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A Spurs fan claimed James Maddison was 'taking the p***' by going to the darts

Maddison came on as a substitute during Spurs' draw with Wolves on Sunday

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James Maddison has hit back at a Tottenham fan who criticised him for watching the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace, just hours after Spurs' disappointing 2-2 draw with Wolves on Sunday.

The midfielder, who started on the bench at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before coming on as a substitute, was spotted at the Ally Pally with Spurs team-mate Brennan Johnson during Gerwyn Price's last-16 clash against Jonny Clayton.

The 2-2 draw, which saw Ange Postecoglou's side drop to 11th in the Premier League table, capped off a dismal December for Tottenham as they endured a third match without a win.

Maddison's appearance at the Ally Pally irritated some Spurs fans given the disappointing run of form, with one supporter labelling the decision to watch the darts with Johnson as 'unacceptable'.

'You taking the p***? The form we're in and you go the darts? Unacceptable,' one angry Tottenham fan posted to Instagram on Sunday.

Biting back with a swift response 12 minutes later, Maddison said: 'Shut up you wally'. The England star signed off his reply with a laughing emoji.

Price's win at the Alexandra Palace took place just 12 minutes away from Spurs' home stadium in north London.

Tottenham came back from 1-0 down to lead the clash against Wolves 2-1 until the 87th minute, before Jorgen Strand Larsen equalised for the visitors to climb them two points above the relegation zone.

Johnson put Ange Postecoglou's side ahead on the stroke of half-time, scoring from close range in the third minute of additional time.

With the draw, Spurs remain 11 points behind London rivals Chelsea in fourth, who occupy the final guaranteed Champions League qualification spot.

After Sunday's result, Tottenham are now closer to Leicester in the relegation zone (10 points) than they are Chelsea.

The Australian boss rued his side's performance, admitting that the result 'hurts immensely'.

'It hurts me because I'm responsible ultimately. I'm the person in charge. So of course it hurts,' he said.

'When I see how hard they are trying, it hurts even more because you want them to get a reward and I think they deserved a reward for their efforts even though they were dipping into their reserves of energy.

'I wanted them to get a reward for their efforts. So of course it hurts. It hurts immensely.

'At the same time it's my responsibility for where we're at right now and it's my responsibility to try to get us out of it.'

Spurs take on in-form Newcastle in their next Premier League outing on January 4, before a huge two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool.

Despite his side's poor form of late, Postecoglou will still be hoping to guide Tottenham to their first trophy since 2008 by lifting the Carabao Cup in March's final.

James Maddison and Brennan Johnson were spotted at Ally Pally for Gerwyn Price's quarter-final clash against Jonny Clayton.

The duo left the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after their 2-2 draw with Wolves and were seen at the darts just hours later.

The event took place just 12 minutes away from Spurs' home ground in north London.

In the game, Spurs came back from 1-0 down to lead 2-1 until the 87th minute, when Jorgen Strand Larsen equalised for the visitors.

Johnson put Ange Postecoglou's side ahead on the stroke of half-time, scoring from close range in the third minute of additional time.

The Welsh international was brought off in the 64th minute for his mate Maddison, who failed to make a meaningful impression on the game.

With the draw, Spurs remain in 11th place, 11 points behind London rivals Chelsea in fourth, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot.

After Sunday's result, Postecoglou's strugglers are closer to Leicester in the relegation zone (10 points) than they are Chelsea.

The Australian boss rued his side's performance, admitting that the result 'hurts immensely'.

'It hurts me because I'm responsible ultimately. I'm the person in charge. So of course it hurts,' he said.

'When I see how hard they are trying, it hurts even more because you want them to get a reward and I think they deserved a reward for their efforts even though they were dipping into their reserves of energy.

'I wanted them to get a reward for their efforts. So of course it hurts. It hurts immensely. At the same time it's my responsibility for where we're at right now and it's my responsibility to try to get us out of it.'

Postecoglou will give his players two days off to recharge and reset while he works towards finding reinforcements in the transfer market which opens on Wednesday.

Sometimes all that matters is that you find a way to win. Just hold what you have, protect it and somehow stagger over the line. Tottenham failed despite coming close and so relieved none of the pressure building on Ange Postecoglou.

They looked exhausted at the end. Out of juice and bereft of confidence, missing chances to make it safe before Jorgen Strand Larsen tore through a patched-up defence to rescue a point for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Those in the away end celebrated the fighting spirit of their rejuvenated team and the seven points from three games under new boss Vitor Pereira.

