Wolves boss Gary O’Neil talks tactics after his side beat Spurs 2-1
Even though Spurs star Dejan Kulusevski scored in the first minute of the second half to balance out Wolves’ first goal, Gary O’Neil’s side hit the counter beautifully to take the lead in the 63rd minute eventually and did a beautiful job at seeing out the result from that point onwards.
Despite conceding an early equaliser in the second half, Wolves executed their game plan effectively, employing a combination of defensive solidity and incisive counter-attacks to secure all three points.
In spite of Tottenham having 15 shots on goal, only four were on target, yielding an xG of only 1.62. On the contrary, seven on-target shots from Wolves gave a 1.75 xG output meaning they outperformed Spurs there as well. As expected, the visiting side played a low-block football style and hit on the counter with their pacy wide players including high-flying Pedro Neto and Nelson Semedo.
Gary O’Neil acknowledged the fact that the visitors had to resort to that style of play due to Spurs’ quality, and to their credit, Wolves did a pretty good job at keeping Ange Postecoglou’s men at bay. Here is what he had to say via BBC:
“The lads were excellent. I thought it was thoroughly deserved. We spent some time in a low block and in numbers but that is a credit to the quality of Tottenham. I think we should probably had put the game to bed with the chances we had on the counter-attack.”
COYS, bounceback from this setback!!
A pivotal moment in the match came from Joao Gomes, who scored both of Wolves’ goals. The first goal exposed Tottenham’s vulnerability in defending set pieces, as Gomes rose highest to head home from a corner. The visitors learned the significance of capitalising on such opportunities, particularly against teams with a defensive weakness when it comes to corners [read Tottenham].
The second goal exemplified Wolves’ ability to exploit Tottenham’s defensive frailties on the counter-attack. Following a cleared corner, Pedro Neto initiated a swift breakaway, driving forward purposefully before delivering a decisive pass to Gomes, who calmly finished past the goalkeeper. O’Neil praised his team’s intelligence and composure in executing the counter-attack, highlighting the importance of capitalizing on defensive errors.
Overall, Wolves’ victory over Tottenham showcased their tactical discipline, defensive resilience, and clinical finishing. O’Neil’s astute game plan and his players’ execution were pivotal in securing a crucial win against a top-quality opponent. As Wolves continue their pursuit of European qualification, performances like this will be instrumental in achieving their season objectives.
Looking ahead, Tottenham boss Postecoglou emphasised the importance of learning from setbacks and continuing to work towards the team’s objectives. With several key players sidelined due to injury, including full-backs Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie, Spurs faced challenges in fielding their strongest lineup. However, the manager remained optimistic about his squad’s depth and their ability to compete at the highest level.
More Tottenham Hotspur News-
- Tottenham Hotspur must fork out £60m for Wolves winger Pedro Neto who is also wanted by Arsenal
- Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is full of praise for the Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur despite returning from his injury
- Ange Postecoglou praises Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven’s chemistry
Ultimately, the defeat to Wolves serves as a learning opportunity for Spurs, highlighting areas for improvement and reinforcing the need for continued hard work and dedication on the training ground. With the season still in progress, Postecoglou remains committed to guiding his team to success and ensuring they fulfill their potential on the pitch.
