Mourinho's defensive style haunts Spurs again against Wolves

Mourinho's defensive style haunts Spurs again against Wolves

 

Romain Saiss heads Wolves level on Sunday to earn a point against Spurs in the premier league. (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

Jose Mourinho and Spurs filed out at the Molineaux to play Wolves, knowing a win will take them back into Champions League places after falling from the top in recent weeks but a game of two halves ended in another embarrassing stalemate.

 

Spurs scored after just 57 seconds but Jose Mourinho's men paid for their too much conservatism during the rest of the game when the hosts deservedly equalized in the dying minutes.

 

Seeking to revive their faltering push for a first Premier League title, Spurs had a dream start when French midfielder Tanguy Ndombele received the ball well outside the box to drill a low shot past Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio within the first minute of play.

Spurs dug in for the second half, demonstrating their new defensive steel under Mourinho to repel marauding runs from Adama Traore and trickery by Fabio Silva in Spurs’ penalty area.

 

Just as it seemed the London club would hang on, Wolves' relentless attacking paid off as defender Romain Saiss met a corner in the 86th minute to head the ball in for 1-1 but Harry Kane would feel he should have done better.

 

"We conceded a poor early goal ... When you are not focused for a half second, it's a goal," Saiss said. "After, it's harder when you play a team like Tottenham to come back. Even with the draw, we deserved more because we created a lot of chances."

Spurs, who topped the league earlier in December, have now taken just two points from their last four games and are fifth in the Premier League, six points behind leaders Liverpool.

 

"I am frustrated with the result. We had control of the game. But we had 89 minutes to score goals, and we didn't," Mourinho said, chiding his team for lack of ambition. This feels like a classical Mourinho hanging his team out to dry.

Wolves, who are now 11th on 21 points, were watched by their Mexican striker Raul Jimenez for the first time since he fractured his skull last month; without him, Wolves have struggled and are looking to Portuguese teenager Fabio Silva for goals.

 

He came close in the first half with a snap shot that went just past the post, was charged down by Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the second, and missed another close-range chance at the end which would have won the game for Wolves.

 

"I'm proud, really proud, because it's very hard how we started the game," said Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who fielded seven Portuguese countrymen in his starting lineup.

"After that, we played a good game."

Wolves have made a habit of comebacks, while Spurs are repeatedly failing to hold leads, to the anger of their demanding manager Mourinho. Is it time to wonder if Mourinho is actually holding his men back?

There is an abundance of quality in the Spurs side, packing them behind the ball every time isn’t the best way to bring their brilliance to the fore but with the league table shaping against them, Mourinho has to do better now.

Watch the full match highlight below: 

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