Spurs 2 Wolves 2 - Report

A sublime set piece and clinical finish from Hwang Hee-chan put the visitors ahead, but Rodrigo Bentancur’s header swiftly levelled the scoreline.

Jose Sa saved Heung-Min Son’s penalty to keep it at 1-1, but the hosts took the lead late in the first half thanks to Brennan Johnson’s strike.

The second half was much quieter in both boxes as Wolves huffed and puffed for a way back into it.

But they eventually found it when Larsen lashed the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

Both sides had chances to win it in the closing stages, but Wolves left the capital with a point to mark an impressive opening three games under their new boss.

Analysis

Pereira made three changes to the team that beat Manchester United on Boxing Day.

Toti Gomes missed out through injury and was replaced by Craig Dawson, while Goncalo Guedes and Larsen dropped to the bench as Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Hwang replaced them.

For Hwang, who scored his first Premier League goal of the season in that win over United, it was his first start since the Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton on September 18 and his first in the league since August 25.

Ange Postecoglou made two changes to the Spurs side that lost to Nottingham Forest.

The suspended Djed Spence was replaced by Pedro Porro, while Yves Bissouma came in for Pape Matar Sarr.

Amid an injury crisis in the Spurs defence, they were boosted by Radu Dragusin being fit to play despite coming off with an ankle knock late on in the defeat to Forest.

In an open and even start to the game, Wolves took the lead within just seven minutes from a fantastic set piece straight off the training ground.

With a free-kick slightly to the right flank and from 20 yards out, Andre tapped it to Rayan Ait-Nouri, who fed Hwang on the edge of the box to curl home an excellent strike off the post.

But that lead lasted just five minutes when Wolves’ own fragility from defending set pieces came back to haunt them.

A Porro corner was met by Bentancur, who got the run on Andre and beat Dawson to the ball, to head home - marking the 17th goal in 19 Premier League games that Wolves had conceded from set pieces.

Wolves were then handed another warning sign - as if the Spurs equaliser was not enough - when a Porro corner was headed inches wide of the post by Dragusin.

Spurs were creating chances with their free-flowing attack and a poor Matheus Cunha throw-in allowed them to race down the right hand side with Dejan Kulusevski. It opened up for either Bantancur or Dominic Solanke to shoot, but the team-mates ran into each other and the chance was lost, before the offside flag was then raised.

But Wolves still carried a threat of their own and were looking after possession well, when Cunha fired just wide from distance.

Spurs had a fantastic chance to take the lead when Johnson got in front of Andre and went down in the box under contact for a penalty.

Son shot to his left, but Sa made a strong save to keep the score level.

But on the stroke of half-time Spurs added a second when Kulusevski cut the ball back to the unmarked Johnson to tap home, taking the lead into the half-time break.

As the teams came out for the second half, Larsen and Guedes were brought on to replace Bellegarde and Cunha.

Wolves were enjoying plenty of the ball and finding Ait-Nouri in acres of space on the left. On one occasion, it opened up for him in the box but he delayed his shot and his effort was then blocked.

Spurs should have had a third when substitute Timo Werner crossed low for Solanke at the far post, but the striker could not meet it as he came sliding in.

Tommy Doyle then lost the ball in midfield as Spurs broke through Solanke, who fed Kulusevski. He rounded Sa but Santi Bueno cleared his effort.

Wolves were pushing for an equaliser and went close when Ait-Nouri whipped in a low cross and Larsen almost got to it before goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

Larsen then got his goal in impressive fashion with an 87th minute equaliser.

A superb reverse pass from Ait-Nouri found the striker and he found the roof of the net from a tight angle, to send Pereira running down the touchline in celebration.

Wolves were pushing for a winner as Larsen saw a header saved by Forster, as eight minutes of added time were announced. 

At the other end, Sarr headed just wide for the hosts, before Sa got away with a mistake on the ball and just managed to clear it.

Neither side could find a late winner as Wolves snatched a point on their travels and ended 2024 in a much stronger position since Pereira took over as head coach.

Key Moments

GOAL 7 Hwang fires Wolves into an early lead

GOAL 12 Bentancur heads home a swift equaliser

GOAL 45+3 Johnson puts Spurs ahead

GOAL 87 Larsen snatches Wolves a point 

Teams

Wolves: Sa, Semedo, Doherty, Bueno, Dawson (R.Gomes, 78), Ait-Nouri, Andre (Doyle, 69), J.Gomes, Bellegarde (Guedes, 45), Cunha (Larsen, 45), Hwang (Forbs, 78).

Subs not used: Johnstone, Pond, Meupiyou, Lima.

Spurs: Forster, Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Udogie (Reguilon, 50), Bissouma (Sarr, 64), Bentancur, Kulusevski, Johnson (Maddison, 64), Son (Werner, 64), Solanke.

Subs not used: Austin, Dorrington, Bergvall, Olusesi, Lankshear.