It’s gone all Spursy for Ange
ANGE POSTECOGLOU has discovered the hard way what being Spursy is all about.
A week which saw the Tottenham boss make history by winning his third successive manager-of-themonth award has become something of a chastening experience.
Seeing his team lose the plot and their unbeaten Premier League record in an explosive London derby with Chelsea on Monday night was bad enough, even if there were extenuating circumstances.
But even Postecoglou will be wondering how a team can be within touching distance of a victory that would take them back to the top going into injury-time – and still lose the game. Welcome to Tottenham, Ange. The visitors got off to the perfect start when Brennan Johnson scored his first goal for the club after just 130 seconds.
But the fact that it wasn’t until the 87th minute that Spurs managed to get another effort on target illustrates how much of a backs-to-the-wall afternoon it became.
And just when it looked like they had ridden out the storm, lightning struck twice.
Of course, 3,000 travelling fans from north London have seen it all before.
When Wolves sub Pablo Sarabia flicked Matheus Cunha’s low cross up with his right foot before using his left to fire a volley between Guglielmo Vicario and his near post – just as fourth official Thomas Bramall had confirmed there would be seven minutes of injury-time – they would have been tempted to head for the exits. Six minutes later, their worst fears were confirmed.
Tommy Doyle’s quick free-kick from the halfway line exposed another breakdown in Spurs’ concentration and communication.
Sarabia’s inch-perfect pass was only matched by the timing of Mario Lemina’s dash into the box and a sliding finish into the corner of Vicario’s goal.
No wonder Molineux erupted as boss Gary O’neil tore down the touchline to lead the celebrations.
Wolves haven’t always got what they deserved this season, which says something when you consider that O’neil has now prevailed against Postecoglou and Pep Guardiola. Wanderers have also taken points off Newcastle and Aston Villa and given Manchester United and Liverpool a scare.
Indeed, if referees had done their jobs properly, Wolves would be challenging the top six rather than welcoming a victory that keeps them well away from the bottom three.
It seemed they would pay dearly for the hamstring injury that has sidelined star man Pedro Neto.
Despite forcing Spurs onto the back foot, Wolves couldn’t find that killer touch until the last knockings.
They were chasing the game from the moment Johnson scored, his goal a thing of beauty.
Pedro Porro’s dummy and Dejan Kulusevski’s return flick enabled the Portuguese wing-back to send a low cross into the six-yard box for Johnson to apply the finishing touch.
Cristian Romero’s red mist, Destiny Udogie’s brace of yellow cards and a hamstring injury to Micky van de Ven meant three-quarters of the back four that started against Chelsea were replaced by Eric Dier, Ben Davies and Emerson Royal.
Davies produced two outstanding blocks in either half to deny Rayan Ait-nouri and Cunha, who was also thwarted by Dier’s last-ditch tackle.
But James Maddison picked up an ankle injury on Monday – and that stripped the visitors of the creativity that would have helped them to move the ball up the pitch.
Postecoglou had to throw on Bryan Gil and Giovani Lo Celso in a bid to help his team keep possession. O’neil also rang the changes. One of them was Sarabia, the Spanish international midfielder who has had to stay patient for his chance despite an impressive CV that includes Real Madrid and Paris Saint-germain.
The 31-year-old replaced Cristiano Ronaldo on his debut for Real in the Champions League.
His contribution to turn this game on its head suggests he may have picked up a trick or two.
Of course, 3,000 travelling fans from north London have seen it all before