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Late show saves Spurs to keep pace with West Ham but injury marrs huge win

Winning moment: Joao Palhinha celebrates a huge goal

Nick Potts/PA Wire

George Sessions

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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau

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Joao Palhinha’s 82nd-minute tap-in earned Tottenham a first Premier League win of 2026 with a 1-0 victory at Wolves but they remain in the relegation zone.

Spurs looked set for a painful afternoon at Molineux after Dominic Solanke and Xavi Simons were forced off due to injury until Roberto De Zerbi watched Palhinha slide in at the back post from a scuffed Richarlison shot to secure a first league success in 16 matches.

It momentarily took Tottenham out of the bottom three, but a late winner for West Ham has kept the gap to two points with only four games left.

Wolves’ relegation was confirmed on Monday night and a Spurs team desperate not to join them started strongly before Solanke had half-hearted penalty appeals waved away after a slight push by Hugo Bueno.

Randal Kolo Muani was preferred again by De Zerbi despite one league goal all season, but fired well wide in the 12th minute after a mistake by Andre.

Pedro Porro sent an effort wayward soon after which halted Tottenham’s momentum and Wolves forced two corners in quick succession to lift the Molineux crowd.

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Solanke blocked a volley by Rodrigo Gomes’ soon after and it sparked the visitors back into life, with Xavi Simons firing wide after good work by Rodrigo Bentancur.

However, the north London club’s injury curse struck again with eight minutes of a drab first half left when Solanke went down and held the back of his left leg.

Solanke was forced off and Yves Bissouma looked set to endure the same fate when he was caught by a strong tackle from Andre, but was able to start the second half.

The same could not be said for Kolo Muani, who was hooked by De Zerbi, and the Italian should have watched Spurs go ahead in the 51st minute.

Porro brilliantly spread play out wide to Xavi, who cut inside but Matt Doherty got back enough to force the Tottenham attacker to blaze over from eight yards.

Minutes later and Xavi was the next away player to suffer an injury at Molineux after a collision with Hugo Bueno.

Xavi immediately dropped to the floor and even though he returned to his feet, he collapsed after a run down the touchline off the pitch and a stretcher was subsequently required.

With West Ham ahead at home to Everton, Spurs were now four points from safety and Antonin Kinsky had to be alert to beat Adam Armstrong to a loose ball before the visitors found a second wind.

A snapshot by Tel was deflected wide and Porro’s resulting corner found Rodrigo Bentancur, but Jose Sa made a flying save with 21 minutes left.

Armstrong headed over next for Wolves and then, as Tottenham’s away support tried to rally their team, the breakthrough followed in the 82nd minute.

Tel won a corner after he chased down a lost cause and Porro’s delivery dropped for Richarlison, who watched his scuffed effort turned in by Palhinha at the back post.

Palhinha charged off into the Spurs fans and news soon filtered through that Everton had equalised at West Ham.

Tottenham were briefly set to go out of the bottom three but celebrations by Wolves fans signalled a late winner at London Stadium and De Zerbi was indebted to Kinsky for a stunning one-handed save from a Joao Gomes free-kick in stoppage time to secure a much-needed three points.

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Tottenham are without both Destiny Udogie and Guglielmo Vicario for today’s must-win clash with Wolves in the Premier League.

Left-back Udogie, who only recently returned from a hamstring issue, has picked up a new muscle injury.

First-choice goalkeeper Vicario, meanwhile, has missed Spurs’ last two games after undergoing hernia surgery during the March international break.

Udogie has struggled for fitness throughout his time at Spurs so far, and has already missed 12 games this season with two separate hamstring injuries.

The Italian has started both of De Zerbi’s first two games in charge, but will now miss out against Wolves, with Djed Spence likely to deputise in his absence.

De Zerbi said he expected to have Vicario back in training at the start of this week, but the player will not travel to Molineux. It is hoped now that he can resume training at the start of next week.

Xavi Simons, who scored and assisted on a frustrating afternoon against Brighton, starts despite being seen hobbling through the mixed zone at full-time.

The Dutch midfielder, who was visibly struggling with cramp towards the end of the Brighton game, will surely reprise his role in the starting lineup after an impressive display last weekend.

Rodrigo Bentancur also starts for the second successive game following his return from a hamstring injury.

The Uruguayan provided energy and dynamism to Spurs’ midfield against Brighton, and De Zerbi is likely to opt for the same combination for the trip to Wolves.

