Tottenham Hotspur survived their second-half self-destruction at Molineux to hold out for a nervy 3-2 win over a spirited Wolverhampton Wanderers this evening.
Erik Lamela and Lucas Moura scored within the space of three minutes to put Spurs in control at the break, with the hosts unfortunate to have Raul Jimenez's reply disallowed.
Spurs appeared to have put the game beyond Wolves on 61 minutes when Harry Kane finished past Rui Patricio at the second attempt for his first goal in four league games.
However, two penalties conceded by Tottenham's Premier League debutant Juan Foyth gifted Wolves a route back into the match and the visitors only just hung on.
Relive how the drama unfolded in the West Midlands with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
Welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage from Molineux where Wolverhampton Wanderers entertain Tottenham Hotspur in a rare Premier League Saturday 7.45pm kickoff. Forget what Dermot O'Leary might say; your Saturday night starts right here, and it starts with the team news...
WOLVES: Patricio; Boly, Coady, Bennett; Jonny, Moutinho, Neves, Doherty; Cavaleiro, Costa, Jimenez
Subs: Ruddy, Gibbs-White, Vinagre, Hause, Dendonker, Bonatini, Traore
Subs: Ruddy, Gibbs-White, Vinagre, Hause, Dendonker, Bonatini, Traore
SPURS: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Foyth, Davies; Sissoko, Dembele, Winks; Lamela, Lucas, Kane
Subs: Gazzaniga, Aurier, Sanchez, Skipp, Eriksen, Son, Llorente
Subs: Gazzaniga, Aurier, Sanchez, Skipp, Eriksen, Son, Llorente
After naming the same starting lineup for the opening nine league games of the season, Nuno Espirito Santo was forced into his first change for last weekend's 1-0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion because of an injury to Diogo Jota. Adama Traore was the man to replace the Portuguese but this time it Ivan Cavaleiro who gets the nod on the left wing. Otherwise it is the usual suspects for Wolves.
Traore is among the home substitutes, as is Leander Dendoncker, a summer loan signing from Anderlecht who was expected to be one of the bargain captures of the transfer window. The Belgian international is yet to play a minute in the Premier League but might be called upon this evening.
Wolves have only conceded nine goals in the top-flight so far this season, and key to that record has been consistency of selection and the performances of goalkeeper Rui Patricio. A tribunal decided this week that the 75-times capped Portugal international, who terminated his contract at Sporting Lisbon after being one of a number of players to be attacked by a fan, would cost £16m, which is a lot even in today's market.
Tottenham fans will be watching Wolves's midfield duo closely, with the Londoners having been endlessly tipped to sign Joao Moutinho in the years prior to his move to Molineux. The other half of the Wolves pairing - Ruben Neves - may be a future target as Mauricio Pochettino targets upgrades in that area.
As for the Spurs midfield tonight, Harry Winks returns to the Premier League starting lineup after being dropped for Monday's 1-0 defeat to Manchester City. Mousa Dembele, who sat out the EFL Cup success over West Ham United two days later, is also recalled with Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama injured.
Moussa Sissoko is enjoying arguably his best run of form in a Spurs shirt and retains his place in a three-man midfield, with Pochettino seemingly unwilling to risk Christian Eriksen's abdominal issue, and not able to call on Dele Alli this evening, a concern given his recent recovery from a hamstring strain.
While Son Heung-min was the match winner against the Hammers, young defender Juan Foyth was the star of the show in the eyes of Spurs fans, and apparently Pochettino as he is given his full Premier League debut, allowing Davinson Sanchez a rest after two starts in the space of three days.
Son's cup exploits may have been enough to earn him a recall to the Premier League team 12 months ago, but Tottenham's attacking midfield ranks are arguably stronger than ever with Erik Lamela and Lucas Moura coming to the party this season. It is probably the only area they have strengthened in that time. Lamela and Lucas continue as the wide support for Harry Kane, who is three league games without a goal.
Kane was given the luxury of a night off on Wednesday as Fernando Llorente deputised, and scored, as Spurs set up an EFL Cup quarter-final with rivals Arsenal. The Spaniard is on the bench tonight, as is teenage midfielder Oliver Skipp as injuries to Danny Rose and Jan Vertonghen leave Spurs stretched.