Spurs fans booed noisily at the final whistle. Their team has won just once in seven Premier League games since the victory at Manchester City and will start the New Year in the bottom half for the first time since 2008/09.

That was the season when Harry Redknapp was summoned from Portsmouth to replace Juande Ramos. Postecoglou will soldier on, still well placed in two cup competitions and with chairman Daniel Levy the board conscious injuries are conspiring against him.

There was a fresh one, a hamstring injury for Destiny Udogie deepening the defensive crisis.

And a needless yellow card for a tired and reckless midfield challenge in stoppage time by Rodrigo Bentancur, his fifth caution of the season to spark a suspension just three days after returning from a seven-match ban for offensive remarks in the media. Bentancur will miss Saturday's game against Newcastle.

'It comes down to players so desperate to turn things around,' said Postecoglou. 'It was an unfortunate moment. It didn't need to happen. I'd much rather he didn't make that tackle and was available for next game.

'The players are obviously hurting. They want to turn this around and it's not for want of trying.

'It's fair to say we're dealing with a fair bit and it doesn't feel we're getting any smooth run at anything in terms of getting players back and allowing us to freshen up the team. As soon as we get one back, we lose one.

'We've got to get through it. There's still a hell of a lot for us to play for with what's on the horizon and we have to give the players all the support we can to perform at their best.'

Beyond the frustrations of the defensive injury crisis and congested schedule, Tottenham ran into a Wolves team in a purple kit and a purple patch since Pereira replaced Gary O'Neil, and before a looming ban for Matheus Cunha, their most creative player.

Cunha is awaiting the outcome of a charge of violent conduct brought for his part in a post-match skirmish following defeat at home to Ipswich in O'Neil's final game, and he won the free kick from which Wolves took the lead inside seven minutes.

Spurs were deceived the visitors shaped up as if to shoot before Ait-Nouri rolled a pass square to Hee-chan Hwang who wriggled free as Santiago Bueno blocked Brennan Johnson's attempt to stay with his man, and finished expertly, low inside the post, on his first start since August.

Wolves had made the better start but did not hold the lead for long. Bentancur equalised with a header at the near post from a corner by Pedro Porro. Spurs were vulnerable but started creating some chances.

Radu Dragusin headed wide and Yves Bissouma fired over from the edge of the penalty area.

Then came the penalty awarded for a foul by Andre on Johnson. It was harsh in the sense that Johnson was more intent on engineering contact than bringing the ball under control and Wolves disputed the decision.

Once it had been made by referee Chris Kavanagh, however, there was no reversal ever coming from the VAR. Son took responsibility, but his penalty was that of a striker short of goals and saved by Jose Sa diving to his right.

Johnson made the breakthrough in first half stoppage time, linking up with Dejan Kulusevski and firing in 11th of the season and his first for eight games.

Cunha, having decorated the first half with delightful touches, did not return for the second. He was later spotted on the bench with an ice pack behind his left knee. The visitors also lost Andre to injury in the second half by which time Udogie had limped off.

With back-in-favour Djed Spence banned after a red card at Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day it meant Sergio Reguilon's first Tottenham appearance in the Premier League since April 2022.

Ultimately, though it was Strand Larsen who collected a pass from Ait-Nouri and made the most decisive contribution from the bench, slamming a powerful shot high past Forster at his near post, to the delight of Pereira.

'I want more, especially with the ball,' said the Wolves boss. 'But the spirit is good. We need to fight to compete and this is what they are showing me. I'm happy and proud with their work.'

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Our expert reveals which positions Spurs will look to strengthen next month

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There may be no Premier League team more in need of new recruits this month than Tottenham, who have been blighted by injuries particularly in defence.

Ange Postecoglou promised silverware in his second season just as he usually brings to a club, and while they have made a cup semi-final for the first time in three years, the Australian may need some reinforcements to go any further - not least as their last-four opponents are Liverpool.

There's also a Europa League campaign to stock up for with Spurs just outside the top eight of the league table, a place in which would guarantee them safe passage to the last 16, and an FA Cup journey that begins at non-League Tamworth next week.

So who might arrive and where to bolster Spurs' ranks? And will their biggest addition be the massed ranks occupying the treatment room?

Here, as part of our series looking at Premier League clubs' January transfer plans, our Spurs expert Matt Barlow answers the five big questions.

Most urgently, they could do with some more firepower up front and a defender. They might also look at short term cover at goalkeeper and centre half.

Although much will depend on the recovery assessments of their injuries in the next few weeks. Postecoglou talks like someone hedging his bets because he hopes players such as Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Richarlison will be fit again soon.

