Spurs target Wolves win to boost European chances

After defeat at Elland Road last weekend, Ryan Mason’s Tottenham aim for a return to winning ways when hosting Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday afternoon.

The defeat to Marcelo Bielsa’s men damaged any remaining hopes of Spurs securing Champions League qualification, with attentions now turned towards Europa League qualification and a place above Arsenal in the Premier League table.

Sunday’s visitors aims will be to secure another top half finish, after Tottenham pipped Wolves to sixth spot in last season’s campaign. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side currently sit 12th, five points off Leeds United in 10th position after an injury interrupted season.

Spurs boss Mason, in interim charge until the end of the season whilst Daniel Levy finds a suitable successor to Jose Mourinho, stressed the focus is solely on beating Wolves rather than focusing on league position.

“The target, and I might sound like a broken record, is to get as many points as possible and see where we finish. We can’t look ahead. It’s very difficult in the Premier League to win three, four, five games in a row. We know that. We respect the opposition.

“Every game we play we respect them and our mind and our attention has to be on Wolves at the weekend and it will be.

“Hopefully doing that we can get a positive result and at the end of next week hopefully we’ll see where we are, but of course we want to be in European competitions. Of course this football club that’s what we strive for. That’s what we want and what we expect, to be in the Champions League and going forward of course.”

Tottenham’s record against Wolves doesn’t bode well for their chances however. Spurs have lost three of their last six home Premier League matches against Sunday’s opposition, including a 3-2 defeat last season.

Matt Doherty was a scorer for Nuno’s team that day but the Irishman has found his first season at Tottenham a difficult one. Fellow full-back Ben Davies is the only Spurs absentee for the contest.

Willy Boly and Marcal rejoined training this week as their returns to first team action draws closer, Raul Jimenez remains sidelined as the Mexican recovers from a serious head injury sustained against Arsenal in November.

Adama Traore is in contention to start, the Spanish winger has four goal involvements in his last six Premier League appearances, after a run of 35 consecutive appearances without contributing a goal or an assist in Wolves colours.

Nuno was quick to praise his team’s togetherness ahead of the contest after a mixed season for his side.

“I’m very proud of the way we managed our own problems, very proud of the way we committed ourselves to solve and find solutions for our problems. Every day has been a challenge, to work as a unit, it’s not easy.

“I truly believe the relationship and the bond that the squad has among them is unique – it’s very special. It’s a big strength we have when we face problems, when things are not OK, we have this ability to regroup, refocus and go again, without conflict and selfishness.”

A win may mean less for Wolves in term of permutations but Nuno would become the first manager to win his first three away matches against Spurs in Premier League history.

Spurs will feel themselves that a win is vital to keep up their European hopes, ahead of a summer filled with speculation over the future of star man Harry Kane.

Tom Hardy will be at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for Spurs’ Premier League fixture against Wolves.

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