Spurs handed Wolves their first point of the season on Saturday night, but it could have been much worse.
It was a tightly contested game in the first half, with both Spurs and Wolves testing the other’s resolve, but the half-time whistle blew with nothing to separate them.
A chaotic corner would be converted by Santiago Bueno not long after the break, but a last-gasp equaliser from Joao Palhinha made it a point apiece.
Here is what The Spurs News made of the performances.
Spurs player ratings vs Wolves
Vicario – 6
Vicario was pretty helpless to prevent Wolves from converting a scrappy corner. Wasn’t tested much outside of that.
Djed Spence – 7
Spence was a vital cog in this Spurs side last season, but with Destiny Udogie back fit, his minutes have been limited. Frank explained he is happy to rotate full-backs, even at the expense of Pedro Porro. He played well.
Cristian Romero – 5
Not a glaring error, but the captain’s decision to press Wolves in their own half led to an open transition, which led to a corner, which led to the goal. Avoidable.
Micky van de Ven – 6
Wolves were more of a threat than the Spurs defence would have been expecting, but van de Ven wasn’t caught in any compromising positions. Okay.
Destiny Udogie – 6
Udogie’s attacking threat was on full display in the first half against Wolves.
But he did struggle when Jackson Tchatchoua came on for Wolves, in a rare encounter with someone who can match him for pace.
Joao Palhinha – 8
Palhinha was destructive once again in the middle of the park. He was a duel monster, putting on the kind of display we’ve come to expect. Even without the late equaliser, he would have gotten the best rating of any Spurs man. But of course, the goal cements it.
Rodrigo Bentancur – 6
The Uruguayan was solid in midfield, sometimes acting as a centre-back when under threat. He made way for tactical reasons.
Lucas Bergvall – 6
Bergvall linked up well with Mohammed Kudus on the right, where most of Spurs’ joy came from. He tried the spectacular with a bicycle kick that wasn’t too far from coming off. After that, it was a quiet showing from the young Swede.
Mohammed Kudus – 7
Spurs have a star on their hands here. Everything good from Spurs in the first half came from the right wing, specifically, from the Ghanaian.
Kudus can beat anyone off the dribble, and he showed that yet again, from both flanks. An offside goal and a superb save from Sam Johnstone prevented him from scoring, but it was a great display.
Richarlison – 5
Richarlison was quiet in this game, not finding much joy against the Wolves centre-halves. He just doesn’t have the physicality you want in a sole striker, and that was evident in this one.
Xavi Simons – 5
It wasn’t the strongest of first halves for Simons, again looking quiet on the left. But he was better when he received the ball centrally, and was moved there when Brennan Johnson came on.
It didn’t quite happen for the Dutchman today, though.
Substitutions
Brennan Johnson – 5
Johnson was brought on to inject some energy into the attack, but he couldn’t make the same impact on the right as Kudus did before him.
Pedro Porro – 5
Porro would have wanted to make a point in his substitute appearance, but he was quiet.
Pape Matar Sarr – 7
Sarr was rested during the week amid thigh concerns, so it was good to see him back on the pitch. His deft touch set up Palhinha’s winner.
Wilson Odobert – N/A
Mathys Tel – N/A
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