Another week, another simply must-win game for Spurs in their ever-worsening fight against relegation from the Premier League. A last-gasp equaliser for Brighton last time out saw Spurs miss the chance of moving out of the relegation zone, and since then have seen West Ham pick up a point at Crystal Palace, Leeds snatch a draw against Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest put five goals past Sunderland.

The battle appears now to be down to the final two, between London rivals Tottenham and West Ham. Both are in action today at the same time, with Spurs at rock-bottom Wolves while the Hammers host Everton. It’s been almost five years since Spurs won at Molineux, thanks to an early Dele Alli penalty, but anything less than three points today will surely be the death knell in their long Premier League stay.

Roberto De Zerbi will be forced to make changes after Destiny Udogie picked up a fresh injury, but there is finally hope in the ranks after a much-improved performance last time out. It’s do or die for Spurs as they look to climb out of the bottom three. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Sam Tabuteau.

Spurs face must-win trip to Molineux in desperate relegation fight

Oli Gent

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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau

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Tottenham are desperate for victory as they face relegated Wolves in the Premier League today.

Roberto De Zerbi still has not won a game since taking over from Igor Tudor in north London, and the Italian sees his side occupy the final place in the relegation zone with five matches to play.

Burnley were the second side to have their relegation confirmed after their midweek defeat by Manchester City, which saw Pep Guardiola’s side leapfrog Arsenal into top spot.

Rob Edwards’ Wolves were condemned to the drop after West Ham drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace last week.

Now, the Black Country club could help drag Spurs into the second tier with them, with the north Londoners two points adrift of safety.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Wolves vs Tottenhan is scheduled for a 3pm BST kick-off today on Saturday, April 25 2026.

The match will take place at Molineux.

Where to watch Wolves vs Tottenham

TV channel: In the UK, the game will not be televised live as it lands during the 3pm Saturday blackout.

Free highlights: The Sky Sports app and YouTube channel will show highlights from 5.15pm with Match of the Day broadcasting on BBC One at 10.30pm BST.

Wolves vs Tottenham team news

Wolves have seven players out for this game.

Sam Johnstone, who had established himself as first-choice goalkeeper, is likely out for the season with a shoulder injury, while Jose Sa is also struggling with a shoulder problem of his own.

Should both be ruled out, it could mean that third-choice shot-stopper Daniel Bentley keeps his place after starting in the 3-0 loss at Leeds.

Matt Doherty could return after he missed the last two matches with a niggle, while midfielder Angel Gomes is touch and go with a toe injury.

Ladislav Krejci suffered whiplash at Leeds, and Enso Gonzalez is out for the remainder of the campaign with a knee problem. Yerson Mosquera is suspended.

For Spurs, it is a case of same old, same old.

Cristian Romero is the biggest casualty, ruled out for the season with a knee injury that he suffered against Sunderland.

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Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario remains sidelined with a hernia problem, while Wilson Odobert, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus and Ben Davies are all longer-term absentees.

James Maddison, who has recovered from an ACL injury that he suffered during pre-season, was on the substitutes’ bench for the 2-2 draw with Brighton, but he didn’t make it onto the pitch to complete his comeback and won’t be risked here either.

Destiny Udogie is also now injured, as is Pape Matar Sarr.

Wolves vs Tottenham prediction

Spurs simply must win this game. There is no two ways about it.

They have not won in the Premier League since December, but they have to snap that rotten record if they are serious about staying in the top flight.

Wolves are wounded after their own relegation was confirmed, and they could be motivated knowing that Spurs could provide them with a huge away day in the second tier next term.

Tottenham to win, 2-1

Head to head (h2h) history and results

Wolves wins: 34

Spurs wins: 52

Draws: 23

Wolves vs Tottenham match odds

Wolves to win: 7/2

Tottenham to win: 8/11

Draw: 16/5

Odds via Betfair (subject to change).

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Relegation-threatened Spurs dealt double blow as Roberto De Zerbi desperately seeks first win

Sam Tabuteau

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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau

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Tottenham will be without both Destiny Udogie and Guglielmo Vicario for today’s must-win clash with Wolves in the Premier League.

Left-back Udogie, who only recently returned from a hamstring issue, has picked up a new muscle injury.

First-choice goalkeeper Vicario, meanwhile, has missed Spurs’ last two games after undergoing hernia surgery during the March international break.

Udogie has struggled for fitness throughout his time at Spurs so far, and has already missed 12 games this season with two separate hamstring injuries.

