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Harry Kane and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg lift Tottenham to within touching distance of Europe

Harry Kane celebrates after making it 1-0 to Spurs on the stroke of half time - REUTERS
Harry Kane celebrates after making it 1-0 to Spurs on the stroke of half time - REUTERS

A motivated Tottenham Hotspur, with a goal-hungry Harry Kane and a reinvigorated Dele Alli, remain a dangerous and thrilling force no matter how draining this strange season has been. One imagines that the scars of Jose Mourinho’s tenure will take some time to clear but, when they click like this, Tottenham still have the look and feel of a proper football team.

These three points against Wolverhampton Wanderers took Tottenham up to sixth, beyond West Ham United, with two games to play. A Europa League place is within their grasp, which is something to build on at least, even if it is not the Champions League spot they crave.

In the search for a new manager, performances of this nature can only help Tottenham’s cause. When Kane and Alli threaten as they did here, dovetailing like it was 2017 all over again, this group looks a far more enticing prospect for potential coaches than it did just a few weeks ago.

Kane’s first goal under interim coach Ryan Mason was a pleasing sign for all of a Tottenham and England persuasion, although he will feel that he should have had more. The second was tapped in by the excellent Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who also created the opener with a superb pass. “We were outstanding today,” said Mason. “We should have scored more.”

Tottenham were not flowing throughout but they certainly deserved their win against a Wolves side with nothing but pride on their agenda. Nuno Espirito Santo’s team had promising moments yet they lacked an edge in attack, where Adama Traore’s good work was often wasted by his team-mates.

After a slightly flat opening half an hour, in which Wolves striker Fabio Silva had the best chances, the home side were strolling by the end. For them it was the performance of Alli that provided the most encouragement. This was his third consecutive start under Mason and the 25-year-old was perhaps the sharpest player on the pitch. “Dele was excellent,” said Mason. “He ran, he competed, he pressed, he created opportunities.”

Dele Alli looked happy and was a constant menace against Wolves - SHUTTERSTOCK 
Dele Alli looked happy and was a constant menace against Wolves - SHUTTERSTOCK

There were times, especially when he produced a gorgeous nutmeg on Leander Dendoncker in the first half, when the midfielder looked a little like the old Alli again. After such a miserable few months under Mourinho, in which he barely played, there was even a beaming smile on Alli’s face after the break. He looked to at last be enjoying his football once more, and Tottenham’s attackers were clearly enjoying his presence alongside them.

“With players like this it is a joy to play,” said Alli, who might yet make a late push for the England squad. “I am just trying to express myself and have fun.”

With Alli pulling the strings, Kane and Gareth Bale gradually grew into the game before the break, helping Mason’s side to take control before their opener. Hojbjerg’s pass split apart the Wolves defence, allowing Kane to skip past Rui Patricio before finishing. “We allowed a simple pass that broke all the lines,” said Nuno. “Sometimes we create our own problems.”

Kane’s 22nd goal of the league season, to go with his 13 assists, meant that only Robert Lewandowski and Lionel Messi have been involved in more goals across Europe’s top five leagues.

The Kane-Alli connection, such a key part of Tottenham’s recent history, has barely been seen this season. That understanding does not just disappear overnight, though, and they combined well as Tottenham twice hit the woodwork after the break. Alli found Kane, whose shot was tipped onto one post by Patricio before Alli side-footed the rebound onto the other.

Alli was finding plenty of space and he was involved again in the build-up to their second, spotting Sergio Reguilon on the left. The Spaniard did brilliantly to feed Son Heung-min, who teed up Bale. Patricio saved the first effort but only pushed it as far as Hojbjerg, a few yards out.

Traore continued to pose problems with his speed but Wolves knew, as well as Tottenham, that this match was over as a contest. This was Tottenham’s day and, with Kane and Alli leading the way, their pursuit of European football is back on track as they enter the final days of this turbulent campaign.

