Stuttering Spurs Through to Fourth Round Following Dramatic Shootout Victory

Wednesday 22nd September 2021

Match Report

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 – 2 Tottenham Hotspur

(Penalty Shootout: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 – 3 Tottenham Hotspur)

Venue: Molineux, Wolverhampton

Competition: EFL Carabao Cup Third Round

Despite giving away a two goal lead, Spurs managed to hold on and defeat Wolves following a penalty shootout that sees them through to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Kane was the name on the team sheet everyone's eyes would have been drawn to. Despite looking on the verge of exhaustion in his last few games, Spurs' main man started again. This time up top as opposed to the deeper role he played against Chelsea at the weekend and donning the captain's armband too.

In other team news, Ndombele started for the second consecutive match. Højbjerg and Reguilón were rested, Skipp and Davies their replacements. Young Bryan Gil got a start as Son was rested and Sánchez slotted in alongside Romero at centre back in place of Eric Dier. Emerson Royal made way for Tanganga at right back and new goalkeeper Gollini was given another chance to show what he can do with Lloris dropping to the bench.

Spurs were wearing their pretty outrageous new third kit for the first time – a bright purple base with patches of yellowy green… As if their cosmic away one wasn't striking enough.

Fans wouldn't have pondered on the vibrant new colours for too long, as Spurs made an excellent start to the game. They looked confident all round and there was an element of class and composure to their early play.

Tanguy Ndombele, who'd been at the heart of the good start, then made it count by putting his side into the lead after fourteen minutes – Following a strong tackle and pass to him from Skipp, he powered through a Wolves challenge by jumping to block a tackle that bounced off his legs and set him on his way into the Wolves penalty area, he muscled his way past Wilfred Boly before sharply turning back on himself, fooling the defender and the goalkeeper and creating an opening for him to slot home into the bottom right corner from the left side of the six yard box. A cool finish from the silky midfielder and one he clearly enjoyed – a beaming smile as he was congratulated by his teammates.

Spurs fans will be hoping this was just the start of his big comeback having failed to force a move away from the club in the summer.

He continued to boss the midfield, playing with a swagger. Twisting and turning this way and that, the Wolves players were struggling to get near him. Playing incisive forward passes into the feet of Spurs attackers too, something we've been lacking in games where we've lined up too defensively.

Ten minutes later and Spurs made it two. This time it was Harry Kane, another player who we hope will benefit from getting his name on the scoresheet. A lovely triangle of one touch passes in the centre circle from Skipp to Lo Celso to Dele who rolled a perfect through ball into the path of Kane. His first touch set him on his way bearing down one on one with the Wolves goalkeeper and he made no mistake slotting the ball into the bottom left corner. 2-0 Spurs.

Tottenham were reigning supreme and the travelling support showed their gratitude – Heard singing in full voice over the silenced home crowd.

Almost straight from the kick-off Dele came agonisingly close to making it three. Great team play again resulted in Skipp finding a good position by the by-line to the left of the area. He drilled the ball across the six yard box where an incoming Dele met it before an outrushing Wolves goalkeeper John Ruddy, but his toe-poked effort trickled just wide of the post.

26' Spurs continued to carve out chances against a seemingly stunned Wolves. This time it was Lo Celso who cut in well down the left side of the penalty area and found himself in a position reminiscent to where Tanguy tucked his goal away from. Unfortunately, having worked himself into space for the shot, Lo Celso then lost his footing and found himself on the deck as Wolves cleared the danger.

Spurs continued to play well passing the half hour mark. Lo Celso and Dele beginning to shine similar to Tanguy Ndombele. Finally, a Spurs midfield that looked dangerous.

38' Spurs came up short on a simple corner as they did at the weekend against Chelsea. That time it was Dele making little to no attempt to prevent Thiago Silva's bullet header, this time it was Ndombele, flailing a leg as Dendoncker climbed above him to head home. 2-1, and suddenly Spurs fans started to wonder whether we'd be left to rue those earlier missed chances.

43' Another chance came their way – Kane laid in Tanganga on the overlap just inside the right side of the penalty area. The young defender took on the shot from a tight angle but blazed it over the top.

Backed by a rejuvenated crowd, Wolves continued to press for the remainder of the half and Spurs looked on the ropes. Thankfully they made it to the whistle without conceding another. 2-1 to Spurs at the break.

"Thoughts at Half Time – Spurs looked excellent in the opening half an hour. Playing with a swagger and creating chance after chance. It could prove costly that they only managed to put two of them in the back of the net though, as Wolves managed to pull a goal back and given that boost have looked likely to grab an equaliser. Spurs just about held on and it'll be interesting to see how the two sides come out in the second half, as this game is far from over now."

A visibly oiled up Adama Traoré, who allegedly almost joined Spurs in the summer, was the only change at the break. Fabio Silva was the man who made way for him.

Wolves picked up where they left off, making a lively start to the second half. Adama Traoré making an immediate impact with his powerful runs. Though it was Ki-Jana Hoever who outmuscled Sánchez down the right side and crossed in low to the feet on Hwang Hee-Chan. The South Korean did well having made a run across the near post but his shot was too high and over the top.

The riled up home support excited by the presence of Traoré grew in intensity and the bulky winger was on the go again on fifty-two minutes, only for Oliver Skipp to put an end to the attack with a superb sliding tackle. Having won possession his pass forward resulted in a Spurs free kick which was played into the penalty area finding Dele, then eventually Kane, whose shot from a tight angle was saved down low by Ruddy at his near post.

Ndombele then had a pot-shot from way outside the area. It was straight at Ruddy but due to the speed and swerve it deflected off his gloves as he tried to catch it and flew narrowly over the top corner.