The England captain will be confident of returning to form at Molineux as he has enjoyed himself against newly-promoted teams in recent seasons. Since the start of the 2014-15 campaign, Kane has scored 25 league goals against teams coming up from the Championship- six more than any other player.
That feat of goalscoring is one of the main reasons why Tottenham are unbeaten in their last 38 Premier League games against newly-promoted opposition, winning 35 of those. Their last defeat against a top-flight newcomer came away to Wolves in 2010 - when David Jones scored the only goal of the match.
Another good omen for Spurs heading into this encounter is their excellent away form this season. Pochettino's men have won five of their six Premier League games on the road this campaign (not including matches at their temporary Wembley home) , losing only 2-1 at Watford in September.
The Tottenham boys may be happy to get away from Wembley - and the NFL-afflicted surface - after Monday's defeat to the champions, which ended a run of four Premier League wins, and three successive clean sheets. Fifteen of their 21 points accumulated so far this season have come away from home.
It is a landmark appearance tonight for the mercurial Mousa Dembele. The Belgian midfielder might not any many more to that tally as his contract expires at the end of this season.
📈 @mousadembele makes his 250th appearance for Spurs tonight! 👊#COYS pic.twitter.com/y5jomRCYBF — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 3, 2018
Another figure who Spurs may be worrying about losing this summer is Pochettino, with Real Madrid yet to appoint a Julen Lopetegui and known to be admirers of the Argentine, who has begun to make noises of discontent. Frustration would be understandable given the stadium and transfer situation.
Pochettino poetcially described the attraction of Madrid in The Guardian this weekend, saying: "It is like you are with your girlfriend or wife and you are holding hands, walking down Oxford Street. But because you are so handsome, another woman is looking at you. But your wife is so proud and, rather than worrying, she is so happy to be with you and falls more in love with you." I wouldn't know the feeling.
His opposite number tonight has been very complimentary of the Argentine and how far he has taken Spurs. Nuno told BBC Sport: "I know him [Pochettino] and I admire him. The quality of the work they've been doing is amazing. The core of the squad, the amount of success they have had."
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher agrees with Nuno's assessment of Pochettino's work at Tottenham and fired Daniel Levy a warning this week. The ex-Liverpool defender said that Spurs risk losing "their best manager in 30 years" if they don't back him in the transfer market.
Since Pochettino's arrival at the start of the 2014-15 season, Tottenham's net spend is only £29m. In comparison, Wolves's net spending since Nuno's appointment in the summer of 2017 is £90m. Spurs are bankrolling an £800m stadium and clearly that is hampering their recruitment ambitions.
Wolves's shrewed dealings in the transfer market have helped them make their best ever start to a Premier League season, with 15 points from 10 games, easily the best tally of the newly-promoted clubs. However, they have lost their last two matches, and their unbeaten home record to Watford last weekend.
The West Midlands outfit have have conceded nine league goals - the only top-flight teams to have let in fewer this season (prior to the latest round of games) are Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham. Scoring them has been a bigger problem, with also nine goals in 10 matches.
Nuno's side have scored just 8% of their shots (excluding blocks) in the Premier League this term. Only Crystal Palace, Southampton and Huddersfield have poorer records. Only striker Raul Jimenez has found the net more than once in the top flight, and his paltry tally of two comes from 11 starts.
Wolves have only scored one first-half league goal this season, which came on the opening day of the season against Everton, and in the 44th minute, so there has been a lot of tedious opening periods since for their supporters.
Wolves have failed to win any of their last 24 Premier League matches against sides in the top half of the table. However, they have already held Man City to a draw at Molineux this season so that will give them some confidence.
HEAD TO HEAD: Tottenham have lost just four times in 26 matches against Wolves, winning 16 and drawing six. They have also won four on four of their last six top-flight visits to Molineux.
RESULTS: It has been a bumper day of Premier League action already. Check out all of today's scores and reports in our results section, including Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Arsenal which took them top of the table.
PREDICTION: It has been a brutal schedule for Spurs with three games in six days, and although Pochettino made wholesale changes in the EFL Cup, I think it could catch up with them tonight. Wolves will be keen to nip this losing run in the bud and I fancy them to pick up a 1-1 draw.
KICKOFF: After a perfectly observed minutes' silence to commemorate Remembrance Day, and those who lost their lives in the tragic helicopter crash at Leicester last weekend, Mike Dean blows his whistle to get us started.
