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0 vs 2
Played
September 10, 2011 3:00 PM BST
Molineux Stadium — Wolverhampton, West Midlands
Referee:‬ P. Walton‎
Attendance:‬ 25274‎
 
 
 
Top of the Match
Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor
Tottenham
Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor
Tottenham
Flop of the Match
Ledley King
Ledley King
Tottenham
Ledley King
Ledley King
Tottenham

Wolves 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur: Emmanuel Adebayor scores on his debut again as Spurs record first league points of the season

New signings make an instant impact for Spurs as two second half goals are enough to secure victory for the first time in three attempts

By Kieran Crowley

EPL-Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur,Emmanuel Adebayor
Getty Images
Tottenham Hotspur sealed their first league points of the campaign as debutant Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe sealed the win and ended Wolverhampton Wanderers' unbeaten start to the season at Molineux.

The visitors handed new signings Adebayor and Scott Parker their debuts, while Ledley King almost made his first start of the season. Wolves, meanwhile, made just one change with Michael Kightly starting ahead of Matt Jarvis who was struggling with an ankle injury.

Spurs, began the game bottom of the table at kick-off, but started brightly with two corners in quick succession. Jermain Defoe was able to get an early effort in when the second corner was cleared by Wolves midfielder Karl Henry and Scott Parker was able to feed in Defoe, who struck an effort wide.

Harry Redknapp's men continued to pressure Wolves and went even closer on the 10th minute when Luka Modric sent Benoit Assou-Ekotto down the left and his low cross was almost turned in by Wolves captain Roger Johnson. Wayne Hennessey reacted well to keep it out and Niko Kranjcar’s follow-up effort was deflected over.

Despite this early pressure from Spurs, they were lucky not to go behind four minutes later. Jamie O’Hara, who was playing against his former club, was able to pick up the loose ball on the edge of the area, after Richard Stearman stole possession away from Kranjcar, and he unleashed a fierce drive which Brad Friedel did well to save.

Wolves, who have topped the table twice this season, began to take control of the game in the midfield restricting Spurs to counter-attacks.

However, captain Ledley King, who has been told by Spurs manager Harry Redknapp that he has to play at least 20 games to get a new contract at the end of the season, then almost gave his side the lead on the 23rd minute.

Kranjcar sent in a corner from the left and the skipper rose highest for a free header, but he could only direct the ball into the ground, and it bounced wide.

Adebayor had his first effort on the half-hour mark after Modric found him in space but his low effort from outside the area was easily saved by Hennessey. The Togo international struggled to get into the match in the first half after being marked out of the game by Stearman.

Wolves went close five minutes later as Kightly’s teasing free-kick to the far-post just failed to get the crucial touch by Scotland striker Steven Fletcher, and the ball whistled past Friedel’s far post.


Close shave | Stearman denies Adebayor but striker nets later as Spurs win at Molineux

Roger Johnson should have put the home side ahead on the 40th minute when he made a late run into the box and headed Stephen Hunt’s corner towards the goal but Modric cleared on the post.

However, both teams were guilty of spurning chances as on the stroke of half-time, Defoe stole the ball from O’Hara, drove towards the goal and his low shot was brilliantly palmed away by Hennessey for a corner.

After the break, both teams had half-chances with Adebayor and Doyle both testing the keepers, but the tie was mainly played in midfield with Henry and Parker becoming embroiled in a heated midfield battle.

However, 20 minutes into the second half, the crucial breakthrough came through Adebayor. It was fellow debutant Parker who set him up with a wonderful ball through to the former Arsenal man, who nipped around Hennessey and slotted home.

The Togolese international has now scored on his three debuts in English football for Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal, despite a quiet performance at the Molineux.

The goal sparked the game into life and soon after O’Hara whipped in a cross which should have been met by a Wolves head, but instead it rolled out for a goal-kick.

Not long  after, Fletcher stormed forward into the area but was tracked all the way by Parker, and he could only send a tame shot wide of the left hand post. Parker was enjoying an influential debut and he would also have a part to play in Spurs’ second.

With 10 minutes to go, the England international fed Kranjcar who was able to send the ball towards Defoe and he finished well from close range with a low shot to seal Harry Redknapp’s first three points of the season.

 



Wolves

1
Wayne Hennessey
Goalkeeper
3.0
5
3.0
14
Roger Johnson
Defender
83′
3.5
16
3.0
11
Stephen Ward
Defender
3.5
7
Michael Kightly
Midfielder
75′
2.5
8
Karl Henry
Midfielder
2.5
24
Jamie O'Hara
Midfielder
3.0
12
Stephen Hunt
Midfielder
76′
3.0
29
Kevin Doyle
Striker
3.0
10
2.5

Tottenham

3.5
24
Brad Friedel
Goalkeeper
3.0
28
Kyle Walker
Defender
36′
2.5
26
Ledley King
Defender
3.5
4
Younes Kaboul
Defender
3.0
32
3.5
21
Niko Kranjcar
Midfielder
80′
3.0
8
Scott Parker
Midfielder
67′ 70′ 84′
3.5
14
Luka Modric
Midfielder
3.0
3
Gareth Bale
Midfielder
3.5
10
3.5
18
Jermain Defoe
Striker
80′ 89′

Substitutes

31
Dorus De Vries
Goalkeeper
-
3
George Elokobi
Defender
-
32
Kevin Foley
Midfielder
-
14
Adam Hammill
Midfielder
75′ 79′
-
20
Nenad Milijas
Midfielder
-
17
Matthew Jarvis
Midfielder
76′
-
18
Sam Vokes
Striker
81′
-

Substitutes

-
23
Carlo Cudicini
Goalkeeper
-
19
S. Bassong
Defender
-
29
Jake Livermore
Midfielder
84′
-
-
Andros Townsend
Midfielder
-
9
-
-
Iago Falqué
Midfielder
-
17

Coach/Manager

-
-

Coach/Manager

-
-
 
  • Goal
  • Own Goal
  • Penalty
  • Penalty Missed
  • Yellow Card
  • Assist
  • Penalty Save
  • Penalty Shootout Goal
  • Penalty Shootout Miss
  • Yellow Card / Red Card
  • Red Card
  • Substitution IN
  • Substitution OUT
  • Injury
  • Goal.com Rating
  • Goal.com Man of the Match
  • Goal.com Flop of the Match
  • Top & Flop Global Ranking
  • Fans' Man of the Match
  • Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Arsenal
30 2
Wayne Rooney Wayne Rooney
Striker
Manchester United
27 6
Kun Agüero Kun Agüero
Striker
Manchester City
23 3
Aiyegbeni Yakubu Aiyegbeni Yakubu
Striker
Blackburn
17 4
Emmanuel Adebayor Emmanuel Adebayor
Striker
Tottenham
17 3