Preview: Wolves v Spurs, an important game for both teams

 

Preview: Wolves v Spurs, an important game for both teams

I hope you all had a good Christmas? I went to London for a couple of days and had a lovely time. Consumed a lot of alcohol, ate a lot, did the usual Christmas things, and within the blink of an eye, it is all over. But the football rolls on. So, to football.

After our draw at Palace, then two defeats, against Liverpool and Leicester City, we need to get back on track before the current top four get beyond our reach. We are currently 8^th in the league and on 25 pts. Therefore it is imperative that we win, anything else would be a disaster.

Wolves are in 11^th position, with 20 pts and are playing at home.

TEAM NEWS

Wolves

Wolves midfielder Leander Dendoncker, who was injured against Chelsea and missed Monday's defeat at Burnley, is a significant doubt for this game. Their defender Jonny and forward Raul Jimenez remain long-term injury absentees.

Spurs

Jose Mourinho is set to shuffle his pack after making seven changes for Wednesday's EFL Cup win.

Lo Celso is out with a hamstring injury, but Tanguy Ndombele is fit. Japhet Tanganga is out until the new year with a shoulder injury.

My thoughts and prediction

Granted, we've hit a bumpy patch, with two defeats and a draw in our last three games, but Wolves have fared no better as they have suffered three losses in four games in this month.

I can see both clubs being very cautious as neither want another defeat; however, Wolves will have to attack (or that is how I see them playing), which could be to our advantage. Both sides need a win, and like usual, I am going for Spurs. We have a better all-round squad, and I would think more confident than Wolves.  They will fear us more. Well, that is my hope.

As you know, Kane and Son have scored 20 of our 25 Premier League goals this season and that is another reason why I am expecting us to win on their ground. Wolves haven't got anything equivalent. And of course we are undefeated away, apart from the Liverpool game; our away record is excellent.

My prediction: 1-2 or 1-3 to us. I can't see there being only one goal in this game.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Five of the last six meetings have been won by the away side, with Tottenham's 3-1 win in 2010 the previous victory earned by the home team.

We have won our last three league games away to Wolves, scoring at least twice each time.

Wolves twice came from behind to win 3-2 at Spurs in March's most recent meeting.

Wolves

Nuno Espirito Santo's side have lost three of their last four league matches.

Since their return to the Premier League in 2018, Wolves have won 17 of their 19 Premier League home games when scoring the first goal, drawing the other two.

After four clean sheets in their first seven league fixtures of the season, Wolves have conceded in all of their last seven.

Wolves have scored just three goals from set-pieces in this season's Premier League - before the latest round of fixtures, only Burnley had scored fewer.

Since their return to the top flight, Wolves have averaged just 0.7 goals per Premier League match without Raul Jimenez in the starting line-up, compared to 1.3 per game when he starts.

This match comes a year to the day since Adama Traore scored his last Premier League goal. He has failed to score or assist in any of his previous 21 top-flight appearances.

Tottenham

We could lose three league matches in a row for the first time since November 2012.

We are also in danger of losing consecutive away league games for the first time under our manager.

We won our opening four away league matches of the season but have not won any of the last three (D2, L1).

Harry Kane has had ten assists in this season's top flight, more than any other player.

Eight of those assists have been for Son - one more would equal the Premier League record for most assists for a team-mate in a season, set by Blackburn's Mike Newell (for Alan Shearer in 1995-96) and Liverpool's Stan Collymore (for Robbie Fowler, also in 1995-96).

Kane has also scored nine league goals - a 10th would see him become just the fourth Englishman to reach double figures in seven consecutive Premier League campaigns.

So that is my thoughts, statistics and hopes… it is crucial that we win, as another loss will set us back, so much so that we can forget about any chances of us challenging for the title. After that our next hope will be to get into the top four… plus some trophies. So fingers crossed…

Take care, be safe and COYS!!!!

Glenn