their website Tamworth are charging more than double if their fans want to watch the FA Cup tie against the north Londoners. An adult sitting in the main stand would usually pay £20 with someone wanting to stand in the terrace paying £18.

Even a child under the age of 10 wishing to attend the match in the main stand will have to pay £29. West Brom, who are located just 26 miles away, are currently in the top half of the Championship and do not charge more than £5 for an U17.

Mirror Football has approached Tamworth for a comment regarding their pricing for the clash against Tottenham. FA rules state the home club decides ticket prices, and higher prices may be mutually agreed between the clubs.

Only last year did Tamworth earn promotion from the National League North after a season that saw them finish top of the pile. Their game against Tottenham will take place on Sunday January 12 and comes after they beat League One Burton Albion on penalties in the second round.

Tottenham and Wolves fans travelling to Sunday’s Premier League clash face potential travel chaos because the main train station serving the stadium will be closed for the entire day.

Engineering work means Liverpool Street station is shut for the weekend - leaving thousands of fans to find an alternative route to the stadium for the 3pm kick off.

Transport for London have already emailed passengers with a warning ahead of the game that fans should instead take the Tube to Seven Sisters and finish their journey at “street level.”

And that is likely to cause a headache for supporters battling through the Festive chaos.

TFL said: “For customers travelling to the game on Sunday 29 December:

A limited service of two trains per hour will operate between London Fields and White Hart Lane, with no services between Liverpool Street and London Fields. This is due to planned Network Rail engineering works.

From central London, travel to Seven Sisters or Tottenham Hale on the Victoria line and continue your journey at street level”

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is under increasing pressure having seen his team succumb to a fourth defeat already this month against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.

And Tottenham have been hit by a fresh injury blow with Radu Dragusin hurting an ankle in the East Midlands and Ben Davies

That means Yves Bissouma might have to deputise at centre half against Wolves despite the head coach saying the midfielder has never played there before coming on for Dragusin at Forest.

Asked about the severity of Dragusin’s injury on Friday morning, Postecoglou said: “A bit early to tell. He tweaked his ankle last night and felt like he couldn't continue. So we'll just have to wait and see. We’ll kind of wait until he gets in today and then assess it from there.”

Postecoglou also hopes to see his squad strengthened in the January transfer window with Spurs languishing in the bottom half.

“I think in the context of where we're at at the moment I think it is an important one,” he said. “I think if we add what we need to add and it fits the bill in what we're trying to do… Our league position is not great but it’s super tight and we’re not that far off. Like I say, we're in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup and still in a great position in Europe and there's the FA Cup.

“There's still everything to play for for us this year to make it a season where we can have success. But we need some help, the players need some help more importantly, and the club is working really hard to try make that happen.”

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ryan Sessegnon offered his verdict on every Spurs boss he played under – from Mauricio Pochettino all the way up to Ange Postecoglou.

Despite being snapped up from Fulham by Pochettino for a hefty £25million in 2019, injuries haunted the 24-year-old, limiting his appearances before he ultimately returned to the Cottagers. While reflecting on his spell in north London, which was also interspersed with a loan at Hoffenheim, Sessegnon offered insights into his relationship with the last five permanent managers at the club.

At present, Postecoglou is the latest Tottenham boss to enter an uncertain period off the back of his side's 1-0 away loss to Nottingham Forest. The Australian was the final manager Sessegnon worked with before his permanent return to Fulham.

Now he is away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Sessegnon gave his verdict on all of the managers he worked with at the club.

Mauricio Pochettino

Starting with the Argentine himself, who was captivated by Sessegnon's electric displays at Fulham and spurred the move to bring him on board. Fresh into the squad, an immediate injury meant Sessegnon faced isolation due to Pochettino's policy of keeping injured players away from the available players.

Sessegnon explained the sense of alienation in a chat with Rising Ballers, when he said: "I turned up to the club and I am not training, I'm in the physio room. At that time, not having too much contact with Pochettino and the team, because at that time, he did not want injured players to be in meetings and stuff like that. We were kept separate from that.

"Obviously, he welcomed me to the club and that kind of stuff, but I was not in and around the players at the time because I was injured. By the time I got fit, I went to England U21s camp in November 2019, that season, and when I came back, Poch had got sacked. I did not really have too much of a relationship with him, even though he brought me to the club, because I was never fit for him."

Jose Mourinho

When Jose Mourinho took the helm, it marked a significant uptick in Sessegnon's involvement with the Spurs first team. The versatile talent expressed his initial excitement about working under Mourinho when he said: "Mourinho was a very good manager.

"[He was] a good guy, very straightforward and honest guy. I remember at the time when he came in, everyone was buzzing. Everyone was sad that Poch had left, but bringing in a manager of his stature to the club, was very exciting for everyone around the club."