But then can he rely on them all staying fit until the end of the season? Probably not with Tottenham's current injury record.

Postecoglou wants more depth in the squad. Cover and options from the bench, which is likely to mean creative loan deals and/or continued investment in young talent to develop in the mould of Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert, rather than big money splurges to improve the first team.

There are no great PSR concerns at Tottenham but the watchword regarding transfers through recent press conferences with Postecoglou has been 'discipline'.

There have also been warnings about it being trickier than usual this year because of the new format in Europe and with two ties to play in the Champions League and Europa League there are clubs holding players when they might have been prepared to sell or loan had they been out of European competition.

Beyond this, with no summer international tournament there is not the same pressure from individual players to make moves to win places in the squads.

I'd expect Spurs to perform as they have in the last couple windows, looking primarily at young players and short-terms solutions with bigger investments and any potential improvements on the first team more likely to wait until the summer 2025.

With Spurs, it's easier to talk about those who they already have on the way, having wrapped up a pair of signings that will give them a boost in 2025.

Yang Min-Hyeok is one player who will arrive and be added to the squad.

Yang is an 18-year-old winger, who scored a dozen goals and won the Young Player of the Year award in South Korea's K-League last season. Tottenham signed him from Gangwon in July but agreed to let him complete the K-League season before making the switch to London in mid-December, and he will register in the New Year.

Luka Vuskovic is a 17-year-old central defender signed from Hadjuk Split in 2023. Vuskovic is 6ft 4in tall and on loan in Belgium at Westerlo, for whom he has been ever-present and scored six goals.

He is due to join Spurs next summer and the club's raft of emerging talent is one of the reasons they will not commit to a rash of signings of experienced players on long expensive contracts in the same positions.

Sergio Reguilon is out of contract at the end of the season and will be sold if they can find a buyer. Even a massive injury crisis has not resurrected his Tottenham career.

It was his first Spurs appearance for two years and eight months when he came off the bench in the 89th minute of the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United in December.

Richarlison if they could raise a decent fee but that will be harder than ever after his absence through the first half of the season. He rejected a move to Saudi Arabia in the summer.

Timo Werner is another option, if they can negotiate out of the loan deal with RB Leipzig and bring in a replacement.

A shrewd move for that old favourite Internal Solutions. Mikey Moore is a precocious talent on the wing at 17, but almost as soon as he burst onto the scene this season he picked up a virus and has not been seen since the end of October.

He should return imminently and will be a vital injection of energy and speed to a squad that has been out on its feet while ailments have prevented Postecoglou from rotating just when the fixture calendar got its most congested.

Other young academy products Will Lankshear and Alfie Dorrington will likely get their chances if the injury crisis persists, though they are not as highly thought of.

Odobert, the £25m summer signing, should finally be able to make his mark soon when he returns from a hamstring injury that has kept him out even longer than Moore.

Tamworth have been criticised for their staggering ticket prices for their FA Cup third round tie at home to Tottenham.

The National League side will host Ange Postecoglou's team at The Lamb Ground on January 12 in one of the most intriguing ties of the round, with the game to be shown live on ITV 1.

However, many fans are unhappy with Tamworth's ticket pricing for the fixture and have accused the club of trying to cash in on the occasion.

The Lamb Ground has a capacity of 4,963, which includes just 518 seats. Tamworth announced that it will cost £42 for an adult to sit in the main stand, while it will cost £38 for an adult to stand on the terraces.

Supporters aged over 66 will have to pay £37 for a seat in the main stand, with a standing ticket costing £33.

Under-17s, meanwhile, will be charged £34 for a seat or £30 to stand. Under-10s will have to pay £29 for a seat and £25 to stand.

Tamworth's ticket pricing has provoked a backlash on social media.

One user stated that they not won't be attending the game due to the extortionate prices.

They wrote: 'I was going to go to that and root for Tamworth as I've seen them a couple of times but there's no way I'm being ripped off.'

Meanwhile, another user described Tamworth's approach as 'abysmal'.

They wrote: 'That’s abysmal by the club tbh, a chance to get ppl in that may then want to become regulars & boost attendances yet they’ve priced a lot of ppl out of it now & this is more likely to cost them fans than gain them!'.

A further user branded the ticket prices 'disgraceful'. They wrote: 'Absolutely disgraceful prices. Should be ashamed of yourselves.'

Another user stated that the prices are 'shameful'. They wrote: 'Shameful and nothing to do with the scrapping of replays (which is a disgrace, though)'.

