Wolves Fans' Verdict v Spurs: Wolves deserved more but must take confidence from Spurs display

Cruel. Cruel. That was damn cruel. How the emotions can flicker from burning bright to being snuffed out. 50 minutes in I was thinking I'd happily go home with a 0-0 and a point. Things changed, we scored, and the win would provide such a lift. So near, yet... don't you love football, then 94 minutes and don't you hate football.

The 30 minute walk back to the car and I was still angry, bitter, annoyed, sad - passing all these faceless people who just didn't care, who didn't know why I was churning up inside. Just another day in the life of a Wolves / football fan. 

The first half and we were perhaps fortunate to still be on level terms.

Two excellent saves by Johnstone had gone some way to justifying his selection. We'd put in a workmanlike performance, done well to repel the Spurs attacks and even hit the bar through Doherty bang on half-time.

VP had kept with a back four that he'd played in the cup. This was a different challenge however. The downside of this formation is the space is gives the opposition wide players. With them willing and able to take players on it meant preventing crosses proved very difficult. We were relying on Krejci and Santi to win the headers. Doherty in particular was frequently isolated two on one when Spurs attacked with pace.

It was our lack of pace upfront that also meant our possession too often stalled before we'd threatened their goal.

Hwang being so passive and Arias's reluctance to try and take his man on when one on one left us playing very few balls into their box.

VP changed things up for the second half. Doherty (who'd been booked) and Hwang were replaced by Tchatchoua and Agbadou and that saw us less stretched and with some wing-back passing options to utilise.

An early set piece saw us take the lead and provided us with hope. From that moment on we played really well. Several players stepped up. Andre was hugely impressive and well supported by Hugo, Krejci and Santi. Bellegarde too did well when he replaced Gomes.

A tired looking Larsen should perhaps have been replaced before the 84th minute but it looked like we'd weathered the storm. But no. A win was cruelly snatched from us at the death. Damn.

It was pleasing to see many players playing so well. Certainly it was a step forward from most of our performances this season. If we can maintain and improve on that level then surely the points will start to mount up. In the end, my initial full time feelings had subsided somewhat because we'd at least shown we could play at a higher level than we had previously.

John Lalley

This leaves a lead weight in the stomach; Wolves deserved to win but didn’t which is the very disappointing bottom line from this game. 

After surviving a difficult first-half, the switch to a three/ five backline altered the dynamic of the game. The midfield became more congested and the space Tottenham had been conceded on both flanks was closed down and a thoroughly ordinary home team were effectively neutered. 

Pinching the lead with a scrappy goal and for the first time this season looking encouragingly secure, should have culminated in the perfect away performance. 

Palhinha’s finish was exceptional, a painful reminder that the merest dip in concentration at this level can be so costly, but recriminations serve little purpose. The team facing much critical scrutiny, fronted up and showed real depths of character. 

During that challenging first period, the much-derided Munetsi did as much as anybody to stem the tide, winning his challenges and defending stoutly from a succession of inswinging corners. Santi Bueno was regally assured in defence and so deserved a first goal for the club. Andre again as he did in midweek was indefatigable, a powerhouse in midfield with Gomes in support. Arias finally expressed himself confidently. 

It should have been enough and Pereira simply couldn’t hide his frustration at the conclusion. A below par Spurs were there for the taking; mercifully we are off the mark, but not remotely satisfied.

Harry Lee

When the team sheet was announced I was surprised that 10 out of the 11 had kept their place from the Everton game, not because they didn't deserve it, but because it was such a bold decision especially considering the change in system going away from home against a Champions League team full of attacking talent.

In the end we saw a mixture of systems through the game, arguably used to near perfection. When turning to a four at the back Andre becomes incredibly important to this team, his ability to take the ball anywhere on the pitch with confidence gives the defence a constant option to play through and should not be underestimated.  

His partnership with the ever industrious Joao Gomes with Marshall Munetsi doing what he does best, running, further up the field has given Wolves a different look.  

There is no doubt going to four at the back has given Wolves a more attacking feel. This has been made possible by the introduction into the team of Krejci, his passing from the back and general calmness alongside Santi Bueno coming in for the error prone Emmanuel Agbadou, at the moment this seems to be a combination that works, despite the worry of lack of pace.  

When you factor in the change of goalkeeper which has been a long time coming, Johnstone has grasped his chance, his point blank save from Kudus early on was fantastic.

To change this all at half time for five at the back felt like a potential negative move, but it worked.  Pereira got his substitutes spot on and Wolves looked a threat whilst remaining resolute, giving Spurs nothing but half chances.  

To concede so late on to draw made this feel like a loss. But let's hope that Wolves take confidence from the performance, the point on the board, going into three huge games which will ultimately define whether Wolves still have a chance of staying up.