Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers: 5 talking points as Spurs get back to winning ways | Premier League 2020-21  

Tottenham Hotspur defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers
Tottenham Hotspur defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers

Goals in either half from Harry Kane and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg helped Tottenham secure a 2-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

The hosts came into this fixture on the back of a tame 3-1 defeat away to Leeds United and would have been keen to get back to winning ways.

Tottenham interim manager Ryan Mason made just one change to the side that lost to Leeds, with Japhet Tanganga starting in place of Serge Aurier for his first appearance under Mason. It was a bit surprising that more changes were not made, considering how abject the north London outfit were in West Yorkshire.

The hosts fashioned the first chance of the game when Harry Kane struck the post with a shot from outside the box. But that was as good as it got for Tottenham for most of the first half as they struggled to create any fluidity in attack.

Adama Traore proved to be a handful for the Spurs defense as he embarked on some trademark runs through midfield, but Fabio Silva was ineffectual in attack.

Wolves captain Conor Coady made two goalline clearances in quick succession, first after Rui Patricio had fumbled an attempted punch that allowed Kane to head towards goal. The next sequence of play saw Giovani Lo Celso shoot from an acute angle but the England international was in the right place at the right time to keep his side level.

Harry Kane put Tottenham ahead right on the stroke of halftime. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg played a precise long ball over the Wolves defense, Kane timed his run to perfection and held off the challenges of several defenders. He then slotted it past Patricio to give the hosts a scarcely deserved lead.

Tottenham started the second half in a buoyant mood and quickly established their dominance in the opening minutes.

A well-worked team move saw several Spurs players combine to release Sergio Reguilon in the box but the Spain international's shot at goal was tipped over by Patricio.

Kane forced the Wolves goalkeeper into another smart save two minutes later, before Dele Alli and Gareth Bale both went close.

Tottenham scored the goal their bright second-half start deserved when Hojbjerg converted from close range after Patricio had saved Bale's shot from the edge of the area.

The goal came about due to the resoluteness of Reguilon down the left flank, as he did not give up even when he was second best to a ball. Ki-Jana Hoever, however, should have been stronger with his challenge.

The rest of the game was played at a controlled tempo by the hosts and on the overall balance of play, they were deserved winners.

Up next for Tottenham will be the visit of Aston Villa - with 10,000 fans to be in attendance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Wolves will travel to Goodison Park to take on Everton.

Here are five talking points from the game.

#5 Tottenham reclaim the initiative in race for Europa League qualification

Tottenham Hotspur are in sixth place
Tottenham Hotspur are in sixth place

West Ham's recent falters meant Tottenham came into this clash knowing that a victory would take them above their London rivals into sixth spot in the table.

Even though the Europa League is not exactly where a club with Tottenham's ambitions wants to be, it is much better than the newly-formed European Conference League.

Considering that was at stake, the hosts started rather poorly and struggled to put pressure on the Wolves defense.

A lethargic first half ended with Harry Kane putting Spurs ahead and that proved to be the impetus for them to enter second gear.

An improved second-half performance helped Tottenham secure a crucial victory. They are currently level on points with West Ham, but have a better goal difference with two games to go.

#4 Fabio Silva has a game to forget

Fabio Silva did not make a mark on the game
Fabio Silva did not make a mark on the game

Fabio Silva became Wolves' record signing when he completed a £35m transfer from FC Porto last summer.

The 18-year-old had only made his first-team debut a year prior and had just a handful of senior appearances under his belt. However, big things were expected of him and Wolves signed him with a view to slowly easing him into the first team.

Raul Jimenez's long-term injury scuppered those plans and Silva found himself swimming in the murky waters of top-flight Premier League football sooner than he was ready.

The highly-rated Portuguese teenager made his third consecutive league start in the game against Tottenham but it was far from a performance that did his talents justice.

Silva was muscled out of the game on several occasions by the more physical Spurs defenders. His finishing also left a lot to be desired on the few occasions that he found himself in space.

#3 Ryan Mason keeps up 100% home record as Tottenham manager

Tottenham have won three consecutive home games
Tottenham have won three consecutive home games

Ryan Mason made history when he was appointed as the interim Tottenham manager in the wake of Jose Mourinho's sacking. At the age of just 29 years, 10 months and 8 days, the former England international became the youngest Premier League manager in history.

Since then, he has performed admirably well in the Spurs dugout, although it is far from certain that he will be given the job permanently.

So far, Mason has won three of his five matches in charge of Tottenham, with his two defeats coming away to Leeds United and at Wembley against Manchester City in the final of the League Cup.

By contrast, Spurs have been invincible on home turf under the management of Ryan Mason. Their victory against Wolves made it three consecutive victories at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with eight goals scored and just one conceded.

#2 Dele Alli enjoying his football once again

Dele Alli impressed against Wolves
Dele Alli impressed against Wolves

The last few years have not been the best for Dele Alli, a player who was once tipped for greatness, but stagnated under the management of Jose Mourinho.

The two-time PFA Young Player of the Year found himself frozen from first-team football. There were strong indications that he was on his way out of Tottenham, with PSG mooted as a possible destination.

However, Mourinho's departure has given the 25-year-old a new lease of life and Ryan Mason has offered Alli an opportunity to rediscover his best form.

The game against Wolves was his third consecutive league start and he gave a good showing in the hole behind the front three of Bale, Kane and Son.

Having struggled to get into the match in the first half, Alli was the catalyst for Tottenham's dominance in the second half.

With Gareth Southgate watching from the stands, Alli had an outing that might earn him an outside chance of making the Three Lions' squad for the European Championship.

#1 Harry Kane looks favorite for the Golden Boot

Harry Kane scored his 22nd goal of the season
Harry Kane scored his 22nd goal of the season

Harry Kane's future at Tottenham might be up in the air but his appetite for goals and immense finishing cannot be doubted.

The England international started the season like a house on fire. But despite his campaign being hampered by recurring ankle problems, he is still among the forerunners for a maiden PFA Player of the Year award.

Harry Kane came into this game level with Mohamed Salah on 21 goals in the race for the Golden Boot. He quickly established his ambition when he hit the post with a shot from distance as early as the fifth minute.

Tottenham's lack of creativity saw Kane drop deep in a bid to try and influence proceedings but he remained a threat at the other end.

Coady cleared Kane's goal-bound header shortly before halftime but the Englishman was not to be denied moments later. He showed the full-range of his ability to put Tottenham ahead with practically the last kick of the first half.

That goal took him to 22 league goals for the season. He went one ahead of Mohamed Salah, who eventually leveled with Kane again with his goal against West Brom. However, with Kane's imperious form, he looks favorite to win the Premier League Golden Boot this season.

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Edited by Prem Deshpande
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