TEAM NEWS
The Molineux side named the same starting line-up for their first nine league games this term before bringing in Adama Traore for Jota last weekend. Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo says winger Diogo Jota will not be available for Saturday’s game.
Tottenham‘s Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama have been ruled out through injury and are not expected to return until after the international break. Spurs remain without defenders Danny Rose and Jan Vertonghen.
MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES
@SimonBrotherton: For Spurs it’s a welcome chance to get away from the gridiron surface at Wembley and play on a decent pitch following their defeat at home to Manchester City on Monday.
They enjoyed a 3-1 win at West Ham in the League Cup during the week, but are likely to find Wolves to be more stubborn opponents at Molineux.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side don’t concede many goals but don’t score many either.
They managed to lose at Brighton last week despite being the better side and registering 25 attempts on goal. It’s the first time they’ve lost successive games during his tenure and like Spurs they will be keen to get back to winning ways after making a strong start to the season.
VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT
Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo: “Tottenham are very competitive. What I admire is what I see on the pitch and I see a very good team.
“I know him [Mauricio Pochettino] and I admire him. The quality of the work they’ve been doing is amazing. The core of the squad, the amount of success they have had.”
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino: “I think we’re so close to getting the last level, but we need to have that patience that makes us stronger.
“I think we’re strong enough to sort out all the problems and arrive, and in the end to achieve what the club and fans deserve, and in the end all we want to achieve one day is to win trophies.”
LAWRO’S PREDICTION
I was surprised that Wolves were beaten by Brighton last weekend, but that was another lesson for them about life in the top flight – and how you can still be beaten even if you have the better of a game.
It will be interesting to see if Wolves manage to have the majority of play and possession in this game, and how they approach it.
Prediction: 0-2
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Tottenham have lost just four times in 26 matches against Wolves, winning 16 and drawing six.
- Wolves were the last newly-promoted side to win both league games against Spurs in a single season, doing so in 2009-10.
- Tottenham have won four of their last six top-flight games at Molineux (D1, L1).
Wolves
- Wolves have failed to win any of their last 24 Premier League matches against sides in the top half of the table (D10, L14).
- They have only scored one first-half league goal this season.
- Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have scored just 8% of their shots (excluding blocks) in the Premier League this term. Only Crystal Palace, Southampton and Huddersfield have poorer records.
- Wolves have conceded nine league goals – the only top-flight teams to have let in fewer this season (prior to the latest round of games) are Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham.
Tottenham
- Tottenham’s loss against Manchester City ended a run of four Premier League wins, and three successive clean sheets.
- They have won five of their six Premier League games on the road this campaign, losing only at Watford.
- Since the start of 2014-15, Harry Kane has scored 25 Premier League goals against newly-promoted sides – six more than any other player.
- Tottenham are unbeaten in their last 38 Premier League games against a newly-promoted opposition, winning 35 of those games. Their last defeat against a top-flight newcomer came away to Wolves in 2010.
Source: BBC News