A further comment read: 'That pricing is an absolute disgrace. You should seriously reconsider what you’re doing. What a joke.'

There was more criticism of Tamworth as they were accused of being unfair to their supporters with their pricing.

They wrote: 'I get it, this is an opportunity for you to make some money as it’s a huge fixture for the club, but these prices aren’t fan friendly at all.'

One user wrote: 'Wow, just wow. What scandalous prices. That will certainly dampen the mood and what happened to the once proud family club.'

Another user claimed that Tamworth should be ashamed of themselves. They wrote: 'Should be ashamed of yourselfs hope no one turns up at them prices! Feel for the regular fans having to pay that to see you get hammered'.

Ange Postecoglou maintains the backing of Tottenham’s board but the League Cup semi-final against Liverpool is emerging as key to the Australian’s prospects.

Spurs face Wolves on Sunday off the back of a poor run of form that has seen them lose four of their previous five Premier League games - their only victory coming against bottom of the table Southampton.

The sequence leaves them languishing in the bottom half of the table already nine points adrift of the Champions League qualification places.

Nevertheless, Mail Sport understands Postecoglou’s position remains safe for now, though there is an acknowledgment that results need to improve.

Crucially, that Spurs are still in the Europa League and are two matches from Wembley in the Carabao Cup is understood to be working in Postecoglou’s favour.

Tottenham have not won a trophy since 2008 and the prospect of lifting silverware for the first time in 17 years would be viewed as major success.

However, defeat to Liverpool in the forthcoming two-legged semi-final is set to be a factor towards how the club view Postecoglou’s future, particularly if the team’s league form shows no sign of consistent improvement.

The first leg of the clash against Arne Slot’s league leaders is scheduled for January 8, with the second to be played at Anfield on February 6.

Spurs still have two Europa League group games to play - versus Hoffenheim and IF Elfsborg as they look to secure a place in the last 16.

Postecoglou has a history of winning trophies during his second season at clubs.

He won the Australian title with both South Melbourne and Brisbane Roar and the Japanese championship with Yokohama F Marinos - all in his second season or second full season in charge.

Postecoglou also won the Asian Cup two years after becoming Australia boss - and the Scottish title in both seasons with Celtic.

Tottenham have lost four of the last five in the Premier League and sit 12th

Ben Davies has suffered a setback while Radu Dragusin is struggling to be fit

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Ange Postecoglou has promised to hold his nerve through Tottenham's latest sequence of misfortune and misfiring form.

He dismissed the idea pressure must be building and anxiety seeping in, instead insisting his players are behind him, fully on board with his adventurous playing style and that the club's recruitment department are trying to ease what he considers the worst injury crisis of his coaching career.

'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,' said Postecoglou. 'It's not how I am wired.

'My motivation is try to create teams who win things and have success. That doesn't really change. 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.'

Spurs have lost four of the last five in the Premier League and suffered another untimely blow yesterday(FRI) with Ben Davies ruled out for at least two more weeks after suffering a setback on his return to training after three weeks out with a hamstring problem.

Djed Spence misses Sunday's game against Wolves, banned after a red card in the Boxing Day defeat at Nottingham Forest. Radu Dragusin is struggling to be fit with an ankle injury from the same game.

With Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven still out, it leaves Postecoglou desperately short in central defence. Yves Bissouma and Alfie Dorrington will lead the contenders to partner Archie Gray if Dragusin is out.

Even so, Postecoglou tried to remain positive. 'We're not that far off,' he said. 'A week ago, I was sitting here after winning a Carabao Cup quarter final and having beaten Southampton 5-0. And we're in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup and still in great position in Europe and there's the FA Cup.

'Our league position is not great but it's super tight. If you look at some of the teams four or five points above us, I don't think that's going to stretch by any great lengths over the next period because all teams you see are suffering at some point. Ours is probably a bit more extreme than others but I'm confident we'll work through that.

'There's still everything for us to play for this year to make it a season where we can have success.'

Reinforcements, though, would certainly help. 'The players need some help, more importantly, and the club is working really hard to try make that happen,' said Postecoglou, but the January market can be difficult, and Tottenham intend to hold their discipline in line with recent windows.

Richarlison and Mikey Moore are expected back in training next week, before the Premier League game against Newcastle, and Yang Min-Hyeok, an 18-year-old South Korean winger, can be registered in the New Year.

Yang signed from Gangwon in July but completed the K-League season before making the switch to London.

Postecoglou insisted the players were still firmly behind his methods. 'They are still trying so hard,' said Postecoglou. 'That's the first thing you look at as a manager, are the players still responding or are they out there looking to an alternative?

