MY ACCOUNT
Tottenham’s tougher mentality could be tested again when Wolves head to North London looking to replicate the disciplined display that earned them a 2-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last February.
Bruno Lage’s side thoroughly deserved the points that day, but the respective home and away form lines of the two clubs have gone in very different directions since.
Spurs have a steelier side these days as manager Antonio Conte attempts to galvanise them into title contenders.
They have already claimed four points from losing positions in 2022-23 and a record of seven wins from their last eight home games should strike fear into a side like Wolves that is struggling to gain any traction on the road.
Team news
Spurs boss Conte will be forced into at least one change as reports suggest Cristian Romero is set to miss three to four weeks.
Argentinian defender Romero, who sustained a muscle injury in Tottenham’s 2-2 draw at Chelsea, could be replaced by Davinson Sanchez.
Clement Lenglet provides an alternative option for Conte as the Barcelona loanee is expected to be in contention this week after missing the Chelsea match with muscle fatigue.
Oliver Skipp is the home side’s only other absentee, which would allow the Italian coach to select an otherwise unchanged line-up.
Wolves could include their new club-record signing Matheus Nunes, who arrived from Sporting CP this week for an initial fee of £38 million.
Leander Dendoncker’s place is the one most under threat from the Portugal international, who could operate alongside Ruben Neves in a double pivot.
Injured duo Raul Jimenez and Joao Moutinho will miss out once more, but Goncalo Guedes looks likelier to claim a starting berth after making his Wolves debut off the bench against Fulham last weekend.
The stats
Harry Kane, who headed Spurs’ late leveller at Chelsea, has now scored five goals in 23 Premier League appearances during the month of August.
That represents a rate of just over one in five, whereas his record in all the other months combined is 179 in 261 – better than two in every three games.
Kane was responsible for eight of Spurs’ 15 total shots on target during last February’s 2-0 home defeat to Wolves in the corresponding fixture.
Lage’s men faced a total of 22 crosses on their last visit to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and attempted only one of their own during the victory.
But Wolves are now winless in their past nine Premier League games – representing their longest streak without a top-flight victory since a run of 17 between February 2012 and August 2018.
Prediction
Wolves seemed to have found the right formula for Premier League away wins when they racked up four on the bounce between December and February last season, but the Molineux men have subsequently lost on six of their last nine road trips.
Lage’s team have managed to score the opening goal in eight of their last 12 away league games – which ought to concern Conte after his side gave up the first goal inside the first 20 minutes in each of their two games this term.
But the Italian has bestowed more belief in Spurs these days and their hardened mentality has brought seven wins from their last eight Premier League home games.
Saturday’s game looks likely to bring another three points to Tottenham’s tally, although they could again be forced to chase the game if Wolves’ penchant for pinching the opener continues.