The Italian has started both of De Zerbi’s first two games in charge, but will now miss out against Wolves, with Djed Spence likely to deputise in his absence.

“Destiny has a problem. I think he can't play tomorrow,” the Spurs head coach confirmed on Friday.

“I'm sorry because he played a great first half [against Brighton]. The second half as well, but the first one was great.

Ruled out: Destiny Udogie will play no part for Tottenham against Wolves

Getty

“But we have Spence, Souza is available to come with us, it's not a big problem. I hope Destiny can be available next week in Villa Park.”

De Zerbi said he expected to have Vicario back in training at the start of this week, but the player will not travel to Molineux. It is hoped now that he can resume training at the start of next week.

“No, Vicario is not available for tomorrow,” De Zerbi said on Friday. “I hope I can work with him from Monday.”

James Maddison was named in a matchday squad for the first time this season as Spurs were held to a last-gasp 2-2 draw at home by Brighton last weekend.

The Englishman notably did not warm up with the other substitutes at half-time, though, and headed straight down the tunnel before the full-time whistle as Spurs conceded a 95th-minute equaliser from Georginio Rutter.

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Maddison was back out on the pitch to console his team-mates after the game, but with De Zerbi noting that he was keen not to push the 29-year-old too hard after more than eight months out with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, he added that while he will travel with the squad, he will not play any part against Wolves.

“No, he's not available yet, especially this week, he felt pain, but it's not such an important problem,” De Zerbi said of Maddison.

“Tomorrow, he'll come with us on the bench because it's important if he plays or not. It doesn't matter, it's better if he plays for sure, but also as a guy, as a leader, as a positive guy.

“Inside my dressing room I want to see nice people, positive people, and it's important also for his team-mates.”

Leadership role: James Maddison will travel to Molineux with Spurs but won’t play

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Pape Matar Sarr missed out against Brighton, and De Zerbi confirmed he would also be unavailable for selection against Wolves as he continues to battle with a shoulder injury first picked up during the international break.

Xavi Simons, who scored and assisted on a frustrating afternoon against Brighton, is expected to be fit despite being seen hobbling through the mixed zone at full-time.

The Dutch midfielder, who was visibly struggling with cramp towards the end of the Brighton game, will surely reprise his role in the starting lineup after an impressive display last weekend.

Rodrigo Bentancur is also likely to start for the second successive game following his return from a hamstring injury.

The Uruguayan provided energy and dynamism to Spurs’ midfield against Brighton, and De Zerbi is likely to opt for the same combination for the trip to Wolves.

Spurs are in desperate need of three points as they look to move out of the relegation zone following a winless start to De Zerbi’s reign.

Two points from safety with five games to play, Spurs have not won a league game since December 28.

De Zerbi, though, maintains confidence in his side and believes Spurs can win all their remaining matches as they look to avoid dropping into the second division for the first time since 1977.

Predicted Tottenham XI (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Spence; Bissouma, Bentancur; Kolo Muani, Gallagher, Simons; Solanke

Doubt: Maddison

Injured: Davies, Kulusevski, Odobert, Kudus, Romero, Udogie, Vicario, Sarr

Time and date: 3pm BST on Saturday April 25, 2026

Venue: Molineux, Wolverhampton

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Roberto De Zerbi has had clear impact but needs help from players to make rosy outlook a reality

Sam Tabuteau

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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

A week has passed since Tottenham last played, yet the emotional rollercoaster of this tightest of relegation battles has shown no signs of relenting as we head into the final five games of the season.

Over the last seven days, Spurs’ supporters have lurched to and fro before eventually landing back right where they started - two points from safety and without a league win this calendar year.

Georginio Rutter’s stoppage-time equaliser, which came a matter of hours after Leeds had put three past Wolves, felt like a death knell for Spurs’ survival hopes as players sank to the ground in despair at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Saturday.

There was then no respite on Sunday, as Nottingham Forest came from behind in style to seal a 4-1 win over Burnley and move five points clear of the bottom three.

A win for West Ham away to Crystal Palace on Monday evening, and even the most optimistic of Spurs supporters would have begun to fear the worst.

Tottenham stars wore their hearts on their sleeves after Georginio Rutter struck late to nick a draw for Brighton last time out

PA

The Hammers, though, were unable to seize their opportunity as they were held to a goalless draw on a frustrating evening at Selhurst Park.

Opportunity knocks for Tottenham, but the question remains: will they be able to take it?

