Premier League

WOLVES 0
SPURS 1 (Alli 10, pen)

WHEN Harry Kane wheeled away after scoring against Leicester City in the last game of the season in May, it felt like that was that: Tottenham fans would never see the forward striking a ball at goal while wearing a Cockerel shirt again.

Yet this afternoon, the frisson of happiness from a battling 1-0 away win at Wolves included an added shiver of satisfaction that, on 71 minutes, the fourth official held up Son Heung-Min’s number and informed the away supporters at Molineux that the striker was giving way for Kane.

Whatever happens in the last weeks of August, Kane’s return to the first-team shows that whatever gentlemen’s agreements and mega-bucks bids exist, Kane remains a Tottenham player and will be available for selection until further notice.

As manager Nuno Espirito Santo hinted at afterwards, Kane’s 20 minutes should not distract from the other headline makers.

The reborn Dele Alli, whose swashbuckling start to the season last week showed doubters he was deadly seriously about getting his career back on track, earned and then converted the penalty which would give Nuno a memorable return to the club where he cut his managerial teeth in England – and keep the positive feeling around his appointment going.

After the game, the Spurs manager praised his players determination. “We defended well against a tough team that can cause problems,” he said. “We managed to keep a clean sheet.”

While the miserly defence ensured the 100 per cent start to the new Premier League season continued, Nuno pointed out how his fast-paced attackers had chances to win it with a little more wriggle room. In one second half spell, three big opportunities came and went.

“We had the chance to kill the game, we didn’t do it, and then until the last minutes, it was bodies in front of the ball to take what we came here for,” added Nuno.

“You have to stay concentrated. Molineux is a tough place. We started well, good dynamics, but then we lost a little control.

“They are relentless, but we showed more, I think. I’m very proud of the team because we went until the end. We knew it was going to be a hard task.  We are trying to be solid, compact and the good games will come, the good situations will come.”

On nine minutes, Alli, who has rediscovered his zip under Nuno, skipped into the box chasing a Sergio Reguilon through ball. He rounded goalkeeper Jose Sa, whose attempts to recover saw him bring down midfielder. Alli picked himself up to convert from 12-yards.

It was an excellent response to Wolves’s enterprising start, and the slim lead needed some resolute defending for the remaining 81 minutes with the home side offering plenty of challenges.

Winger Adama Traore showed yet again why he is such an effective player, and why there have been murmurs that a reunion with his old boss could be on the cards.

Traore’s pace and strength unnerved Spurs when he got into his stride, and just after the hour mark, he raced clear. Hugo Lloris stood his ground and denied the Wolves man the equaliser.

Other efforts included a Joao Moutinho rocket that squeaked over the bar. Late on, and summing up an afternoon’s hard work, Alli threw himself in the way of a Francisco Trincao effort.

And while Spurs had to defend in numbers – and rely on the brilliance of captain Lloris, enjoying his club-record breaking 300th Premier League performance, they also had the chances to make it comfortable.

Son and Steven Bergwijn had three good moments where they nearly sealed the deal. Late on, Kane was denied as he sought to side-foot a finish, while Eric Dier’s header from a corner was scooped off the line.

As well as the three points on the board, Nuno can point to plenty of other positives. Scoring an early goal in an away match would usually give Spurs fans an afternoon of nerves. But while Wolves gave it as good a go as they could, this Tottenham side were not going to rollover.

It felt like the sort of test that Spurs needed to overcome if they are serious about returning to Champions League football next season. Nuno seems to have lent his players some steel – as negotiating this tricky away tie illustrates.

Wolves: Jose Sa, Kilman, Coady, Saiss (Silva, 84), Semeda, Moutinho (Dendoncker, 72), Marcal, Trincao (Ait-Nouri, 84), Jimenez, Traore
Substitutes not used: Hoever, Gibbs-White, Ruddy, Cindle, Marques, Campbell

Spurs: Lloris, Reguilon,Tanganga, Dier, Sanchez, Hojbjerg, Alli, Skipp, Moura (Lo Celso, 67), Bergwijn (Winks, 90+1), Son (Kane, 71).
Substitutes not used: Gollini, Doherty, Winks, Bryan, Sessegnon, Davies, Scarlett.