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Spotlight on... Wolves

Sat 14 December 2019, 14:07|Tottenham Hotspur

We return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon as we travel to Wolves (kick-off 2pm).

In our last visit to Molineux, we secured all three points as goals from Erik Lamela, Lucas Moura and Harry Kane were enough to seal a 3-2 triumph, but subsequently suffered a 3-1 loss at Wembley last December.

Ahead of our trip to the West Midlands, we put Nuno Espirito Santo’s side under the spotlight…

Team news

Wolves defender Willy Boly is expected to miss the clash at Molineux as he continues his recovery from a fractured fibula that he sustained in October. Midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White will also be unavailable for Wanderers with a back injury.

Wolves' form

After enduring a slow start to the season, Wolves have fired themselves into first gear and are currently enjoying a fine run of form in the Premier League - last Sunday’s 2-2 draw away to Brighton made it 11 games unbeaten in the top flight for Wanderers. Elsewhere, they concluded their Europa League group stage campaign on Thursday with a 4-0 win over Besiktas, which included an 11-minute hat-trick from Diogo Jota. The result secured second place in their group and a place in the knockout stages.

New faces

After scoring 17 goals during his loan spell at Molineux last season, Wolves moved quickly in the summer to turn Raul Jimenez’s temporary stint into a permanent transfer. It was a decision they also made on Leander Dendoncker as he too moved permanently to the West Midlands. Meanwhile, midfielder Bruno Jordao and winger Pedro Neto were both brought in from Portuguese side Braga with striker Patrick Cutrone joining from AC Milan.

Leader of the opposition

Former goalkeeper Nuno Espirito Santo has transformed Wolves’ fortunes since he took over in 2017. The Portuguese spent most of his years as a player in his homeland - he even played under Jose Mourinho at Porto and was part of their Champions League-winning squad in 2004.

He began his managerial career in Portugal with Rio Ave and then had spells with Valencia and Porto before arriving at Molineux. Having finished 15^th in the Championship the season prior to his arrival, the former shot stopper led Wanderers to promotion back to the Premier League in his first campaign before securing Europa League football in the following season as they finished seventh in the top flight.

Last five meetings

29 December, 2018 – Spurs 1-3 Wolves – Premier League
3 November, 2018 – Wolves 2-3 Spurs – Premier League
14 January, 2012 – Spurs 1-1 Wolves – Premier League
10 September, 2011 – Wolves 0-2 Spurs – Premier League
6 March, 2011 – Wolves 3-3 Spurs – Premier League

The numbers game

1 – We have only lost one of our five Premier League away games against Wolves (W3 D1), going down 1-0 in February, 2010.

11 – Wolves are now unbeaten in 11 Premier League games (W5 D6), last having a longer run without defeat in the top flight between February and September, 1959 (18).

21 – Since the start of last season, Wolves have taken more points from the 2018/19 top six than any other side who finished outside of these places last term (21 – W5 D6 L5).

8 – Dele Alli has been involved in eight Premier League goals in nine games this season (five goals, three assists), as many as he was in 25 appearances in the competition last season (five goals, three assists).

10 – Harry Kane has scored nine Premier League goals this season and could become the first player to score 10+ in six consecutive top-flight campaigns for us since Robbie Keane (2002/03 to 2007/08).

Quick quiz on Wolves

Which of the following players scored a brace in our UEFA Cup Final second-leg triumph over Wolves in 1972?

Alan Mullery
Martin Chivers
Alan Gilzean

We progressed past Wolves in the 1982 FA Cup semi-finals before lifting the trophy with victory over which London side?

West Ham
Fulham
QPR

Jose Mourinho managed Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo during his playing days at which club?

Porto
Real Madrid
Internazionale

Harry Kane, Lucas Moura and Erik Lamela have all scored against Wolves in their careers to date – who is the only other player in our squad to have scored against Wanderers in their career so far?