However, despite scoring in his debut against Bayern Munich, his opportunities were hampered by injuries once again. Mourinho would go on to loan him to Bundesliga side Hoffenheim.

Nuno Espirito Santo

Nuno Espirito Santo was regularly linked with Sessegnon when he was manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers. The dynamic Portuguese manager is known for favouring versatile full-backs who can make an impact at both ends of the pitch.

But despite a promising initial meeting firing up their rapport, Sessegnon's curse of injuries struck again. He added: "I came back to a new manager and it was Nuno Espirito Santo. He was a very good manager, he also wanted me when he was at Wolves so we had a good relationship straight away. When I came back to pre-season, I think it was the second or third session, I got injured.

"He did not really get to see me train or play or anything like that. It was frustrating, I really wanted to prove myself to this new coach. By the time I was ready to come back, he got sacked and he was gone. He got sacked in November and it was like that cycle from Poch to Mourinho. It was the same thing again."

Antonio Conte

Antonio Conte proved to be a turning point in Sessegnon's Spurs career. Under the guidance of the fiery Italian manager, he made an impressive 42 appearances – a stark difference from the mere 14 under the combined tenures of Postecoglou, Pochettino, Mourinho and Santo.

Looking back on his opening sessions with Conte, Sessegnon said: "He [Santo] went and then Conte came in. He was intense, in a good way. I loved him to be honest with you. He was a very good coach, honest and he helped me a lot.

"He just made us run. Tactically, he was one of the best coaches I have worked under."

Ange Postecoglou

Sessegnon's chances at Tottenham were cut short due to injuries and new signings when Postecoglou took over. Despite limited playtime under the Australian's reign, making only two appearances last season, the defender said: "When he [Conte] went, they brought in Ange Postecoglou.

"He is a very good coach, a very good guy. I've come back the following season, ready again. I've gone away, done my stuff, ready to go again. In pre-season, in one of the training sessions, I got injured again. That's how it kind of started with me under him.

"I think I was in training, I took a shot and I remember it was crazy, because we was doing this transition and I was playing right wing. I cut inside, shot, into the top corner, but because I felt something, I didn't care about the shot. When it happened, I knew the feeling of how it felt. I remember walking out of the session, going to the physio and that kind of stuff. I was devastated."

Jeff Stelling was left in stitches after Chris Kamara cracked a joke while covering Tottenham's defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Kamara and Stelling were reunited on Boxing Day for Amazon's Every Game Every Goal show. The duo previously had a long-standing friendship from their time working on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday programme.

Kamara stepped down from that role in 2022 after revealing he had been diagnosed with apraxia, a neurological disorder that makes it difficult for him to speak. Stelling meanwhile remained for another season before leaving his presenting role.

He has since become an anchor for Amazon's coverage of the Premier League. Kamara was called by the show's producers last week to join their stable of reporters and cover Spurs' trip to Forest.

Anthony Elanga opened the scoring for the hosts just before the half-hour mark. And as he described the goal, Kamara cracked a joke that left his friend in stitches. Kamara said: "Morgan Gibbs-White to Anthony Elanga and Udogie just let him run. Apparently Jeff they might sell Udogie in the window."

That was of course a reference to the 1953 Lita Roza song: "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?". Stelling responded with a jibe of his own, saying: "Oh goodness me, Kammy! How long have you been away and that's the best you can come up with?"

Kamara joked back: "I'm afraid so Jeff." But Stelling calmed his nerves by insisting: "We loved it." Stelling was joined in the studio by Dion Dublin and Tim Sherwood, with all three left crying with laughter.

It could be the last time the duo cover live Premier League games, with Amazon's coverage of the division coming to an end this year. Both men posted emotional messages after the end of the day's action.

Kamara said: "Beyond my wildest dreams, doing the game with you today Jeff. The TV company’s won’t let that be your last game. But thank you so much. If that was my last hurrah then que sera, sera."

Stelling had already posted his own messaging citing how much he enjoyed the experience. "If that’s it for me on TV a great way to finish with my old mate @chris_kammy alongside me. Loved every single minute," he said.

Thursday's Coverage saw plenty of banter between the pair as Stelling welcomed Kamara to the day's coverage. Kamara quipped: "Thank you, Jeff. I have got the best game of the day. When Amazon rang me up I thought they wanted me to deliver parcels, but they sent the game, yes!"

Elanga's goal ultimately proved to be enough for Forest to claim a festive three points. Spurs also had Djed Spence sent off deep into second-half stoppage time to cap off a miserable afternoon.

High-flying Nottingham Forest will look to strengthen their hold on a top-four spot as injury-hit Tottenham Hotspur visit the City Ground.