We are three minutes in but most of that has been an injury stoppage after an early clash of knees between Dembele and Helder Costa. The Spurs man has come off far the worst and has limped gingerly to the sidelines. Pochettino may be forced into a very early sub here.
Wolves are making use of their man advantage at the moment to have most of the ball. So far they are yet to penetrate the Spurs defence though, and the debutant Foyth has looked assured with a couple of passes out from the back.
SUBSTITUTION: Dembele is not going to be able to continue - and in-fact is being stretchered down the tunnel which is a big concern for Spurs considering their existing midfield injury problems. Son Heung-min is on, fresh off his first goals since March against West Ham on Wednesday.
Son has gone over to the Spurs left, with Moura on the right and Lamela playing in his favoured No.10 position that he has rarely had access to with Eriksen and Alli in his way. Losing Dembele so early does leave the visitors a little more open than Poch would have wanted, with Sissoko now in a midfield two.
CLOSE! Jimenez turns away from Winks 25 yards from goal and quickly pulls the trigger; the ball flying only inches over Hugo Lloris's crossbar. That wasn't the work of a striker short of confidence despite a lean start to the campaign.
SHOT! Neves switches the play smoothly to Doherty, who darts inside Davies and shoots on his left foot, although with very little venom and Lloris dives on the effort which may have been heading wide anyway.
Spurs enjoy their best spell so far but can't find a way of getting the ball into Kane up against three centre-backs. Sissoko rolls a ball into the channel for Moura who is knocked off it easily by Willy Boly.
Foyth, included in the Argentina squad this week, strides out of defence and wins a free kick under the challenge of Moutinho. The defender is a slender figure but looks very good technically.
Spurs work it right to Trippier whose cross is turned away by the first man. Pochettino is barking instructions to Kane who has been a passenger in the opening stages of this encounter.
SAVE! Kane's first major involvement nearly leads to the opening goal as he isolates Boly in the left channel and works half a yard to get a shot away, across Patricio. The Portuguese goalkeeper dives at full stretch and gets a really strong hand to it, push the ball clear of Lamela who was sniffing a rebound.
Sloppy play from Son gifts Wolves possession in the Spurs third, but Cavaleiro can't make the most of it as his shot is blocked by Alderweireld. He had Jimenez to his left and should have passed.
YELLOW CARD! Ryan Bennett takes one for the team to hack down Son as Spurs threatened to counter following Doherty's error.
Jonny finds himself in acres of space in the left channel but he panics and scuffs his cross straight to Alderweireld. The wing-back had lots more time than he realised and should have picked a man out.
GOAL! WOLVES 0-1 SPURS (ERIK LAMELA)
Spurs take the lead, arguably against the run of play, and it is a fourth goal in five starts for Lamela, who works a one-two beautifully with Son and squeezes a shot through Patricio's legs. The Argentine brought Son's pass down skilfully on his chest, tried to work it onto his preferred left foot but knew he was running out of time and space and eventually poked it home with his right.
GOAL! WOLVES 0-2 SPURS (LUCAS MOURA)
Tottenham hit Wolves with a double blow before the half-hour mark! Again the source is the Spurs right, as Son works it to Trippier, who floats a cross up towards the back post for Moura to head home from inside six yards. The Brazilian couldn't miss, but Nuno will be furious about the lack of marking.
This is a harsh Premier League lesson for Wolves, who were probably the better side prior to the opening goal and now found themselves two down. That is what can happen at this level.
SHOT! Spurs are sensing blood and Kane lets fly from 30 yards. It takes an awkward bounce in front of Patricio who only gathers it at the second attempt. It has been a while since the England striker has stuck one in from outside the box - it used to be a trademark of his game.
This has worked out better than even Spurs may have expected. With a two-goal lead, they can sit a little deeper and draw Wolves out of their shape, and then attempt to pick them off.
Moura drifts in off the left, leaving two Wolves players for dead behind him, and stands up a cross towards Kane which Patricio comes off his line to claim.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Wolves will consider themselves unlucky to be two down, and even more so now after having a goal wrongly chalked out. The hosts finally show some quality in the final third with a one-two between Moutinho and Doherty, who is flagged offside as he pulls a cross back for Jimenez to slot home. However, the wing-back was onside by at least half a yard, and was right under the assistant referee's nose.