As it happened

02:56 PM

Full time, Tottenham 2 Wolves 0

They may have strolled through the last 15 minutes or so, but Spurs thoroughly deserved to win that game.

While the first half was relatively even, Spurs upped the tempo after the break and pushed until Hojbjerg got the killer goal. Wolves created a fair amount of chances but were badly let down by their finishing, which has been a theme of their season.


02:52 PM

Sissoko on, Bale off


02:49 PM

85 mins

Dendoncker draws a foul from Tanganga which earns the Spurs man a booking.


02:47 PM

84 mins

Kane curls a cross to Bale at the far post, but it's overhit and drifts out of play.

Spurs are meandering to the final whistle here but, so far, Wolves haven't been able to punish them. Nuno has made his third and final change.


02:44 PM

Ndombele on, Alli off


02:41 PM

77 mins

Traore gets down the right and finds Willian Jose in the box.

Rather than shoot, he turns and sets up Moutinho. His effort is deflected wide and Spurs defend the ensuing corner well.


02:36 PM

74 mins

Moutinho stays down after being caught on the ankle by Tanganga, leading to a short break in play.


02:35 PM

Nuno makes another substitution

... with Gibbs-White coming off for Neves.


02:32 PM

69 mins

Spurs win a corner and Tanganga rises highest, but he can only direct his header over the crossbar.

Not long afterwards, Alli has a go from distance but it drifts wide of the far post.


02:30 PM

Winks on, Lo Celso off


02:29 PM

65 mins

Traore gets down the right flank, cuts inside Dier and wallops a shot just wide of the near post.

Wolves need to make the most of chances like that if they intend to get back into this game.


02:27 PM

63 mins

Spurs' second goal seems to have roused Wolves to action.

Morgan Gibbs-White gets in behind and picks out Silva, but he scuffs his attempted finish when he should really have made it 2-1. Nuno Espirito Santo responds by making his first change of the game.


02:24 PM

GOAL! Tottenham 2 Wolves 0

Well, that was coming.

Reguilon miscontrols the ball on the left but does well to recover and get past Ki-Jana Hoever. He gets the ball to Son, who pivots and finds Bale. His shot is saved by Patricio, but Hojbjerg scores on the follow-up.


02:20 PM

56 mins

Spurs are well on top at the moment, but it's still only 1-0.

They have had 19 shots to Wolves' seven, 353 passes to their opponents' 233 and 61 per cent possession so far.


02:17 PM

54 mins

Kane gets in behind again, but his latest effort is straight at Patricio.


02:17 PM

53 mins

How have Spurs not scored there?

Alli scampers forward and plays through Kane, whose shot is tipped onto the far post by Patricio. Alli follows up himself and hits the near post. The goalframe is going to collapse at this rate.

Kane looks baffled after narrowly failing to make it 2-0 - SHUTTERSTOCK
Kane looks baffled after narrowly failing to make it 2-0 - SHUTTERSTOCK

02:15 PM

52 mins

Vitinha has a crack from distance, but it bounces into Lloris' outstretched gloves.


02:14 PM

51 mins

Alli, Lo Celso and Son combine on the edge of the area before Reguilon bursts into the box from the left and forces Patricio to tip a fizzing shot over the crossbar.


02:12 PM

49 mins

Wolves have a free kick out wide after Alli barges over Joao Moutinho.

Moutinho steps up but his delivery is cleared. The visitors get another ball into the box and Saiss gets on the end of it, but Lloris makes the save.


02:09 PM

47 mins

Spurs win a free kick and Wolves clear as far as Hojbjerg, who sends a shot sailing over the crossbar from distance.


02:08 PM

Second half kicks off

... and Wolves want a penalty almost immediately after Lo Celso follows through on Silva in the box, but there's nothing doing.


01:56 PM

Half time, Tottenham 1 Wolves 0

The two sides looked fairly well matched in the first half, but Kane delivered a hammer blow just before the break.

Wolves certainly have a goal in them, but they will have to go for it in the second half. That could allow Spurs to counter-punch them.

