Wolves v Tottenham Hotspur – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Wolves host Tottenham at the Molineux Stadium on Sunday in the English Premier League. The hosts have lost three of their last four matches while Spurs have one win in their last five. Who will come out on top as Jose Mourinho faces his former player in Nuno Espirito Santo?

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Wolves Form

Nuno’s side have had a very inconsistent season. They sit in 11th position having won six and lost six of their 14 matches thus far. Having had a run of three wins in four matches in October – all with a clean sheet – they’ve since lost four of their next seven.

In that run, Wolves won 2-1 away at Arsenal and beat Chelsea 2-1 at home. They are much better suited to playing on the counter attack against more attacking opponents. In their last match, they lost 2-1 to a direct, compact Burnley side.

Wolves Team News

Wolves continue to make do without their top striker in Raul Jimenez after a fractured skull. It could be many months until he returns to action. Nuno has to decide whether to use two wingers in a front pairing, Daniel Podence as a false nine or youngster Fabio Silva as a real centre forward.

Also missing for Wolves is long-term knee injury victim Jonny Castro at left wingback whilst Leander Dendoncker is doubtful in central midfield.

Wolves Motivation

In the big games, Wolves tend to do better. They can cede possession and hit their speed merchants like Pedro Neto or Adama Traore on the counter attack. However, Spurs don’t tend to open up and allow space for the opposition’s transitions so this could be a game where both sides try to give their opponents the ball.

Wolves would likely be very happen to take a draw from this match and are expected to defend in a back five and be solid in their pursuit of that result.

Spurs Form

Spurs were on an 11-match unbeaten run but have since lost away at Liverpool and at home to Leicester. With a 1-1 away draw at Crystal Palace before that, ground has been lost in the title race. Their one win in their last five league matches means they sit in 6th spot and have undone some of their good early-season work.

Tottenham have only won one match more than Wolves and are paying for drawing four matches this season already.

Spurs Team News

Tanguy Ndombele was recalled against Leicester City but was taken off at half time for Gareth Bale. Both players gave ineffective displays. Giovani Lo Celso was used from the wing against Leicester but went off injured in the second half and is expected to miss this match.

Those number ten and right winger positions are up for grabs and someone like Lucas Moura could be pushing to be included from the start. Erik Lamela and Japhet Tanganga are both expected to be absent with injury.

Spurs Motivation

Spurs need to win and to get themselves back on track. A very pragmatic approach is expected as always, especially as Mourinho will know the big threat Wolves carry on the counter attack. The coach will also have an intimate knowledge of many of Wolves’ Portuguese contingent. A draw would be a relatively poor result for Tottenham so don’t expect them to settle for a point in the second half.

Key Stats

Spurs have lost consecutive PL matches having gone 11 games unbeaten

Spurs have gone 3 PL matches without a clean sheet having kept 4 in 4 games before that

Tottenham have won 1 of their last 5 PL matches

Spurs have seen under 2.5 goals in 6 of their last 7 PL matches

Tottenham are 3 away PL matches without a win (D2, L1)

The last four meetings between these sides has been won by the away team

Wolves have lost 3 of their last 4 PL matches

Wolves have seen under 2.5 goals in 5 of their last 6 home PL matches

Prediction

This is likely to be a tight game that is settled by one goal either way or ends 0-0 or 1-1. Spurs to win by a small margin in a low scoring game is perhaps the best bet.