Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Joao Gomes nets double as Spurs stutter in race for top four

Tottenham missed the chance to consolidate their place in the Premier League’s top four as they were beaten 2-1 by Wolves on Saturday.

Joao Gomes scored both goals for the visitors, who moved into the top half and ended their opponents’ five-match winning streak on home soil.

Gary O’Neil’s side took the lead three minutes before half-time when an unmarked Gomes met Pablo Sarabia’s corner and planted a firm header into Guglielmo Vicario’s right corner.

Tottenham hit back within 34 seconds of the restart with Dejan Kulusevski skipping past Craig Dawson before poking the ball through Jose Sa’s legs from a tight angle.

Wolves regained the lead and ultimately secured victory in the 63rd minute following a devastating counter. Pedro Neto charged half the length of the field before laying off for the advancing Gomes, who brilliantly swept a first-time shot past Vicario.

Though they have now scored in 37 successive Premier League games, Tottenham’s defensive frailties were exposed once more.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have now kept just one clean sheet in 16, while they are without one in nine home matches.

However, nothing should be taken away from Wolves, who have won three successive league games against Spurs for the first time in their history.

While Gary O’Neil becomes the first manager to win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with two different teams, his current side have now prevailed in three straight top-flight matches in London for the first time since September 1979.

You wait all season to score a Premier League goal, and then two come along at once.

The midfielder had only netted once in the English top-flight prior to today, but tripled his tally with a pair of smart finishes.

It was an all-action display from Gomes, who was involved in more duels than any other player (17), while he also produced the most tackles during the game (six).

Tottenham: Vicario 7, Emerson 7, Romero 6, Van de Ven 6, Davies 6, Bissouma 5, Sarr 5, Kulusevski 8, Maddison 7, Son 7, Richarlison 6. Subs: Werner 6, Johnson 5, Bentancur 6, Lo Celso 6, Hojbjerg N/A.

Wolves: Sa 7, Kilman 7, Dawson 7, Toti 7, Semedo 8, Lemina 6, Gomes 9*, Ait Nouri 7, Sarabia 8, Hwang 6, Neto 8. Subs: Bellegarde 5, Traore N/A, Doherty N/A.

6' - CHANCE: Wolves go on the attack and Vicario spills Semedo's powerful drive straight to Hwang. However, he can only volley over from inside the six-yard box.

42' - GOAL!!! TOTTENHAM 0-1 WOLVES (GOMES): The visitors lead! Although their first corner is dealt with, the second is much more fruitful for Wolves. Gomes is completely unmarked as he is found by Sarabia's delivery, and firmly plants his header into the flat-footed Vicario's right corner.

46' - GOAL!!! TOTTENHAM 1-1 WOLVES (KULUSEVSKI): The hosts equalise within a minute of the restart! Threatening down the right after a throw-in, Kulusevski skips away from Dawson before poking the ball through Vicario's legs from a tight angle.

56' - CHANCE: Wolves look to regain the lead and a crossfield pass finds Semedo in acres of space on the right wing. The full-back whips a delicious ball into the area to find Sarabia, whose first-time shot is beaten away by Vicario.

60' - GREAT STRIKE: End-to-end stuff here as Tottenham threaten this time with a series of neat one-touch passes. The ball is set for Kulusevski to unleash a fierce 20-yard drive that is creeping into Sa's bottom-left corner, but the Wolves goalkeeper does well to get his fingertips to it.

63' - GOAL!!! TOTTENHAM 1-2 WOLVES (GOMES): Moments after Semedo made a brilliant block to deny Kulusevski, Wolves launch a devastating counter from a Spurs corner. The pacey Neto leads the charge and shows great awareness to check back at the byline and find the onrushing Gomes, who guides a brilliant first-time shot past Vicario for his second goal of the game.

90+4' - GREAT CHANCE: As the clock ticks down, Tottenham pile on the pressure. Davies is completely unmarked as he meets Kulusevski's cross into the box, but cannot adjust quickly enough and sends his header wide of the target.

- - -

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.