There's been contrasting fortunes for the two sides so far this season. Forest have been a revelation under Nuno Espirito Santo and find themselves in the Champions League places.

Spurs, on the other hand, have tasted defeat more than victory in the Premier League. Their 6-3 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday left them languishing in the bottom half of the table and cranked up the pressure on Ange Postecoglou.

The Boxing Day trip north is far from ideal for the Aussie manager, who's still without several key figures. Those wishing to watch how the action unfolds will be able to do so for free.

What channel is Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham on?

The game is on TV but not through the usual broadcasters Sky Sports or TNT Sports. The matchweek 18 round of Premier League fixtures is the second of two that Amazon Prime will be showing this season.

That's eight today and two more tomorrow. It's the last of Amazon's offerings for the English top flight for now as they didn't get a slice of the pie in the new TV deal, which starts next season and runs until 2029.

How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham for free

Amazon subscribers can watch the match at no extra cost than their membership fee, which in the UK is £8.99 a month or £95 annually. However, the streaming giant also offer a free trial.

That means new members can access the service for 30 days before either continuining at the monthly rate or cancelling. What's more, students and 18-22 year olds can enjoy a six-month free trial and a 50% discount on the standard rate.

What time does Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham kick-off?

Forest's clash with Spurs is one of five 3pm kick-offs in the Premier League on Boxing Day. Presenter Jim Rosenthal will be pitchside with former Forest boss Martin O'Neill and ex-Tottenham striker Les Ferdinand, with Conor McNamara and Stephen Warnock on commentary duties.

It could turn out to be a bitter pill to swallow for Tottenham if Randal Kolo Muani joins arch rivals Arsenal.

The 26-year-old French striker has been placed on the transfer list by Paris Saint-Germain ahead of the January transfer window, having failed to recapture the form that led to his €75million (£64m) plus €15m (£12.2m) in add-ons transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2023.

The season before in the Bundesliga, Kolo Muani netted 23 times and provided 17 assists for Frankfurt, but his return to France has yielded just 18 goal contributions. Before his PSG move, Tottenham considered signing him as a replacement for Harry Kane.

But he allegedly turned them down due to their delay in making a formal offer. Now, after falling out of favour under Luis Enrique, Kolo Muani might be on the move again, with several Premier League clubs named in connection with him.

He has recently been omitted from PSG's matchday squad, with Enrique telling reporters last week: "I could speak about it, but I won't because my decisions say it all. Even if, as I have said, all of my decisions can be changed."

It's no surprise Kolo Muani's availability has attracted the attention of English admirers considering the high demand for top-tier strikers in today's day and age. TBR Football claim Arsenal are contemplating bringing in a new centre forward next month and he is of consideration.

Manchester United, potentially facing the departure of Marcus Rashford, might also be in the mix. It's thought that a loan deal with an obligation to buy next summer is the most probable transfer scenario.

Mikel Arteta is likely regretting Arsenal's failure to secure a striker during the summer transfer window. Their lack of scoring prowess has been particularly evident in recent weeks, leaving the Gunners lagging in the title chase.

James Maddison has revealed he once asked his parents to get him a baby brother called Jason for Christmas.

The Tottenham star admitted it was the "weirdest thing I ever asked for" and that his parents still laugh about his request to this day. When asked what the best Christmas present he has ever received was, Maddison told BBC Radio London : "The one I was probably happiest with...

"I think my mum and dad got me a Beyblade. Kids these days won't remember, but it was like this little spinny thing that you'd have a battle against another thing and they'd bash against each other until one won and one didn't.

"You'd get a little arena and you'd let it rip. I went round my cousin's and we both got a Beyblade for Christmas and I think it kept us occupied for about 12 hours straight.

"I'll tell you the weirdest thing I ever asked for which I didn't get. I think I was about five or six and I asked on the top of my list for a baby brother called Jason!

"Now at my age I realise... imagine your five-year-old son asking for that. It's not something you can just pluck from Toys R Us! My mum and dad always laugh about that one."

Maddison does now have a younger brother called Ben and the 28-year-old says his family is "everything" to him. He told club media: "I've a little boy with my partner, he's everything to me, and we've two on the way very soon (his partner gave birth to twins last July).

"It's been a whirlwind few weeks, actually, because we're getting close to that due date with all this stuff happening in the background. My family is everything and I can't wait to have my family at the games at our unbelievable stadium.

"My mum and dad have been with me from the start, my little brother Ben... family is everything. As soon as I could walk, I was kicking a ball. Dad's got loads of videos of me in the garden, kicking a ball around.

"That's the same for many of us footballers, it's that from the start. You see a lot of stuff these days about footballers maybe falling out of love with the game, but I can't see that ever happening to me."