Harry Kane and Pierre Hojberg provided the finishing touches to help Tottenham move into sixth place after a 2-0 win over Wolves.
Spurs, who hit the woodwork three times throughout, offered much more of a threat going forward in the second half and could have scored a few more goals. Wolves had enough chances to make it interesting, but Tottenham’s talent and pedigree proved decisive in the important win.
Spurs, who are in control of their own European destiny, are in a Europa League position with two matches to play. Spurs will confirm their place in next season’s Europe League with a win in both of their remaining matches — against Aston Villa and Leicester.
First Half
It was, until Harry Kane broke through in the 45th minute, a rather pallid, tame first half. Tottenham weren’t able to move the ball fast enough to cause Wolves any serious problems. Spurs had a few chances at either end of the half, all of which coming from their leading scorer.
Kane hit purely a venomous sizzler from distance early in the half, which struck the post cleanly. Wolves, for the most part, contained Tottenham in the first 45 and had a few glimpses on goal on the counter. Wolves most dangerous player, Adama Traoré, again looked dangerous every time he picked the ball up deep in midfield.
Traoré causes Tottenham’s defence fits every time the two teams clash. Nobody on Tottenham’s roster can keep up with the powerful, lightning-quick attacking midfielder.
But it was Kane who had the last laugh of the half. Pierre Hojberg pinged a direct pass through the heart of midfield to Kane, who sat Conor Coady down with an intelligent feint before easily slotting home. It was Kane’s 21st of the campaign, putting him one ahead of Mo Salah in the race for the Golden Boot. Salah, whose Liverpool plays West Brom today, has a game in hand.
Second Half
Kane started the second half like he finished the first. Omnipresent and in predatory form, England’s captain smelled blood and came within whiskers of scoring a second about 11 minutes in the half.
Dele Alli, in similar fashion to Sonny’s goal against Leeds last week, slid the ball perfectly into Kane’s path. Spurs’ talisman went back across the grain with a low drive, which was saved acrobatically by Rui Patrício. Portugal’s No 1 did brilliantly to deflect it onto the post. Dele struck the upright again on the follow up when it looked easier to score. Regardless, it was an excellent move that deserved better.
Traore and Fabio Silva had golden opportunities to make it interesting, but neither player could find the finishing touch. Eric Dier, who had all sorts of difficulties in one-vs-one situations, was yet again conspicuously susceptible at the heart of defence.
While it wasn’t an immaculate display, Tottenham will be pleased with the somewhat comfortable nature of the victory. European participation for Tottenham next season is now in sight. Winning the last two matches of the season will provide Spurs with a silver lining, an all-important European platform to work from at the beginning of the 2021-22 season.