They had to wait an agonisingly long time for it. But when it came, that Tottenham win felt like the first gulp of water after a long desert crossing. João Palhinha's late goal at Molineux gave Roberto De Zerbi's side a 1-0 victory over Wolves — their first three points in the Premier League since December. Relief, disbelief, and raw emotion swept through the travelling Spurs support, and through the manager who has been quietly building something worth watching.
Spurs were not at their fluid best. De Zerbi himself admitted as much, saying his side didn't perform well in the second half. But in the relentless pressure of a relegation scrap, pretty football takes a back seat to points. And points are what Tottenham got.
Palhinha: The Man for the Moment
The goal came from João Palhinha — a player who has endured his fair share of frustration since his move from Fulham. The Portuguese midfielder, a robust, physical presence in the heart of the Spurs midfield, timed his run perfectly to arrive at the far post and prod home what turned out to be the only goal of the game. It was hardly vintage Tottenham — but it was enough.
For Palhinha, the relief was visible. The goalkeeper Kinsky had made a crucial save earlier to preserve the clean sheet, and when the final whistle went, the scenes on the pitch spoke volumes. A win they needed badly, in a game they could easily have lost. That is Tottenham's story right now.
De Zerbi: "Attitude and Spirit Were There"
Roberto De Zerbi praised his side's mentality even while acknowledging the performance was imperfect. The Italian manager, who has brought a structured, possession-based philosophy to north London, said the character shown was encouraging. "The attitude and spirit were there," he said after the game. "We didn't play well in the second half but we found a way to win."
That ability to grind out a result even when not playing well is something Spurs have desperately needed to develop. For much of the season under De Zerbi, there has been clear improvement in the way they build from the back and press high, but the end product — particularly in terms of converting decent performances into points — had been frustratingly absent.
Survival Still the Priority
The win leaves Tottenham just two points behind West Ham United in the race to stay up, with both clubs dragging themselves through a nightmare campaign. West Ham won their own survival battle on the same afternoon, beating Everton 2-1 thanks to a late Callum Wilson goal, meaning the gap between the two remains exactly as it was. For Spurs fans, every point from here matters enormously.
Match of the Day pundits suggested the team is "really improving" under De Zerbi — and looking at the evidence, it's hard to argue. Whether it's enough to pull clear of trouble before the season ends is a question that will be answered in the final few matches. But a first win since December is a foundation to build on.
Match facts: Premier League | Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur | Goal: Palhinha | Venue: Molineux Stadium
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