Kane Header Sees Spurs Squeeze Past Wolves

Saturday 20th August 2022 - 12:30pm

Match Report

Tottenham Hotspur 1 – 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

Competition: English Premier League

"Pre-Match Thoughts – Boosted by snatching a point from the bridge last weekend, Spurs march on unbeaten, and now face Wolves at home in a Saturday lunch time kick-off. It's an easier fixture on paper, but remember we suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to them at home last season.

Rock at the back Romero is out with a muscle injury, so Sánchez is expected to make his first appearance of the campaign.

Conte has been handed a £15,000 fine for his part in the antics with Tuchel on the touchline, though unlike the Chelsea boss, Conte has not received a one match touchline ban. So he'll be there on the side.

A win would see us with 7 points from the first 3 games. I'm saying 3-1 Spurs."

As expected Sánchez started in place of Romero. Perišić was a second change to the side that drew with Chelsea, he came in for Sessegnon at left wing-back.

Stagnant. Nervy. Not the opening half hour Spurs had in mind. It was one of those where things just weren't clicking for them. It lead to increasing frustration amongst the supporters in the stadium.

34' Wolves continued to be the side on top. An initial shot was blocked in the box but fell to Podence on the edge of the box. He struck it on the half-volley, down into the ground. Thankfully it bounced up and flew wide of Lloris' goal.

44' Perišić managed to dig out a cross out despite being under heavy pressure on the left side. Kane met it in the middle and tried to loop a header back across goal. Sá had to spring up and save it from finding the top right corner.

45'+3' Wolves lofted a long free-kick forward. Sánchez was challenged as he went to head clear and it ended up hitting him on the back of the neck. The attacker chased up the loose ball and prevented it from going out of play before pulling it back to new signing Nunes, he struck low towards the near post but Davies manged to deflect it wide.

"Thoughts at Half-Time – Not the first half we would have hoped for. We've struggled to get anything going and Wolves have had far more chances with that Kane effort being our only attempt on target. Thankfully we've defended well enough to keep them out. They'll get one soon if we carry on like this in the 2nd half though. Let's hope Conte sorts it out in the dressing room."

50' Kane played it down the right to Royal, he couldn't get the cross in so opted to pull it back to Kane who whipped it into the box first time. Son glanced a header across goal but it fell just wide.

51' Bentancur drove forward over the halfway line then nudged it right to Royal who helped it on out to Kulusevski. He cut in onto his left and delivered into the area. Kane showed great technique to stoop down and divert a diving header at goal that beat the keeper but crashed against the bar. The rebound fell to Son but he miscued the volley and the goalie gratefully collected it.

54' Nouri played a swift one-two from over on the left side and it saw him in with a shooting chance from a tight angle that he tried to squeeze in, but Dier came across to make a block that deflected into the hands of Lloris.

56' A quick free-kick by Kane from inside his own half saw Son in on goal. He took it in his stride but couldn't get it under control enough to get a shot away before a Wolves man recovered to make the tackle.

62' Kulusevski cut in from the right and found Son, he turned quickly on the ball and struck a shot that cannoned off the outside of the post. It seemed to take a deflection but the ref gave a goal-kick.

64' GOAL! There was a sense it was coming and it did. Son swung in the corner and it was flicked on beautifully by Perišić at the near post. Kane had wriggled his way into space at the far post and headed into the back of the open net from close range. 1-0.

Spurs certainly seem to have improved on set pieces since the appointment of a new set piece specialist in the summer. Kane has bagged headers from corners in consecutive games now.

73' A wake-up call as Wolves almost made the most of a set-piece themselves. Neves looked to curl a free-kick low into the near post but thankfully it was just wide and into the side netting.

76' A double switch for Spurs as Son made way for Richarlison and Perišić came on for Sessegnon.

82' New boy Richarlison had it on the left wing, he looked determined to make an impression and cut inside by nutmegging a Wolves player and charging on into the box where he was tackled as he attempted to unleash a shot.

90'+2' Kane cut in from the left side searching for a shooting opportunity but slipped in Sessegnon on the overlap down the side of the box instead. He tried to get it across to Richarlison but it was blocked and gathered by the keeper.

"Thoughts at Full-Time – It wasn't pretty but it's job done and an important 3 points that sends us temporarily top of the table. Kane had another reasonably quiet game in front of goal, but he popped up to find a vital winning goal in the end. Next up a trip to Nottingham to face forest."

Tottenham Player Ratings

• 1. Hugo Lloris – 7 – Kept busy in the first half and although he didn't need to make any outstanding saves, he did what was needed to keep Wolves out.

• 6. Davinson Sánchez – 8 – Stepped into the side and impressed. Made a number of important tackles and blocks that ensured Spurs kept a clean sheet. An encouraging display from a player many would have been doubting could fill Romero's boots.

• 15. Eric Dier – 7 – Kept things organised at the back. Not many stand-out moments but got the job done.

• 33. Ben Davies – 7 – Cool, calm and collected at the back these days. Another solid defensive display on the whole.

• 12. Emerson Royal – 6 – Same old story with Royal, showed good tenacity and defended well, but struggled to deliver with his final ball when on the attack.

• 30. Rodrigo Bentancur – 6.5 – Surprisingly off it in the first half but improved in the second and got one of his trademark timely slide tackles in from behind again. This time it was Traore he stole the ball from as he threatened to bomb forward on the counter.

• 5. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 8 – A workhorse display from him in the middle of the park. Drove the team on and almost found himself a goal with a shot in the second half.

• 14. Ivan Perišić – 7.5 – Clearly a class act. Such a threat down that left side as he's always looking to make things happen. Textbook flick-on to Kane for the goal. Strong first start for the side. Went off holding his calf. Hopefully it's nothing that'll keep him out as we're keen to see more of him.

• 21. Dejan Kulusevski – 7 – Back at it today after a disappointing performance last week. He showed good composure on the ball and often found a Spurs shirt with his crosses, including one that Kane headed against the bar.

• 7. Son Heung-min – 6 – Put in by Kane from a free-kick but couldn't get the shot away before a Wolves defender got back to tackle him. Won't be pleased with his performance again as he struggled to find chances. Whipped in the corner that was flicked on to find the goal though.

• 10. Harry Kane – 8 – Made the difference with his 250th goal for the club. Showed good movement to find himself free at the far post and head home. Hit the bar earlier on and showed quick thinking to find Son in behind with a free-kick from inside his own half. All in all he came up with the goods for us yet again.

Substitutions:

• 7. Son Heung-min ⬅ 76' ➡ 9. Richarlison – 7 – Looked a livewire again after coming on. Made a powerful run at goal before being tackled at the last. Keen to dribble with it and make things happen. Toed a shot into the side netting. Looks like a matter of time before he finds his first goal.

• 14. Ivan Perišić ⬅ 76' ➡ 19. Ryan Sessegnon – 6 – Overlapped Kane and got himself into a good position down the left of the area. Unfortunately he couldn't find Richarlison with the cross.

• 21. Dejan Kulusevski ⬅ 87' ➡ 38. Yves Bissouma – N/A – Helped see the game out in the final few moments.

Man of the Match – 10. Harry Kane