Tottenham’s miserable Premier League season took another painful turn on Sunday, as Ange Postecoglou’s heavily rotated side were comfortably beaten 4-2 by Wolves at Molineux. With six changes made ahead of a make-or-break Europa League second leg in Frankfurt, Spurs’ glaring defensive frailties once again cost them dearly — and questions around the manager’s future continue to grow louder.
Wolves didn’t waste any time capitalising on Spurs’ reshuffled lineup. Just two minutes in, Rayan Ait-Nouri lashed in the opener after a weak punch by Guglielmo Vicario dropped kindly at the edge of the area. That early blow set the tone for what was to come: a calamitous defensive display that left Tottenham chasing shadows for most of the afternoon.
The hosts doubled their lead in comical fashion when Marshall Munetsi’s header was palmed by Vicario into teammate Djed Spence, who could only watch in horror as the ball ricocheted into his own net. It was a moment that perfectly summed up Tottenham’s season — chaotic, error-strewn, and entirely preventable.
Mathys Tel offered brief hope with a scrappy goal at the far post just before the hour, but Wolves responded almost immediately. Ait-Nouri once again tormented the Spurs backline, this time breezing past Cristian Romero and laying it on a plate for Jorgen Strand Larsen to make it 3-1 with his fourth goal in as many league games.
Richarlison gave Tottenham a lifeline late on, stabbing home after Romero’s header had been tipped onto the crossbar by Jose Sa, but it wasn’t enough. As Spurs pushed forward desperately, substitute Matheus Cunha — fresh off a four-game suspension — took advantage of a Lucas Bergvall error, racing away to slot home a composed fourth and seal the result.
The win was Wolves’ fourth in a row under Vitor Pereira, whose revitalising effect on the squad has lifted them 14 points clear of the relegation zone. Since replacing Gary O’Neil in December, Pereira has guided Wolves to 26 points — more than the bottom three combined — and has reignited belief at Molineux. The squad’s collective celebration at full-time, bowing to all four corners of the stadium, was a clear signal of unity and momentum.
For Tottenham, though, unity seems in short supply. Postecoglou cut a dejected figure throughout, clearly feeling the weight of yet another defeat — Spurs’ 17th in the league this season. His decision to rest key players like Son Heung-min and Micky van de Ven will be justified if Spurs deliver in Frankfurt. But with just two points now separating them from Wolves, and a top-half finish slipping away, the margin for error is narrowing fast.
Thursday’s Europa League second leg now feels like a defining moment. Tottenham need a result — not just to keep their European hopes alive, but to potentially save Postecoglou’s job. While a deep European run could salvage some pride from this chaotic campaign, the problems in the league continue to mount.
With fans growing restless and the board reportedly exploring future managerial options, Postecoglou’s project is teetering. Spurs must deliver in Frankfurt — because if they don’t, it’s hard to see how this season ends with anything but more questions than answers.
