Express & Star

Tottenham Hotspur 1 Wolves 3 – player ratings

Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers rates the players after a famous 3-1 win at Wembley over Spurs.

Published
Raul Jimenez scored his sixth goal of the season (© AMA / Sam Bagnall)

Rui Patricio

Got his Mr Tickle arms out to produce a stupendous save from Christian Eriksen's shot. A few observers thought he should have saved Harry Kane's goal, but he was unsighted and it was firmly struck. However his kicking, again, left a lot to be desired. A spectator in the second half. 7/10

Ryan Bennett

Positionally excellent throughout, playing a key role in restricting Spurs to long shots in the first half – and no shots in the second. Solid and so reliable. And his backheel flick down the flank to Doherty was utterly outrageous and totally out of character, akin to Principal Skinner embarking on an LSD trip. 8/10

Conor Coady

Spurs only sliced through Wolves on one occasion in the whole game, but Coady saved the day with a perfectly-timed sliding tackle in the box on Son Heung-Min. Harry Kane didn't touch the ball in the penalty area once and Coady's superb marshalling of the back line was a big reason behind that. Played more passes (52) than anyone bar Neves but his pass accuracy was still 87 per cent and he sprayed a host of long balls to the flanks. Growing in stature as the weeks go on. A captain's performance. 9/10

Willy Boly

Gloriously elevated himself like David Blaine on helium to kerpow a header past Hugo Lloris for the equaliser, his second goal of the season. At times he was majestic, using his strength to great effect and bringing the ball out with composure. Could have done better to close Kane down for Spurs' goal and he was lucky to get away with not shepherding the ball out late on when Eriksen picked his pocket. Overall, though, very good. 8/10

Matt Doherty

His performance mirrored the team – fairly conservative in the first half but solid defensively, then more adventurous after the break and grew in confidence. A fourth assist of the season (to go with his three goals) when he sent a gorgeously-weighted pass beyond the Spurs back line for Helder Costa to latch on to. Most tackles (four) and joint-most clearances (four) in the side. 8/10

Ruben Neves

Restored to the starting XI at the first time of asking after being left out at Fulham – and responded with a fine performance. Excellent shielding of the back three and he recycled possession promptly and efficiently. Lovely composure and awareness to protect the ball and spray to Doherty in the build-up to the third goal. A now customary terrier-like performance from the artist formerly known as Neves. 8/10

Leander Dendoncker

Leander Dendoncker exists – and he's actually pretty good at football. Just kept things very, very simple. Minimal fuss, no frills, no panic. Occasionally a bit cumbersome in hurrying back but it was no easy task on his first league start for half a year against the attacking might of Spurs and on a huge pitch. Took a nasty knock on the knee in the opening minutes which may have inhibited him. Looked shattered when he was taken off. 7/10

Jonny Castro Otto

Jonny did what Jonny does. An intelligent defensive performance with nothing outlandish. A few bursts forward here and there but he generally quietly went about his business. 7/10

Adama Traore

The express train is back! It's been a while, but Traore being played in his preferred position yielded, lo and behold, a Traore-like performance. Picked the ball up from deep and ran at defenders in that madcap, slightly unhinged style of his that brings back memories of Jonah Lomu at the 1995 World Cup. Spurs' defence didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so they mostly tried to foul him. Floated over a couple of really nice crosses and slipped in a few teasing through balls that on another day would have yielded an assist or two. Most of all, though, he set the tone for what was to follow after his unfortunate departure (with a tight hamstring) with a fearless, up-and-at-them approach. 9/10

Raul Jimenez

Rapidly turning into one of the best Premier League signings of last summer. The Benfica loanee excelled himself yet again at Wembley with an intelligent and tireless display up top. Had shots, went on dribbles, won headers, blocked shots....he was everywhere. His goal epitomised everything that's good about his game – won the ball back not far outside his own penalty area, then a few passes later he's outside the Spurs box to send a cute side-footed finish into the corner. A high quality striker who works his backside off for the team, what more can you ask for? 9/10

Ivan Cavaleiro

Quite subdued in the first half and his heavy touch contributed to the Spurs goal (he appealed for a foul but looked to be trying to buy it). In the second half he was much livelier, producing a few quality touches, stretching the play and sending over a couple of decent crosses. A second assist in two games when he played to Jimenez for the second goal. 7/10

Substitutes

Helder Costa (for Traore, 59)

Picked up where Traore left off with a fearless and direct mentality. You can't imagine Ben Davies enjoyed his afternoon too much. Got to the byline a couple of times, embarked on the odd mazy run and then finally, at the 19th time of asking, he scored his first Premier League goal. Time and again he's appeared to lack conviction in these situations, but he took his goal with poise and assuredness after racing clean through. Like with Jota a few weeks ago, let's hope the goal takes him to a new level. 8/10

Joao Moutinho (for Dendoncker, 68)

Is it any coincidence that all three of Wolves' goals came after Moutinho's introduction? Nope. Only on the field for 22 minutes but teed up the equaliser with a perfect corner and then set a high tempo with some incisive passing (and a 90 per cent pass accuracy to boot). The guy is pure class. The gold piano in the corner of this Wolves team. 8/10

Morgan Gibbs-White (for Cavaleiro, 85)

Showed maturity by helping the team see out the game. N/A

Subs not used: Ruddy, Saiss, Vinagre, Bonatini.