Kane rounds Coady and beats Rui Patricio to score - NMC POOL
Kane rounds Coady and beats Rui Patricio to score - NMC POOL

01:53 PM

GOAL! Tottenham 1 Wolves 0

Having worked so hard to keep the scores level, Coady slips up moments later.

Kane beats Wolves' offside trap, latches onto a long ball from Hojbjerg and goes one-on-one with Patricio. Coady gets back but mistimes his tackle and can only watch helplessly as Kane ripples the net.


01:50 PM

42 mins

Bale twists and turns on the edge of the box before picking out Tanganga on the right.

His cross is nudged out for a corner. First, Kane somehow outjumps Patricio and forces Coady to make a goalline clearance. Lo Celso then has a go from distance and Coady blocks it on the line again.


01:48 PM

40 mins

Bale gets down the right and squares for Alli, who is dispossessed by a desperate challenge from Saiss.

Had he mistimed that even slightly, it would have been a penalty. A nervy moment for Wolves, there.


01:45 PM

37 mins

Kane gets a knock-down to Son, who dribbles past Coady before unleashing a shot from a narrowing angle.

Patricio makes the save but almost parries straight to Sergio Reguilon. He manages to recover just in time and smothers the ball.


01:40 PM

34 mins

Wolves have a decent spell of possession which ends with Semedo getting a menacing cross into the box, but Dier clears.


01:39 PM

28 mins

Traore tears forwards again, Spurs' defence melting away like an ice cube on a summer day.

Just as he did earlier on, he picks out Silva on the right. This time, his teammate pings a shot just wide of the far post.

Adama Traore sprints up the pitch - AFP
Adama Traore sprints up the pitch - AFP

01:33 PM

26 mins

Alli nutmegs Dendoncker out wide and almost tees up Eric Dier for a tap-in, but Wolves scramble it clear.


01:32 PM

24 mins

Dele Alli switches the play and finds Son Heung-min on the left.

He picks out Bale in the box but, just as he shapes to shoot, several Wolves defenders converge and combine to block his effort.


01:29 PM

22 mins

Spurs win a free kick further out and Bale steps up again, but this time he clips the ball to Kane in the area.

Despite getting on the wrong side of Semedo, he can only hit the side netting from a tight angle.


01:27 PM

20 mins

Bale goes close!

The Welshman steps up and curls one round the wall towards the bottom corner. Patricio has positioned himself well, however, and gets down to make a low save.


01:26 PM

19 mins

Giovani Lo Celso has a pop from distance which Saiss deflects out for a corner.

Wolves clear with ease, Gareth Bale recycles the ball and then Lo Celso wins a free kick in a dangerous position.


01:21 PM

13 mins

Spurs are dominating possession, but they are struggling to produce a decent final ball at the moment.

Wolves look poised to strike on the counter, not least when Traore switches on the pace.

Harry Kane (right) looks to accelerate away from Conor Coady - AP
Harry Kane (right) looks to accelerate away from Conor Coady - AP

01:15 PM

7 mins

Traore runs through the entire Spurs team before finding Silva on the right.

He takes a shot which is deflected out for a corner. The delivery almost falls for him in the box, but Lloris rushes out to gather.


01:14 PM

6 mins

Fabio Silva gets a shot on target, but Hugo Lloris has it covered.


01:12 PM

4 mins

Harry Kane hits the post!

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg wins the ball high up the pitch and ferries it to Kane, who lines one up from distance and rattles the woodwork. Rui Patricio was well beaten.


01:10 PM

Peeeep!

We're underway at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.


01:09 PM

Gibbs-White with first back-to-back starts in Premier League

... as a reward for his last-minute winner against Brighton last weekend.

Romain Saiss, Nelson Semedo, Leander Dendoncker and Adama Traore come into the Wolves starting line-up for Max Kilman, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Ruben Neves and Daniel Podence respectively.


