Dele Alli’s penalty in the first half ensured that Tottenham maintained their winning start to the league season with a frantic 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.
The midfielder was fouled in the penalty area by Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa in the ninth minute before stepping up to coolly send the Portuguese in the wrong direction. The Wolves responded with a lot of effort but they struggled to work Hugo Lloris in the Spurs goal.
Bruno Lage would have demanded more calm in the second period and his players listened to his message as they besieged Spurs’ penalty area. Adama Traore, a constant threat all the time, should have equalized the hour when he was sent through on goal, only to be countered by Lloris.
The Molineux side continued to pour forward with intent, but a combination of Spurs’ number one and final defense refused Lage to snatch his first points as Wolves boss.
Here’s a closer look at how both players played …
So takes down Alli in the penalty box / David Rogers / Getty Images
Jose Sa (GK) – 6/10 – Hard to criticize because he let in the penalty on Alli when the midfielder was smart, but still solved himself with a good stop from Harry Kane.
Max Kilman (CB) -6 / 10-A left foot on the right side of a back three may confuse some, but the 24-year-old showed his virtues with a commanding display on the ball. Good block from Son’s cut in the second half.
Conor Coady (CB) – 6/10 – Commanded Wolves’ back line well and maintained pressure by winning many other balls.
Romain Saiss (CB) – 6/10 – Handled the pace of Lucas Moura well and looked confident all the time.
Semedo constantly threatened down the right side / Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA / Getty Images
Nelson Semedo (RWB) – 7/10 – An improvement on Ki-Jana Hoever’s performance during the opening weekend. The Portuguese was a powerful presence on the right but often missed one last ball.
Ruben Neves (CM) – 6/10 – Tested Lloris with a couple of his brand’s long strikes. Help Wolves well in the middle of the pitch.
Joao Moutinho (CM) – 5/10 – Quiet considering Wolves’ share of holdings but did well with Neves.
Marcal (LWB) – 7/10 – Similar to Semedo on the opposite flank, as most of his good work was undone by a disappointing final cross.
Traore should have equalized for Bruno Lage’s side / James Baylis – AMA / Getty Images
Francisco Trincao (RW) – 6/10 – Showed some nice details all the time, but lacked conviction in the last third.
Raul Jimenez (ST) – 6/10 – Fired a shot 26 minutes from the edge of the area. Looked lively but was well run by Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez between the widths of the posts.
Adama Traore (LW) – 8/10 – Constantly threatened down the left side, sashaying infield and running directly down the flank. Both Sanchez and Japhet Tanganga failed to catch him. Would have leveled for the Wolves when sent through one-on-one.
Dendoncker replaces Moutinho when Wolves chase a draw / James Williamson – AMA / Getty Images
Leander Dendoncker (CM) – 5/10
Fabio Silva (ST) – N / A
Rayan Ait -Nouri (LW) – N / A
The Spurs captain became big for the away team with a decisive save from Traore / Catherine Ivill / Getty Images
Hugo Lloris (GK) – 8/10 – Vital stop to deny Traore one-on-one in the second period and commanded his goal in the midst of severe Wolves pressure.
Japhet Tanganga (RB) – 6/10 – Fought massively against Traore in the first 45 minutes and was booked in 37 minutes for a foul on Marcal. Better in the second half.
Davinson Sanchez (CB) – 6/10 – Commanded his penalty box well but, like Tanganga, struggled managing Traore’s energy.
Eric Dier (CB) – 7/10 – Made some crucial interceptions both in the air and on the ground. Looks more composed than he did under Jose Mourinho.
Sergio Reguilon (LB) – 6/10 – Wonderful passing ball for Dele Alli to win Spurs’ penalty but spent most of the game back on his own half.
Alli sends his ninth minute kick / David Rogers / Getty Images
Oliver Skipp (CM) – 6/10 – Booked in the first half for a foul on Traore but did well physically.
Pierre -Emile Hojbjerg (CM) – 7/10 – Excellent on both sides of the ball for Spurs. Lovely weighted ball for Son in the second half that the 29-year-old should have done better with.
Share Alli (CM) – 7/10 – A very intelligent run to win the penalty. Sent his spot kick calmly even though it faded from the game when Spurs lost control in midfield.
Bergwijn quarrels with Ruben Neves / James Baylis – AMA / Getty Images
Lucas Moura (RW) – 6/10 – On the periphery of the game all the time and did not cause the Wolves any real problems.
Heung -min Son (ST) -6/10 – Would have done more when we played through Hojbjerg in the second half and generally had a quiet afternoon.
Steven Bergwijn (LW) – 7/10 – Ineffective during the opening period, but his influence grew when Spurs threatened at the break. Sublime individual footwork to pee Kane late.
Kane made his long-awaited return for Spurs / Chris Brunskill / Fantasista / Getty Images
Giovani Lo Celso (RW) – 5/10
Harry Kane (ST) – 6/10 – The lost striker hit a one-on-one when he returned to the side.
Harry Winks (CM) – N / A
