Tottenham 2-2 Wolves: Pressure builds on Ange Postecoglou as Spurs are noisily booed at the final whistle after late equaliser

Sometimes all that matters is that you find a way to win. Just hold what you have, protect it and somehow stagger over the line. Tottenham failed despite coming close and so relieved none of the pressure building on Ange Postecoglou.

They looked exhausted at the end. Out of juice and bereft of confidence, missing chances to make it safe before Jorgen Strand Larsen tore through a patched-up defence to rescue a point for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Those in the away end celebrated the fighting spirit of their rejuvenated team and the seven points from three games under new boss Vitor Pereira.

Spurs fans booed noisily at the final whistle. Their team has won just once in seven Premier League games since the victory at Manchester City and will start the New Year in the bottom half for the first time since 2008/09.

That was the season when Harry Redknapp was summoned from Portsmouth to replace Juande Ramos. Postecoglou will soldier on, still well placed in two cup competitions and with chairman Daniel Levy the board conscious injuries are conspiring against him.

There was a fresh one, a hamstring injury for Destiny Udogie deepening the defensive crisis.

And a needless yellow card for a tired and reckless midfield challenge in stoppage time by Rodrigo Bentancur, his fifth caution of the season to spark a suspension just three days after returning from a seven-match ban for offensive remarks in the media. Bentancur will miss Saturday’s game against Newcastle.

‘It comes down to players so desperate to turn things around,’ said Postecoglou. ‘It was an unfortunate moment. It didn’t need to happen. I’d much rather he didn’t make that tackle and was available for next game.

‘The players are obviously hurting. They want to turn this around and it’s not for want of trying.

‘It’s fair to say we’re dealing with a fair bit and it doesn’t feel we’re getting any smooth run at anything in terms of getting players back and allowing us to freshen up the team. As soon as we get one back, we lose one.

‘We’ve got to get through it. There’s still a hell of a lot for us to play for with what’s on the horizon and we have to give the players all the support we can to perform at their best.’

Beyond the frustrations of the defensive injury crisis and congested schedule, Tottenham ran into a Wolves team in a purple kit and a purple patch since Pereira replaced Gary O’Neil, and before a looming ban for Matheus Cunha, their most creative player.

Cunha is awaiting the outcome of a charge of violent conduct brought for his part in a post-match skirmish following defeat at home to Ipswich in O’Neil’s final game, and he won the free kick from which Wolves took the lead inside seven minutes.

Spurs were deceived the visitors shaped up as if to shoot before Ait-Nouri rolled a pass square to Hee-chan Hwang who wriggled free as Santiago Bueno blocked Brennan Johnson’s attempt to stay with his man, and finished expertly, low inside the post, on his first start since August.

Wolves had made the better start but did not hold the lead for long. Bentancur equalised with a header at the near post from a corner by Pedro Porro. Spurs were vulnerable but started creating some chances.

Radu Dragusin headed wide and Yves Bissouma fired over from the edge of the penalty area.

Then came the penalty awarded for a foul by Andre on Johnson. It was harsh in the sense that Johnson was more intent on engineering contact than bringing the ball under control and Wolves disputed the decision.

Once it had been made by referee Chris Kavanagh, however, there was no reversal ever coming from the VAR. Son took responsibility, but his penalty was that of a striker short of goals and saved by Jose Sa diving to his right.

Johnson made the breakthrough in first half stoppage time, linking up with Dejan Kulusevski and firing in 11th of the season and his first for eight games.

Cunha, having decorated the first half with delightful touches, did not return for the second. He was later spotted on the bench with an ice pack behind his left knee. The visitors also lost Andre to injury in the second half by which time Udogie had limped off.

With back-in-favour Djed Spence banned after a red card at Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day it meant Sergio Reguilon’s first Tottenham appearance in the Premier League since April 2022.

Ultimately, though it was Strand Larsen who collected a pass from Ait-Nouri and made the most decisive contribution from the bench, slamming a powerful shot high past Forster at his near post, to the delight of Pereira.

‘I want more, especially with the ball,’ said the Wolves boss. ‘But the spirit is good. We need to fight to compete and this is what they are showing me. I’m happy and proud with their work.’