01:00 PM

Kick off in five minutes


12:46 PM

One change for Spurs

Despite seeing his side slump to a 3-1 defeat to Leeds last weekend, Mason has only made one change to his starting line-up.

Japhet Tanganga comes in for Serge Aurier at right-back. Aurier has been ruled out with a groin injury.


12:11 PM

Wolves team news


12:10 PM

Tottenham team news


12:05 PM

The punishment if Spurs finish seventh? Uefa's new 'Europa Conference'

During his time as Tottenham Hotspur manager, Harry Redknapp would often lament the demands of the Thursday night games in Uefa's second-tier tournament. "It's one of those competitions that teams get in, and then they try to get out of," he would say.

There was no better illustration of the problems caused when Spurs faced Shakhtar Donetsk in 2009, three days before a League Cup final. Trailing 2-1 on aggregate with half an hour of the tie remaining, Redknapp's hands were tied as he needed Luka Modric and Gareth Bale for Wembley.

Shakhtar ended up winning the Uefa Cup that year before it was rebranded as the Europa League. Spurs would suffer defeat to Manchester United in their domestic final, ending the season without silverware but at least safe from the relegation that threatened them under Juande Ramos.

Redknapp would describe being in Europe's second-tier as "a million miles from the Champions League", so it would be easy to imagine what he would think of the Europa Conference League that Uefa are launching next season.

Heading into Sunday's fixture against Wolves, Spurs sit in seventh position which would secure a place in the third-tier competition next season. Considering Daniel Levy wanted to take the club into a European Super League, where their place at the top table would be assured, it would be quite a climbdown.

Uefa are yet to reveal the design of the Europa Conference trophy or its branding, making it a step into the unknown. The motivation behind the competition is inclusion for the smaller nations, which would be the antithesis of the ESL.

"The new structure for Uefa club competitions will ensure that at least 34 Uefa national associations are represented in the group stage of one or more competitions," says the governing body. Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin added that it "makes Uefa's club competitions more inclusive than ever before. There will be more matches for more clubs, with more associations represented in the group stages."

Inter Turku of Finland and Latvian side Dila Gori are among those who have already sealed their place in the first round. Qualifiers will have teams from the Faroe Islands, Malta and Gibraltar, then teams eliminated from the Champions League and Europa will also join later, as Uefa continue with giving elite losers a second chance of glory.

In total, 184 teams will participate in the competition, with qualifiers starting while the European Championships are still taking place. The road to Tirana will be a long one for the smaller clubs given a taste of European football.

The one Premier League representative will go straight to the play-offs to get into the group stage before a traditional format to reach Arena Kombetare, where England recently defeated Albania in a World Cup qualifier.

The stadium, which had turf problems when Gareth Southgate's team played there, is seen as a symbol of a new era of football in Albania and the same can be said for Uefa's new competition. Ceferin will be hoping prestige comes with winning the competition, something that was never attached to the Intertoto Cup.

"We respect any competition we're in," said Spurs interim head coach Ryan Mason. "This football club and any football club, that's the right way to work, the right way to be. Wherever we are next season, whatever competition we're in, 100 per cent commitment to win each game will be there because when you represent this football club that has to be the way."

Mason is unlikely to be in charge next season but the new manager at Spurs will have to juggle the tournament with trying to challenge for the top four. This campaign in the Europa League has been arduous, with players sometimes returning from trips on Friday mornings at 4am and having ice-baths at the training ground before heading home.

The list of countries involved in the Conference suggests the travel could be even tougher in the third tier, with many of the teams off European football's beaten track where airports and team hotels are unfamiliar. The worry for a new manager is whether it is possible to sustain form in the Premier League at the same time.

Last season Jose Mourinho was jumping for joy at qualifying for the Europa League on the final day of the campaign, having pipped his Portuguese countryman Nuno Espirito Santo to the final place. There may not be the same jubilation if Spurs finish seventh this time around.

Being a "Conference" team has never traditionally been the aim at the start of a season.

Mike McGrath