With Leeds putting more distance between themselves and the drop with a 2-2 draw away at Bournemouth on Wednesday, and Forest unbeaten in their last eight games after trouncing Sunderland last night, it looks increasingly like it will be a straight shootout for survival between Spurs and West Ham.

Both sides kick off at the same time this afternoon, with Spurs travelling to Wolves and West Ham hosting Everton, in what could prove a pivotal couple of hours for the two clubs.

“Not, maybe. For sure, what we have done until now is not enough,” De Zerbi admitted in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.

Roberto De Zerbi needs his squad to deliver results as the relegation battle goes down to the wire

Getty

“I don't want to put too much pressure, but we have to know the situation. We can't forget the table. We can't forget we need a win.”

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When Spurs met Wolves in September, they were third in the Premier League table. Now, they are third from bottom and favourites to join Wolves and Burnley in confirming their relegation to the Championship.

Spurs could match their longest run without a top-flight win if they fail to beat Wolves, and De Zerbi knows that three points will not spell the end for their relegation troubles, even if he was encouraged by their performance against an in-form Brighton side last weekend.

“If we win in Wolverhampton, it's not finished yet. There are four other games, but I think now we deserve to win a game. Also, with Brighton, I knew before the game that Brighton was one of the best teams in this moment, actually, in this moment in the Premier League.

“After the Chelsea (vs Brighton) game, everyone understood, and we played a very good game, and we deserve to win.”

De Zerbi, who is currently staying at the club’s Hotspur Way training ground, is working day and night to turn things around.

He lived and breathed every kick against Brighton and insists he is “very happy” with the support he has received from players and staff since arriving at the club.

Roberto De Zerbi lived and breathed every kick against Brighton

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“I am very happy to work here because the part of the staff I found when I came is special, as a guy, as a professional, and the players the same.

“I found good players, good guys, serious players, and they follow me. They believe in my words because I am able to recognise the eyes of the players.

“We are suffering, they are suffering because it is not easy to play in Tottenham in this condition of the table, but I said they have to be stronger and they have to live to win a game.

“We have to live every part of the day waiting for a win and preparing for a win because I think with a win we can change this part of the season.”

One win remains the aim, the catalyst that De Zerbi believes can steer Spurs to safety, but belief is slowly seeping away with every passing game.

This weekend, more than any other, Spurs must find the will to win. De Zerbi’s optimism can only go so far as the reality of relegation draws closer.

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Nottingham Forest trounced Sunderland 5-0 on Friday to move eight points clear of relegation-threatened Tottenham, whose fears of the drop grow more rational by the day.

Morgan Gibbs-White inspired Vitor Pereira’s side to ease themselves further clear of the bottom four, where Spurs and West Ham are both looking to avoid joining Wolves and Burnley in returning to the Championship.

The 26-year-old, who scored a hat-trick in last weekend’s 4-1 win over Burnley, starred in a first-half rout as the Europa League semi-finalists established an eight-point gap to 18th-placed Tottenham, who only have five games left to play.

Aided and abetted by a shambolic defensive performance by Regis Le Bris’ men, Forest put the game to bed before the kettle for the half-time tea had even been filled with Trai Hume’s unfortunate own goal sparking a spectacular collapse amid which Chris Wood, Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus all scored inside six minutes before Elliot Anderson added a fifth at the death.

Primarily, though, the result heaps pressure on Tottenham in the relegation battle ahead of their visit to Wolves on Saturday. Spurs are yet to win in the league this season, and are losing touch with both Forest and West Ham as they hit late-season form.

With his side now unbeaten in eight, he is increasingly confident of dodging the drop but acknowledges there is still work to do.

“We are in a good moment,” he told Sky Sports. “Because we create the spirit, the mentality, and tactically we have more time together, we are in a moment that we can face every game to get points.

“It is important at this stage of the season to show this mentality, this spirit, this confidence, because we have the character. I am very happy for my players, the supporters, the club. The points we’ve got until now means we need to win more games.”

The hero fo the night, though, was Wood, who scored his first goal since the first day of the season to put Forest 2-0 up at the Stadium of Light.

He said: “(Victory) gives us a bit of breathing room and it also puts a bit of pressure on the two chasing behind. Back-to-back wins does that for you, we'll look to do that again after playing Villa in the cup, go to Chelsea and hope to get the same result.”

