Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Tottenham Hotspur
Title-chasing Spurs head to Molineux on Sunday evening, to face Europa League hopefuls Wolves in a clash both need to win to turn the tide in their favour.
Two of the finest head coaches to emerge from Portugal come face to face when Premier League: Wolves vs Spurs is the entertainment on Sunday. But neither Jose Mourinho nor Nuno Espirito Santo will be particularly happy with their output over the past couple of weeks, managing just one victory each from the last four league games. Okay, they’ve both faced Liverpool but even so they are both in lower mid table form at best.
The Wolves vs Spurs betting odds point to a game which is wide open, all three results in play and a fascinating match to take in; and a win will make December look a lot brighter for the victors.
Talking Points
Wolves’ young guns need time
Nuno has done a fine job as head coach since arriving at Molineux since 2017, and he’s been well backed, but injuries to key players, defender Willy Boly and striker Raul Jimenez, have taken their toll. Jimenez, in particular has been missed, though the Mexican’s absence has given Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence, who have scored four goals and three respectively, a chance to shine.
They also have two assists each, but both struggled to make inroads against a determined defence in Monday’s 2-1 defeat to Burnley, only midfielder Ruben Neves tested Nick Pope in the Clarets’ goal, before Wolves were awarded a late consolation penalty.
At 2-0 down Nuno threw on Adama Traore and 18-year-old Fabio Silva, and the youngster won and converted the penalty which gave his side brief hope of a point. The pace of Traore can stretch any defence and he could get a start against Spurs.
The defeat meant Wolves slipped into the bottom half of the table while Nuno preferred to concentrate on referee Lee Mason’s performance, saying: “He does not have the quality to whistle a game in the Premier League. I just don’t want to see him more – that’s what I told him.”
The comments may well get Nuno into trouble but, of course, it was a classic diversion tactic employed by a coach keen to avoid difficult questions around his team selection and the players’ performance.
Jose Mourinho would have been proud.
Any sign of Bale for Spurs?
The pre-match Wolves vs Spurs news is dominated by strikers, while Wolves try to cope without Jimenez, Spurs have the most prolific strike partnership in the league, but Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son have failed to bring their side many points over the past couple of weeks. A 2-0 win in the North London Derby on the 6th December was Spurs’ last three-point haul; and last time out Mourinho’s side was out fought, out thought and outplayed by Leicester, and a 2-0 defeat left them in sixth place, and six points behind league leaders Liverpool.
It might be time for Jose to unleash summer signing Gareth Bale. The returning hero scored the winner against Brighton at the beginning of November, but he has been limited to cameo appearances in the Premier League since. Spurs have been happy to allow their opponents a lion’s share of the possession, and that might work out better against Wolves than it did with Leicester, and with Bale in the side Spurs could profit.
History
Spurs have had the better of the last ten meetings in the Premier League, winning six with Wolves triumphing four times and there have been two draws.
Last season Spurs won 2-1 at Molineux after an Adama Traore screamer had given the hosts an early lead. Lucas Moura levelled for Spurs and then Jan Vertonghen came up with a 90th minute headed winner to end Wolves’ 11 match unbeaten run.
Betting Tip
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Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Tottenham Hotspur | Total Goals 2-3 @ 1.91 |
| December 28, 3:15 (GMT+8) |
Wolves are at 3.06 here at SBOTOP, while Spurs are at 2.23 and the draw is 3.11, and it will be intriguing to see whether Jose continues to cede possession in a game you might expect them to dominate, though Wolves are dangerous on the break too.
Three of the last four games involving these two times have yielded three goals, Wolves lost to Burnley and beat Chelsea 2-1, while Spurs went down to a last gasp 2-1 defeat to Liverpool before falling apart against Leicester. So I’m backing a 1-1 or 2-1 result and, if pushed, I’ll go for Spurs.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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