'It's human nature to think we need to do something different or we're obviously undermanned, let's change something. I haven't sensed that. The players still want to tackle this the way we are tackling it. It's a credit to them.

'But it's up to me to guide them through that and show them all these things are temporary, and that you will get through it. If we do get through them in a positive way, the bonus and the benefit is that makes you stronger.

'There's always people in life who people look at a bit curiously because they do things a bit differently and they're a bit of a joke until they get it right then all of a sudden they're a genius. That's probably relevant to us right now.'

Teenage talent Luka Vuskovic cannot join struggling Tottenham soon enough as the incoming defender continues to impress in Belgium, scoring a mesmerising bicycle kick.

Spurs confirmed the signing of the highly-rated 17-year-old from Hajduk Split in September 2023 but the signing came with a caveat - he was to stay at the Croatian outfit until 2025.

Vuskovic spent the second half of last season on loan at Polish side Rodamiak and this campaign at Belgian team K.V.C. Westerlo.

The defender caught the attention of top British clubs including Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool after helping Hajduk win the Croatian Cup in 2023.

He also made his debut for the club aged 15 and became their youngest-ever goalscorer after finding the net just days after his 16th birthday.

Tottenham might not have expected to regret the delayed arrival too much but a recent defensive crisis has made Vuskovic's electric form all the more painful for Ange Postecoglou.

He struck his sixth league goal of the season for mid-table Westerlo against Club Brugge on Boxing Day and it was one to remember.

A ball comes looping in from the left flank and finds Australian wide man Jordan Bos at the back post, who heads it back into the heart of the box.

From nowhere, 6ft 5in Vuskovic throws his long legs into the air and unleashes a bicycle kick which fires the ball past former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

The wonderstrike completed a comeback at Brugge from two goals down, but Westerlo ended up slipping to a 4-3 defeat which leaves them in 11th on 23 points from 20 matches.

Fellow Spurs loanee Alfie Devine also scored in the loss, giving Postecoglou further cause to regret shipping the youngsters out as the club's injury crisis deepens by the day.

Ben Davies, out since damaging a hamstring at Bournemouth at the start of December, returned to training this week with a view to returning against Wolves on Sunday.

But Postecoglou has ruled him out for another 'couple of weeks' after a setback in training.

The setback comes after Radu Dragusin limped off in the final minutes of a Boxing Day defeat at Nottingham Forest with an ankle complaint.

And Djed Spence will be banned against Wolves after a red card in stoppage time at the City Ground.

Central defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario are all out with injuries.

'It's a bit early to tell,' said Postecoglou when asked about the extent of Dragusin's injury. 'He tweaked an ankle and felt like couldn't continue, we'll have to wait and see.'

Spurs finished the game at Forest with 18-year-old Archie Gray and midfielder Yves Bissouma in central defence.

'We've not many options,' said Postecoglou. 'We're in a tough spot and have been for a while.

'We've been getting through and keeping our fingers crossed but the nature of football and fixture scheduling means it's always a fine line of getting through. This is another test and what have to deal with we will deal with.

'I've never known it go one for this level and this period of time. We've had close to 10 first team players not available for a significant run of games. It's definitely a first for me.'

Tottenham are already without defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven

Radu Dragusin then limped off during their 1-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest

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Ange Postecoglou has suffered another blow with a fresh setback for Ben Davies deepening Tottenham's defensive injury crisis.

Davies, out since damaging a hamstring at Bournemouth at the start of December, returned to training this week with a view to returning against Wolves on Sunday.

But Postecoglou has ruled him out for another 'couple of weeks' after a setback in training.

The setback comes after Radu Dragusin limped off in the final minutes of a Boxing Day defeat at Nottingham Forest with an ankle complaint.

And Djed Spence will be banned against Wolves after a red card in stoppage time at the City Ground.

Central defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario are all out with injuries.

'It's a bit early to tell,' said Postecoglou when asked about the extent of Dragusin's injury. 'He tweaked an ankle and felt like couldn't continue, we'll have to wait and see.'

Spurs finished the game at Forest with 18-year-old Archie Gray and midfielder Yves Bissouma in central defence.

'We've not many options,' said Postecoglou. 'We're in a tough spot and have been for a while.

'We've been getting through and keeping our fingers crossed but the nature of football and fixture scheduling means it's always a fine line of getting through. This is another test and what have to deal with we will deal with.

'I've never known it go one for this level and this period of time. We've had close to 10 first team players not available for a significant run of games. It's definitely a first for me.'