Three things we learned from Tottenham 1-1 Wolves as familiar weakness returns

Tottenham Hotspur squandered the opportunity to close within two points of league leaders Liverpool after being held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Wolves in north London. Santiago Bueno’s first-ever Wolves goal looked to have given the visitors their first win of the season, only for Joao Palhinha to score in the 94th minute and salvage a point.

Thomas Frank’s side, however, will see this as a major missed opportunity. With Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United all beaten earlier in the day, the stage was set for Spurs to take advantage. Instead, their disjointed display extended a barren run against Wolves to six matches without a win.

Here are the three things we learned from the draw.

This was another chance missed for Tottenham against a struggling opponent. Wolves came into the game without a point this season, yet Spurs failed to impose themselves. It echoed last season’s damaging slip-ups, when Spurs handed first Premier League wins to both Ipswich and Crystal Palace.

The draw leaves Spurs’ pursuit of Liverpool stuttering, and frustration among fans was evident with boos at full-time. The inability to put away out-of-form teams is a recurring weakness that Frank must address.

Frank made several changes in the second half after his side fell behind, but instead of galvanising the team, they created chaos. Brennan Johnson and Pedro Porro replaced the entire right flank, pushing Mohammed Kudus over to the left. Later, Mathys Tel’s introduction prompted a switch to a back three, which left huge spaces in midfield and disrupted Spurs’ structure.

Rather than building sustained pressure, Spurs appeared panicked. Guglielmo Vicario repeatedly cleared the ball into touch under pressure, while the team struggled to create clear chances until stoppage time. Palhinha’s late strike came after substitute Pape Matar Sarr’s layoff, but overall, Spurs lacked control and cohesion.

While Xavi Simons was expected to be the creative spark after his late summer arrival, it is Mohammed Kudus who currently carries Spurs’ greatest attacking threat. The Ghanaian was electric in the first half, tormenting Hugo Bueno, having a goal ruled out for offside, and seeing a header brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Sam Johnstone.

His dangerous crosses also created chances for Lucas Bergvall and Richarlison, underlining his influence. Notably, Simons was substituted in the second half, while Kudus remained on the pitch and was shifted across multiple positions — from the right flank to the left, and finally as a No10. His importance to Spurs was once again undeniable.

FootballPlace analyst John William highlighted Spurs’ lack of ruthlessness. “This was a huge opportunity to cut the gap at the top, but Spurs slipped into an old habit of underestimating struggling sides. Wolves deserved credit, but Frank’s tactical tweaks unsettled his own team more than the opponent.”

He added: “The one positive is Kudus, who looks indispensable. His versatility and dynamism make him Spurs’ most dangerous weapon. But unless Spurs find consistency, the gap to Liverpool will only widen.”

Spurs now face tricky away trips to Bodo/Glimt in Europe and Leeds in the Premier League before the October international break. Both matches will test Frank’s ability to recalibrate and restore momentum.

Failure to win could see Spurs’ promising start to the season unravel quickly. With Kudus in form, Spurs have a match-winner, but unless the wider structure improves, more opportunities like this one will continue to slip away.

👉 Are Tottenham’s struggles against out-of-form teams proof that Thomas Frank still has much to fix, or just an early-season blip?