Frenchman has only started nine league matches this campaign despite injuries to other forwards

Sam Tabuteau

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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau

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Roberto De Zerbi says there is nothing more that Mathys Tel can do to stake a claim for minutes, as he admits he is unlikely to make wholesale changes to his starting lineup between now and the end of the season.

Tel has started just nine Premier League games this season despite Spurs suffering a number of injuries out wide.

Mohammed Kudus has been ruled out of Spurs’ remaining games after suffering a setback in his recovery from a serious quad injury, while Wilson Odobert sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Newcastle in February.

With Spurs deciding to sanction the departure of Brennan Johnson in January, and Dejan Kulusevski yet to feature this season, Tel is the only fit natural winger in De Zerbi’s squad.

De Zerbi tried to sign Tel while he was manager at Marseille, yet the Frenchman has been limited to just 61 minutes off the bench in his first two games in charge.

Asked what Tel had to do to force a claim for more minutes, De Zerbi admitted that while he admired the 20-year-old, he did not want to make too many changes to his starting lineup so close to the end of the season.

Mathys Tel has endured a frustrating campaign on the fringes of the Tottenham squad

REUTERS

“Nothing more (he can do to get minutes), because I'm happy for him,” De Zerbi said in his pre-Wolves press conference.

“He has a great attitude, he has great qualities, he's very young. Kolo Muani, he has much experience, but we'll see in the next game.

“Maybe he can start in the first eleven, but I don't like to change too many players, one game, one game.

“Especially now, we have to find the connection between the players. They have to be able to communicate inside of the pitch.”

Despite naturally being a striker, De Zerbi seems to prefer Kolo Muani’s experience over Tel on the right wing, even after a succession of indifferent performances.

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Kolo Muani himself has said he prefers to play through the middle rather than on the wing.

De Zerbi, though, insists that Kolo Muani is capable of excelling on the right wing, even though he has found the back of the net just once in the Premier League this season.

“If I play with Kolo Muani as right winger, it’s because he has played in that position. If you go to YouTube, and you go to Kolo Muani Eintracht Frankfurt, you can see he played very well in that position, and he scored a lot of goals in that position,” De Zerbi added, while acknowledging that both Kolo Muani and Tel could improve ahead of the final five games of the season.

“Kolo Muani, in the second half (against Brighton), in the second part of the game, Mathys Tel, all can play better.

“But (it is) not (that they) can play better because they are playing badly, but because they have a big, big talent, and I want to see all this talent on the pitch.”

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Reports surfaced on Thursday suggesting that Udogie, who has only just returned from a hamstring injury, had picked up a knock and is now a doubt for Spurs’ trip to Molineux.

It is unclear, meanwhile, whether Vicario has recovered from a hernia injury, having missed Spurs’ last two games after undergoing surgery over the international break.

Roberto De Zerbi is expected to provide an update on the pair’s fitness in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.

Udogie has struggled for fitness throughout his time at Spurs, and has missed 12 games this season with two separate hamstring injuries.

The Italian has started both of De Zerbi’s first two games in charge, but could now miss out against Wolves, with Djed Spence likely to deputise in his absence.

De Zerbi said he expected to have Vicario back in training at the start of this week, but it is not clear whether he will be fit enough to start as Spurs look for their first win of the calendar year at bottom-of-the-table Wolves.

James Maddison was named in a matchday squad for the first time this season as Spurs were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Brighton last weekend.

The Englishman notably did not warm up with the other substitutes at half-time, though, and headed straight down the tunnel before the full-time whistle as Spurs conceded a 95th-minute equaliser from Georginio Rutter.

Maddison was back out on the pitch to console his team-mates after the game, but with De Zerbi noting he was keen not to push the 29-year-old too hard after more than eight months out with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, careful consideration will be given towards his reintegration.

Xavi Simons, who scored and assisted on a frustrating afternoon against Brighton, is expected to be fit despite being seen hobbling through the mixed zone at full-time.

The Dutch midfielder, who was visibly struggling with cramp towards the end of the Brighton game, will surely reprise his role in the starting lineup after an impressive display last weekend.

Rodrigo Bentancur is also likely to start for the second successive game following his return from a hamstring injury.

The Uruguayan provided energy and dynamism to Spurs’ midfield against Brighton, and De Zerbi is likely to opt for the same midfield combination for the trip to Wolves.

Two points from safety with five games to play, Spurs have not won a league game since December 28.

De Zerbi, though, maintains confidence in his side and believes Spurs can win all their remaining games as they look to avoid dropping into the second division for the first time since 1977.