Neves runs onto a cleared cross - and we know he can hit them - but he slices this 25 yarder wide under pressure from two Spurs players.
CHANCE! A sustained period of Wolves pressure forces Kane and Trippier into crucial blocks, before Wolves recycle play and whip in a cross from the right which Boly steers just wide with a diving header.
CHANCE! Wonderful opening for Spurs who break through Sissoko and then Moura. Lamela runs onto a free ball inside the box but a poor first touch takes him too wide and he cannot rescue the chance.
Jimenez tries to be too cute around the box by turning a fierce Moutinho pass around the corner for Costa, overhitting the pass and allowing Lloris to sweep up the danger.
There will be three minutes of added time due to the Dembele stoppage right at the beginning of the half. That seems a long time ago now.
Doherty slides a nice pass into the feet of Jimenez, who is held up by Foyth's well-timed tackle. The ball again rolls out to Neves 25 yards out, but he can't keep a tricky half-volley down.
HALF TIME: WOLVES 0-2 SPURS
Mike Dean blows the whistle on a strange first half at Molineux, where Wolves have more than held their own against Spurs but find themselves 2-0 down. The visitors turned it on for five minutes just before the half-hour mark and Erik Lamela and Lucas Moura both scored to put them in control.
Wolves deserve to at least be within one of Mauricio Pochettino's men, having seen a goal unfortunately ruled out for offside. Jimenez swept home what should have been his third of the season from 10 yards out, but the assistant referee had already flagged Doherty, who was actually onside.
Spurs recovered from a difficult start as they lost Mousa Dembele to what appeared to be a nasty injury - the Belgian's 250th Tottenham appearance lasting only a few minutes. Already without midfielders Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama, Pochettino had to change his shape and it took Spurs a while to settle.
AS IT STANDS: Love a bit of 'as it stands'. Spurs are on course to return to the top four, above their North London neighbours Arsenal, and level on points with Chelsea, who host Crystal Palace tomorrow. Wolves are set to surrender their top-half position in which they began the weekend.
BENCH WATCH: Nuno has some thinking to do, so loyal to this shape and personnel has he been this season that he might be reluctant to make changes. Adama Traore would be the obvious option, but the Wolves manager could be brave and sacrifice one of his three centre-backs.
Fantasy Football managers are sleeping on Lamela. He is Tottenham's fourth-highest points scorer this season.
SCOUT: Lamela's 0.9% ownership will be encouraged he now has 4 goals & 1 assist in the 7 games he's taken part in, even though in 4 of those games he came on as a substitute#FPL #WOLTOT pic.twitter.com/lruU6whyk0 — Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) November 3, 2018
KICKOFF: We are back underway in the West Midlands. Can Wolves launch a comeback or is the damage done?
We are back underway in the West Midlands. Can Wolves launch a comeback or is the damage done?
Wolves have started this second period just as they ended the first - on the front foot - but they need to be wary of the counter-attack. Lamela and Son are taking up 'cheat positions' behind the wing-backs.
SAVE! Big chance for Wolves as Costa drives forward 40 yards and slides in Jimenez, who was played onside by Trippier on the far side. The striker hits the target with power but Lloris pushes away strongly.
SAVE! Lloris is called into action again to block at his near post from Costa, who tried to squeeze the ball into the bottom corner after being granted a shooting opportunity by a rash lunge from Alderweireld.
SAVE! A third save in as many minutes from Lloris, and this is the best of the lot. Slack defending from Trippier allows Cavaleiro in down the left and when the cross is only half cleared by Alderweireld, it falls to Neves - again - and this time he drills one low and hard, only for Lloris to tip it around the post at full stretch.
Pochettino will be concerned with how dominant Wolves have been since the restart. Without Dembele, Spurs are losing the midfield battle but the Argentine doesn't really have an option on the bench to reinforce things. Teenager Oliver Skipp is the only recognised central midfielder.
There is aggro between Jimenez and Trippier, who was not happy with an alleged dive from the Wolves striker and gets in his face. The Mexican had thrown himself to ground under little to no contact.
Sissoko skips by Bennett but them clumsily overhits a cross with Kane well placed in the middle. The best and worst of the Frenchman all in five seconds.