58' Ndombele's lack of fitness began to show… He was turning into the midfield noticeably slower than in the early stages of the match, and on one occasion doing just that, by the centre circle in his own half, he was seized upon and tackled by Hwang. Ndombele went to ground but no foul was given. Hwang then found Dendoncker, who played in Podence, who took a touch to set himself before placing it across goal past a wrong-footed Gollini and into the bottom right corner. Suddenly Wolves found themselves level and it was all to play for. 2-2.

Shortly after and Gil, who'd been lively throughout, came close to putting Spurs back into the lead. He came sliding in on the centre of the six yard box to meet Dele's driven cross, but Ruddy saved well with an outstretched foot.

60' Traoré continued to cause all sorts of trouble for the Spurs defence. He bustled his way down the right past Romero and flashed a ball across the Spurs goal that Hwang just failed to make a connection with.

61' Spurs introduced Son for Lo Celso.

Soon after and Son found himself in a pocket of space on the left wing following a Toby Alderweireld-esque long ball out of defence from Romero. He fired in a good cross towards goal and Kane met it with a glancing header that to his disbelief was saved by an outstretched Ruddy right hand as he sprang into a star-jump position to palm it over the top.

82' Højbjerg came on for Dele who'd ran his socks off all game. This was perhaps a sign that Nuno was happy to hold out for a penalty shootout.

Ndombele was then booked for scissoring down Podence in the centre circle. Another sign of fatigue from the Spurs midfielder who very rarely plays the full ninety.

Wolves responded bringing an extra man into midfield themselves – Podence making way for Moutinho. It seemed both sides would rather face a shootout than risk conceding late in normal time.

87' Neves almost won it for Wolves – His long range effort deflected off a flailing Tanguy Ndombele leg, looped up over Gollini and bounced off the top of the crossbar and over.

With six minutes added on and encouraged by the roaring home support, Wolves continued to press to complete a dramatic comeback before the final whistle. Neves came close blasting a free-kick just over the bar, then another set piece was put across the Spurs area but nobody managed to get on the end of it.

Spurs held on and just before the ref blew they brought Reguilón on for Tanganga, seemingly to take one of the spot kicks.

An entertaining end to end encounter that threatened to become a Spurs rout early on, but ended up with them clinging on at times. It all boiled down to a penalty shootout to decide who'd be going through to the fourth round.

WOLVES	SPURS
1 – Hwang Hee-Chan ✔ Gollini got a hand to it but not enough.	1 – Harry Kane ✔ Perfect. As per.
2 – João Moutinho ✔ Gollini sent the wrong way. Cool penalty.	2 – Sergio Reguilón ✔ Superb! Top right corner. Keeper the wrong way.
3 – Rúben Neves ✖ Too high! Sails over the top to the right.	3 – Bryan Gil ✔ Betters Reguilón's. Even more top right corner.
4 – Leander Dendoncker ✖ Gollini saves low to his right! Not enough pace.	4 – Pierre-Emile Højbjerg ✖ Ruddy saves low to his right! Too central.
5 – Conor Coady ✖ Blasts it against the centre of the crossbar!

Spurs Win the Shootout 3-2!

Tottenham Player Ratings:

• 22. Pierluigi Gollini – 7 – Didn't make any huge saves of note in the game. Not many mistakes to mention either and did manage to save Dendoncker's penalty which contributed to the win.

• 25. Japhet Tanganga – 7 – Most of the Wolves threat came down their right side. Testament to Tanganga's presence that kept their left side at bay.

• 6. Davinson Sánchez – 5 – Looked nervy on a few occasions. Notably when he tried to muscle Hoever off the ball down the right, who ended up skipping past him and delivering a cross that almost led to a goal.

• 4. Cristian Romero – 6 – Showed a good passing range at times. Was caught flat footed for Podence's equaliser.

• 33. Ben Davies – 6 – Sturdy performance from the experienced left back. Traoré beat him on occasion after coming on but did ok defensively on the whole.

• 20. Dele Alli – 7 – Solid work rate from Dele again. Superb one touch through ball to assist Kane's goal and provided more of an attacking threat than other games so far this season. Began to fade in the second half and was eventually subbed for Højbjerg.

• 29. Oliver Skipp – 8 – An excellent display from Skipp. Looked solid in his tackles, precise with his passing, and wasn’t afraid to drive into space with the ball when it opened up before him.

• 28. Tanguy Ndombele – 7 – A mixed bag from Tanguy. Superb in the first half, looked up for it, dominated the midfield and deserved his well-taken goal. Good to see him make it through the ninety, but his tiredness or perhaps just lack of concentration shone through as he was at fault for both of Wolves' goals.

• 18. Giovani Lo Celso – 5 – Another quiet game from Lo Celso. Pushed out of his favoured central position onto the right of a front three and failed to make an impact. Subbed for Son with half an hour to go.

• 11. Bryan Gil – 8 – Promising performance from Gil. He's becoming a real fan favourite with his constant energy and drive to make an impact. He's confident on the ball, not afraid to run at opposition defences and has an eye for quick one twos to get him in behind. To top the performance, his penalty was the pick of the bunch.

• 10. Harry Kane – 7 – Spent more time in and around the box which helped him get his much needed goal. Could have had one or two more but hopefully being back on the scoresheet inspires him to do it again in the derby at the weekend.

Substitutions:

• 18. Giovani Lo Celso <-- 62' --> 7. Son Heung-min – 7 – Made an immediate impact with a peach of a cross onto the head of Kane. Looked his usual dangerous self.

• 20. Dele Alli <-- 82' --> 5. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 6 – On as a late substitute to make Spurs harder to break down. Missed his penalty, put it far too central.

• 25. Japhet Tanganga <-- 90+7' --> 3. Sergio Reguilón – N/A – Brought on late to take a penalty and put it away emphatically.

Man of the Match – 29. Oliver Skipp