The Tim Spiers debrief – Spurs 1 Wolves 3

They won a trophy in 1988 and, while this was just for three points, it felt like so much more than that.

Commanding

Wolves took on a title contender on their ‘own’ vast turf – and for 45 minutes they completely outplayed them.

Tottenham Hotspur had scored 11 goals in two matches. They were being talked up as challengers to Liverpool. Yet in the second half they couldn’t muster a single shot at goal.

That wasn’t due to tiredness – a feeble excuse offered by Mauricio Pochettino – and to suggest complacency doesn’t explain it either.

Both of those reasons would do Wolves a huge disservice and also fail to illustrate why Spurs had been so dominant in the first half, peppering Rui Patricio’s goal with long shots albeit without slicing Wolves open.

No, the reason Spurs wilted in the second period was because brilliant and commanding Wolves beat them into submission.

After a first half in which they looked to counter Spurs and did well to stay in the game at 1-0, they upped the tempo after the break, pushed the hosts deeper, were tenacious at winning the ball back and played some sublime football.

There was one five-minute spell when Spurs couldn’t even get out their own half.

The point is, this was no smash and grab. Absolutely not. Wolves played like a quality side befitting of their league position. They moved the ball wisely, they stretched Spurs, they prised them apart and they scored three good goals to deservedly win.

At the other end, Patricio could have worn slippers and mittens.

It was quite something to witness.

Mou Magic

One of the main reasons they found an extra level to win this game so, so convincingly was due to the introduction of Joao Moutinho, who added a sprinkle of gold dust when Wolves were lacking a clinical and killer pass in the final third.

Moutinho’s set pieces often haven’t hit the spot this season, but his beautifully-floated corner dropped on Willy Boly’s head for the equaliser – and Wolves never looked back.

It was a brave call from Nuno Espirito Santo to leave Moutinho out after his virtuoso second-half display at Craven Cottage.

And Romain Saiss could also count himself unfortunate to be dropped after barely putting a foot wrong in his previous few performances.

But Nuno, who selected the same XI for the first nine matches this season, is now making good use of his squad – and Wolves look better for it.

It was a bold team selection. Who predicted Leander Dendoncker would start at Wembley, for example? But the Belgian international came in from the cold and provided stability in midfield with a solid full league debut.

He's had to be patient for his chance and clearly isn't match sharp yet – he was flagging after an hour – but the likes of him, Saiss and Morgan Gibbs-White are offering themselves up as viable options.

Tantalising

It also looked for all the world that Adama Traore wouldn’t be handed a third consecutive start after he was hauled off at half-time at Fulham following an anonymous first half.

Helder Costa was a likely candidate to replace him – but Nuno kept faith with Traore, who rewarded him with his best performance in a Wolves shirt.

Lo and behold, finally starting him in his preferred right forward position for the first time since his £18million move from Middlesbrough yielded a Traore-like performance.

The enigmatic Spaniard resembled a bull in a china shop, frightening the life out of the Spurs defenders who didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

In the end, they mostly tried to foul him, but what Traore did here was set the tone for what was to follow after his unfortunate departure with a hamstring strain (it didn’t look too serious and Wolves will hope it isn’t, with Diogo Jota still sidelined).

It’s been a frustrating few months for Traore (and even more frustrating for those watching him) but perhaps this game will be a turning point.

Nuno has tried playing him in different positions, he’s put him up front, he’s changed Wolves’ tactics for him (long balls over the top at Cardiff) and nothing has really worked.

When he joined in August we expected he would be on the right-hand side of a flat 3-4-3. Four months later, that’s where he finally was at Wembley.

And if we are to now see the real Traore, it’s a tantalising prospect for the rest of the campaign.

Wolves have been solid defensively, they have an excellent goalkeeper, very effective wing-backs, quality midfielders and a striker who has arguably been the pick of the lot.

What’s been missing is goals, assists and creativity from the forwards either side of Raul Jimenez.

If Traore can kick on from here, if Helder Costa can repeat what Jota did and take his game to a new level after finally breaking his scoring duck, if Jota can continue where he left off a few weeks ago and if Ivan Cavaleiro can combine consistency with quality, Wolves can really kick on in the second half of the campaign.

Ambitions?

With 20 games gone they sit oh-so prettily in seventh place.

They spent the first couple of months adapting to the league and soon looking like they belonged in it. Now, after four wins in six games and only one defeat (to the runaway leaders) they’re looking like they belong in the top half. With teams around them showing major inconsistency, Wolves’ challenge now is to be the opposite.

There is absolutely no reason why this team cannot finish in the position they currently occupy.

Yes they're only four points ahead of 13th and this league, as Wolves know well, can quickly bring you back down to earth.

But given the quality they’ve shown, with squad players now coming to the fore and with possible additions in January, you’d back this team to improve further in 2019.

Credit

It wasn’t just the fact they beat Spurs 3-1 in their own patch, it was the manner in which they achieved it.

How many teams would have been tempted to shut up shop and play for a 0-0, given the attacking class that Spurs possess?

That’s not Nuno’s way. As at Arsenal, he went 3-4-3 and played to win. It was bold, it was courageous and it worked.

They’ve done it against all the top sides – and it makes them a credit to the Premier League.

Sure they’ve got the quality in their ranks to play that way, but Wolves deserve as much credit for their courage as their football ability.

They began 2018 at the top of the Championship, with their supporters daring to dream they could reach the Premier League.

They end 2018 in seventh place in the top flight, with their supporters daring to dream...well, that they can quality for Europe.

What on earth have Wolves got in store for us in 2019? Strap yourselves in.

Final word

Star man: Raul Jimenez

The boss: Bold team selection and tactics and got his subs spot on

Fans: In dreamland – and comfortably out-sang their glum and quiet hosts

Magic moment: The noise for the third goal was something else

In a word: Unbelievable!

Picture perfect: