Match Report: Wolves 2 Spurs 2 (2-3 on penalties)… we just made it!

 

Match Report: Wolves 2 Spurs 2 (2-3 on penalties)… we just made it!

In my article for the Match Preview for this game, I wrote, " My Spurs heart says we will win, but I have a terrible feeling about this game and Arsenal's on Sunday. It wouldn't surprise me if the Wolves game goes to penalties and we being humiliated again." My prediction almost came to fruition. We pushed the boundaries and just scrapped through, even though we were the better side, however, it isn't just to do with being a better side, but luck playing an important part as well. And we've still got the Gooners to go on Sunday. Maybe the tide is turning for us? Or perhaps just wishful thinking?

I was picked up at my house at 2pm by Mel, had an excellent conversation on the way down (stopping for a hot drink) and finally getting to Molineux at about five. There were protesters out in full swing on the way to the stadium, nothing to do with football but the anti-vaccination brigade. Had a chat with one of the protesters (interesting) and then walked around for a bit until we got to the stadium, waited outside the away entrance, chatted until Bev and Rick turned up and then through the turnstiles. Got a drink and something to eat and to our seats and waited for the fireworks to begin (literally); they had flames that shot up to the sky (prematch entertainment!).

We beat Wolves in a shootout to reach the Carabao Cup fourth round after blowing a lead in normal time. We now face Burnley away (that will be a long trip for a Wednesday evening). Goals from Leander Dendoncker and Daniel Podence cancelled out our earlier goals from Ndombele and the man himself, Harry Kane.

Then the breathtaking moment when all the players prepared themselves for the Russian roulette game of football; penalties. Ruben Neves, Dendoncker and Conor Coady all missed in the shootout as Bryan Gil's penalty proved decisive for us.

As I said, we now face Burnley away.

How did it all lead up to the game of death of penalties? Well, Ndombele broke into the box and turned defender Willy Boly and shot a brilliant goal into the net. One nill to us. Then the Captain of the pack, Kane, made it 2-0, nine minutes after Ndombele had scored. A goal that was played through by Dele Alli. We thought we were going to sail through, but then you know what thought did? Buggered it all up. We are Spurs! Their Dendoncker headed in Rayan Ait-Nouri's corner before the break, and that terrible feeling started coming over us.

In the second half, Mel came to sit next to me (as there were plenty of empty seats), and we watched the rest of the game together. Thirteen minutes after the start of the second half, low and behold, Podence equalised, and that dreaded fear started to shake our insides.

Full credit to their goalkeeper, John Ruddy, as he kept Wolves in the game, denying Kane twice with superb blocks on the line to take the match to the dreaded Russian Roulette fate of death. With the scores level at 2-2 in the penalty shootout, Neves blasted over. Our young Keeper, who had replaced Hugo, Pierluigi Gollini, and playing only his second game for us, saved from Dendoncker after Gil had converted. Wolves fate was then sealed when Coady hit the bar. It was all over, and a great cheer went up at our end… Spurs songs were sung. Anybody would have thought that we'd just won a cup final!

Nuno commented after the match: "He [Kane] has much more to give, and it's about the game, improving and growing together. In terms of the squad and preparation, we have players who have 65/70 sessions, and we have players who have 15 sessions. Until we have been able to balance everything, then it will be the moment when the players will improve." He then went on and said, "We spent a lot of time preparing [for penalties] because it's not luck. It's having a goalkeeper who has the right info, the players taking the responsibility."

So, there you have it; why things are the way they are and how they will change; trophies galore, then!

Opinion: if we start to doing well in cup competitions or the Premier league, it won’t be down to brilliant skill, but luck. Throughout history, there have been many cases of luck trumpeting over skilful ability.  We’ve got so many flaws that we must hope luck comes to our rescue. 

After the game, we made our way back to the car, and I got home at about 12.30ish and straight to bed to fight another day.

Next for me is the boxing on Saturday at the Tottenham stadium, then a 12 o'clock meal with Tottenham friends on Sunday before the kick-off. This means leaving early on Sunday morning… probably only getting a couple of hours of sleep after getting home from the boxing.

Be safe, Glenn

COYS!