Spurs win ugly to get Jose’s blood pumping

FIVE goals and flair at home against Burnley is all very well but ugly wins on filthy days are the sort of performances to really get the blood pumping for Jose Mourinho. This was a victory in the shivering cold and relentless rain — and in unfriendly territory where Wolves fans insulted him in song and jeered and swore as he offered applause for their rousing support for their team. The Tottenham revival remains on track under Mourinho, who dropped to his knees on the sodden turf in celebration when Jan Vertonghen climbed to head in the winning goal in stoppage time. Left-back Vertonghen had spent most of the second half trying to grapple with the pace and power of Adama Traore. Spurs had spent long periods on the back foot as they fought to keep Wolves out. Somehow they escaped with a result which lifts them to within three points of fourth-placed Chelsea. Mourinho’s team has taken a dozen points from five games and this was precisely the sort of display to suggest the players are responding to his demands. he hailed the ‘magic hand’ of goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, as his side continued their impressive march up the table. With the score at 1-1 and Wolves dominant, Gazzaniga produced a brilliant save to keep out Romain Saiss’ goal-bound header in the 84th minute, allowing Spurs to profit when Vertonghen nodded in Christian eriksen’s corner. Traore had earlier cancelled out Lucas Moura’s opener. Mourinho (right) said Gazzaniga’s save reminded him of his father, Felix Mourinho, who played in goal for Belenenses at Wolves in a UeFA Cup tie in 1973. ‘My father played in this stadium and he was always telling me that a keeper for a top team has to be different from the others, as you don’t have ten saves to make per game but one,’ said Mourinho. ‘But when the one comes, the magic hand has to be there — and Paulo did it for us in a difficult period. ‘It was one of these victories where quality is not enough. If you are not a real team in the real sense of the word, it’s impossible. ‘A winning team starts with the mentality. This is a perfect example of a match that only a real team can win.’ Tottenham had four players booked, with three of them — Toby Alderweireld, eric Dier and harry Kane — punished for fouls on flying winger Traore, who caused Spurs problems all afternoon. Wolves coach Nuno espirito Santo fears Traore will suffer a serious injury unless he is given better protection by referees. The Molineux coaching staff and fans howled for red cards when each of the fouls were committed. Traore also appeared to suffer a shoulder injury late in the game, although he recovered enough to stay on. Nuno said: ‘The referees know with players like this that they must act immediately to prevent an injury because sometimes a tackle can cause a serious injury and it’s not fair. ‘Players that have talent like Adama, you know it is tough to defend and the opponents do what they do. It’s up to the referee to judge.’