Tottenham Hotspur’s clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, September 28, 2025, delivered a dramatic finish, but left both managers and fans with plenty to ponder. The 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw Wolves finally break their losing streak, while Spurs’ performance, particularly in the attacking third, drew sharp criticism from pundits and supporters alike.
Coming into the fixture, Wolves had endured a torrid run—winless in their last ten Premier League matches, with eight defeats and just two draws. Their last victory in the league seemed a distant memory, having previously embarked on a six-match winning streak before their form collapsed. Manager Vitor Pereira, under mounting pressure, needed a result to steady the ship and inject some much-needed confidence into his squad.
Tottenham, on the other hand, were looking to capitalize on slip-ups by rivals Chelsea and Liverpool, both of whom suffered defeats the previous day. Yet, despite the opportunity to climb the table, Spurs failed to stamp their authority on the match, particularly in the first half, where they squandered several promising chances.
The opening 45 minutes saw Tottenham dominate possession and territory, with Destiny Udogie making surging runs down the left and partnering with Xavi Simons to stretch the Wolves defense. However, the creative spark was sorely lacking. Mohammed Kudus came closest to breaking the deadlock, his powerful header brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by Wolves’ goalkeeper. Despite these moments, Spurs couldn’t convert their superiority into goals, a recurring theme that frustrated the home crowd.
Wolves, meanwhile, were content to soak up pressure and look for opportunities on the break. Their resilience paid dividends early in the second half. In the 54th minute, a moment of indecision from Tottenham’s goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario proved costly. Rather than claiming a routine cross, Vicario elected to palm the ball away, only for Santiago Bueno to react quickest and prod the ball into the net. The away section erupted—Wolves had seized the lead, and with it, a glimmer of hope for their beleaguered campaign.
As the minutes ticked by, Tottenham’s frustration grew. Manager Thomas Frank, who had come under scrutiny for his team selections, watched as his side struggled to break down a compact Wolves defense. Xavi Simons, usually so influential, endured perhaps his poorest outing since joining Spurs in the summer transfer window. His first touch deserted him, and he failed to provide the creative impetus expected in a match of this magnitude.
Jamie O’Hara, former Tottenham midfielder and now a prominent pundit, didn’t mince words in his assessment. Taking to social media, O’Hara declared, “Paulinha just got us out of a massive hole, let’s be honest though we were absolutely terrible, some of them are miles off it, same performances from players I saw all last season.” His criticism extended to Frank’s midfield choices, particularly the pairing of Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur, whose similar playing styles left Spurs lacking dynamism and drive. O’Hara argued that Pape Matar Sarr would have offered more energy and balance in the center of the park.
Despite the mounting pressure, Tottenham found a lifeline deep into stoppage time. In the fourth minute of second-half injury time, Joao Palhinha unleashed a stunning strike to level the scores and salvage a point for the hosts. The stadium erupted in relief, but the celebrations were short-lived. Frank later admitted that his team appeared disjointed in the frantic final moments, unsure whether to push for a winner or settle for the draw.
Speaking after the match, Frank defended his players, insisting, “I think it’s still a small sample for me to just myself in that aspect.” He acknowledged the team’s average performance and the need for greater consistency, but refused to pin the result on a lack of mentality. “We didn’t hit a top performance. I think we hit an average performance. But you do that sometimes. So yeah, we got a point on a day when not everything worked and then we move forward.”
Frank also drew comparisons to previous displays, noting that while the draw against Wolves was far from perfect, it showed more promise than the lackluster performances against Bournemouth and West Ham earlier in the season. “The one thing with Bournemouth is that was a bad performance. Just bad. I think there was much more positive in our performance. But unfortunately on the day we couldn’t get the three points. That happens.”
On the other side, Wolves boss Vitor Pereira wore the look of a man who felt victory had slipped through his grasp. In his post-match interview with BBC Sport, Pereira lamented, “We deserved the three points and almost in the end it’s difficult to accept. I’m trying to come back but it’s difficult. We controlled the game in the second half. The spirit was there. Everything was there but the last minute, it’s football.”
Pereira praised his team’s mental strength and tactical discipline, particularly in the second half. “Keeping this spirit, two games in a row without losing, we played very well against Everton. Tactically and mentally we are in conditions to compete. We are on the same page. I believe we’ll get points.” He emphasized the unity within the squad, noting, “They are working well, all of them, fighting for the position. We need to find our balance, give some confidence for the first XI. When they came from the bench they showed the spirit we have in this team. Mentally we are stronger.”
Despite the disappointment of conceding so late, the draw marked a small but significant step forward for Wolves. It was their first Premier League point of the season, and Pereira was quick to highlight the importance of building on this momentum. “We [him and the owner] talk every day, if we have something to talk, we talk.”
For Tottenham, the result raises questions about their ability to break down stubborn defenses and the effectiveness of Frank’s tactical approach. The midfield conundrum persists, with calls growing for a shake-up in personnel and formation. For Wolves, the draw offers hope that their fortunes might be turning, but the challenge of ending their winless run remains.
As both teams reflect on a dramatic afternoon in North London, the Premier League season rolls on—with lessons learned, frustrations aired, and the promise of more twists and turns to come.