SUBSTITUTION: Pochettino has been forced into a change by this excellent start to the second half by Wolves, and it is the substitute Son who has been substituted. The South Korean does not look happy, but Poch must have felt he needed Christian Eriksen to get him some control back.
GOAL! WOLVES 0-3 SPURS (HARRY KANE)
Yet again Spurs hit Wolves against the run of play with a third which should seal the points. Lamela gets a little lucky with a bounce of the ball in the box and squares to Kane, whose first effort is parried by Patricio, but the Spurs striker reacts quickest to sweep home with his left foot and end his mini-drought.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Nuno was preparing two changes before the third Spurs goal and goes ahead in bringing on Morgan Gibbs-White and Leo Bonatini for Moutinho and Cavaleiro. They've got an enviable task on their hands to change the game from here.
SAVE! Things could get messy for Wolves if they aren't careful here. A clever decoy run from Winks frees up Kane for a 20-yard curler which was destined for the top corner before Patricio makes a great stop.
PENALTY! Wolves have a way back into the game, as Foyth gives away a penalty for a tackle on Jimenez. It is a little rash from the youngster but Trippier must share the blame for trying a nutmeg by his own byline and giving the ball away to Bonatini. The England international should know better.
GOAL! WOLVES 1-3 SPURS (RUBEN NEVES, pen)
Neves wins the battle of wits with Lloris by rolling the ball into the bottom corner; the Spurs keeper guessing the wrong way.
SHOT! Spurs nearly regain their three-goal cushion immediately as Moura releases Kane to shoot low and hard at Patricio.
The hosts have not given up on this one yet. They know Spurs have conceded plenty of late goals this season, and the visitors are carrying extra mileage in their legs today after the midweek game.
The introduction of Eriksen has not helped Spurs keep the ball any better so far. The Dane has spent most of his time chasing after it.
CHANCE! What an opportunity for Wolves, but Costa blows it by prodding wide when one-on-one with Lloris. It is a sensational through-ball from Gibbs-White, timed perfectly to find the out-to-in run of Costa but the finish couldn't match the pass. Trippier, off the pace all game, played the winger onside.
PENALTY! It is turning into a Premier League debut to forget for Foyth who has given away another penalty. Jonny has the pace on the Argentine, and knocks it past him who reacts with a clumsy challenge which brings the wing-back down.
GOAL! WOLVES 2-3 SPURS (RAUL JIMENEZ, pen)
Different penalty taker, same result, as Jimenez slots it into the opposite bottom corner. Game on now; big time!
SUBSTITUTION: Pochettino responds to Foyth's struggles by bringing on Davinson Sanchez, and sacrificing his best counter-attacking threat Lucas Moura. Foyth has moved into midfield, out of the main firing line.
Spurs are absolutely all over the place at the back. They are going to need a fourth goal here I suspect.
SUBSTITUTION: The last person Spurs and their tired legs will want to see now is Adama Traore, who has replaced Costa for the final six minutes plus stoppage time. The winger is going to get space, can he produce the quality to make the most of it?
Traore gets round Davies with ease and his attemped cross lands on the roof of the net, with Lloris a relieved man.
The former Barcelona winger now runs the ball straight out of play and Lloris takes his time in spotting the ball. Sanchez has not picked up the pace of the game at all since coming on. He looks like a mistake waiting to happen. Foyth has dropped into the defensive line now to make it a back five.
Winks wins Spurs a free kick which will help them keep some time. Spurs have completely lost the midfield battle in the second half but the youngster is always brave on the ball and did well there.
The fourth official signals FOUR minutes of stoppage time. They could be a long and nervy four minutes for Spurs.
Two minutes of the additional have gone by without scare for Spurs. Have Wolves's best chances gone or will they get another?
Traore wins a free kick for Wolves just right of centre. Great chance for Gibbs-White to whip a good ball into the box.
FULL TIME: WOLVES 2-3 SPURS
Mauricio Pochettino breathes a huge slice of relief on the touchline as his side just - just - hold out for a 3-2 win in a thriller at Molineux. Wolves can count themselves bang unlucky after mounting a spirited comeback, with the aid of Juan Foyth, but the damage had been done in the first hour.
That's it from our coverage from Molineux. Relive the Saturday night thriller with our match report here, and catch up on the rest of today's Premier League scores in our results section. Thanks for joining me tonight. Until next time, goodbye!
