Hungry like the Wolves
Jimenez hits winner as Spurs slump
Jose Mourinho questioned the “psychological characteristics” of his players after Tottenham Hotspur slipped further away from a top-four finish by losing to Wolverhampton Wanderers, who came from behind twice to move above their hosts into sixth place.
Raul Jimenez hit his 22nd goal of the season to win the game for Wolves, who are now only three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and must be considered serious candidates for a place in next season’s Champions League.
Tottenham are heading in the opposite direction, however, and this third successive defeat is threatening Mourinho’s record of winning a trophy in the first season at each of his clubs. While he claimed the result was “totally unfair”, he also raised questions about his players’ ruthlessness and psychological ability to do whatever is needed to win.
“I cannot complain about the spirit, about their fighting. I can complain about some psychological characteristics – that is something not easy to change,” he said.
While complaining about the leniency shown by referee Stuart Attwell to some cynical fouls by Wolves players, Mourinho paid them a backhanded compliment. “They [Wolves] did what they have to do to win a game. They have the correct mentality.
“We were punished, not just today on their second and third goals, but for quite a long time because we don’t have that aggression, that ruthlessness. I think we are too good, too nice. That was the only thing that made a difference in the game.”
The game was similar in tone to the bad-tempered match at Molineux in December, when Spurs were accused by Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo of rough tactics, particularly against Adama Traore, in their 2-1 win. This time Wolves were the more streetwise, and the tone was set when Ruben Neves cynically fouled Lucas Moura.
The fact that Neves was not booked incensed Mourinho, who added:
“The referee is there to punish people, whether it is the first minute or the 90th.”
Yet Spurs took control and went ahead in the 13th minute. Giovani Lo Celso set Serge Aurier free on the right, and his low cross should have been converted by Dele Alli from close range. Rui Patricio made a good save, but the ball dropped for Steven Bergwijn to drill in his second goal for the club.
Wolves responded well, and Diogo Jota had one shot blocked and then put a half-volley over the bar before they equalised in the 27th minute. Ruben Vinagre went on a driving run down the left and, when he crossed low from the byline, Ben Davies could only half clear the ball, leaving Matt Doherty a straightforward shot through the legs of Paulo Gazzaniga from six yards. The Argentine was playing because of injury to Hugo Lloris, and Mourinho also overhauled his defence, replacing Toby Alderweireld with Eric Dier.
Spurs regained the lead shortly before half-time. Alli had gone close with an overhead shot moments earlier, but when Tottenham broke again, the England midfielder played in Aurier, who cut inside Vinagre and curled a superb shot with his rarely-used left foot into the far corner of the goal.
Tottenham started the second half with an attacking mindset that should have brought more goals. Lo Celso hit a tame shot from a good position in front of goal, Alli headed a Davies cross wide and, as so often, Spurs were made to pay for their profligacy.
Traore started to get into his stride, making powerful runs through the middle, and that paid off in the 57th minute when Wolves equalised. Twice Tottenham players tried to knock Traore off the ball as he surged forward, but he persisted and, when the ball broke to Doherty on the right, his low cross was run over the line by Jota.
Sensing victory, Wolves poured forward. Jota ran half the length of the pitch before cutting in from the left and playing in Jimenez, who turned past Japhet Tanganga’s sliding challenge and curled a leftfooted shot past Gazzaniga. Mourinho made belated changes, and only in the closing minutes sent on teenage striker Troy Parrott. But the young Irishman could not make a difference as Wolves held on for a victory that was tempered by the news that Traore had injured a shoulder.
“It was a tough game,” Nuno said. “They started better than us, but I was pleased with the way we finished the game.”