João Palhinha rose to the occasion in the dying minutes, slotting home the decisive goal that handed Tottenham Hotspur a 1-0 triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. This narrow win marked the North London club's first Premier League success of the 2026 campaign and injected a much-needed boost of optimism into a season that has been anything but reassuring. The atmosphere at Molineux was electric as the match reached its climax.
Even though the Portuguese midfielder's strike gave Spurs the lead, the drama was far from over. Earlier in the day, Everton had managed to level the score against West Ham United, briefly nudging Roberto De Zerbi's side out of the drop zone. However, Callum Wilson's late winner for the Hammers quickly erased that relief, underscoring the fine margins that define survival battles in the top flight. For Tottenham, the victory carried extra weight because it arrived on a day when the club suffered setbacks to its squad.
Both Dominic Solanke and Xavi Simons were forced off with injuries, leaving De Zerbi with a depleted attacking lineup. Despite those absences, the Spurs remained just two points behind West Ham in the relegation fight, keeping alive their hopes of staying in the Premier League thanks largely to Palhinha's heroics. The match line-ups reflected the intensity of the encounter.
Wolves fielded a side featuring Sa (6), Lima (6), Doherty (5), S Bueno (6), Toti (5), H Bueno (7), Andre (6), J Gomes (7), R Gomes (6), Mane (6) and Armstrong (6), with substitutes Arokodare (6), Hwang (6), Tchatchoua (5) and Moller Wolfe unavailable. Tottenham's starting eleven included Kinsky (7), Pedro Porro (7), Danso (7), Van de Ven (7), Spence (7), Bissouma (6), Bentancur (7), Gallagher (6), Kolo Muani (6), Simons (6) and Solanke (6). The bench offered Richarlison (7), Tel (7), Palhinha (7), Bergvall (6) and Dragusin (n/a).
João Palhinha was duly named player of the match. Spurs began the game with a burst of energy, but the first half was largely uneventful, with few clear-cut chances emerging. The tempo of play seemed at odds with the urgency of their situation, and the early injuries to Solanke and Simons—both of which occurred shortly after Simons missed a good opportunity—added to the tension among the travelling supporters. Wolves, meanwhile, grew in confidence as they watched the news of West Ham's opener against Everton pile pressure onto their tentative opponents.
Adam Armstrong twice threatened to equalise for Wolves, but the decisive moment came from a well-executed corner. Mathys Tel delivered a pinpoint ball that found Richarlison, whose effort was deflected toward the goal where the on‑coming Palhinha calmly finished.
The match was not without its nervy episodes. In the 98th minute, Antonin Kinsky made a spectacular diving save to deny João Gomes from a free‑kick, preserving Tottenham's slender lead.
Both managers made tactical adjustments during the game. Wolves introduced former Spurs defender Matt Doherty as captain and gave Pedro Lima his first Premier League start of the season. Tottenham made a single change from the side that drew with Brighton, bringing Djed Spence on for Destiny Udogie. The win could prove pivotal for Tottenham's season.
Without it, the club would have found itself four points adrift with only four matches remaining—a scenario that would have made survival extremely unlikely. The three points now provide a lifeline and a psychological lift that could be the catalyst needed to steer the team clear of relegation.
In a post‑match interview, Palhinha reflected on the significance of the victory: "I hope it changes things. This win means a lot for me, my teammates, the club and the supporters. It's not a normal season for us.
We all have a responsibility, and with four games left we need to do our job. This win gives us motivation because it's been a long time without victories, especially in games where we should have taken more points. Sometimes it's the details that make the difference. What we can control now is finishing the season strong and keeping the club where it belongs—in the Premier League.
We will give everything until the end because staying up means everything to us." Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi addressed the media, noting the contrast between the first and second halves: "In the first 35 minutes we played well and controlled the game, even if we didn't create big chances. In the second half the pressure built—maybe because we hadn't won a game in 2026, maybe because we were playing Wolves who were already relegated, and we lost our shape on the pitch.
I hope this result changes our mentality. The most important thing is the quality and humanity of the players.
I didn't fully understand their spirit at first, but now I see we have a chance to stay up. All the players are professional, they are suffering for this situation, and I want to give them confidence and order. The second half was not good enough; we need to improve dramatically." De Zerbi also provided updates on the injuries: "Solanke has a muscular issue; the exact severity is still being assessed.
Xavi has a knee problem, which is different from a muscle injury. We'll have more information in the next few days.
Solanke's issue isn't severe, but we need to monitor Xavi closely because knee injuries can be unpredictable. He told me he feels better than when the injury first occurred." Regarding goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky's crucial save, De Zerbi praised him: "He deserves this day because he played exceptionally well, especially today. He was vital for the result, a good keeper who finally gets recognition after his time in Madrid." Wolves manager Rob Edwards also spoke after the game, acknowledging the difficulty of facing a motivated Tottenham side: "It's not easy to turn up and beat Spurs when they're in a bad run, but they have quality and high motivation.
This week has been challenging for us—we were officially relegated, lost three in a row, and are at the bottom. Yet the players gave everything, matching Tottenham's intensity.
No one gave up. It was a proper football match, not a shambles.
We have four games left, and we must fight. The boys gave their all today, and that commitment deserves respect." The match also featured commercial reminders: fans with Sky can watch the live action via the Sky Sports app, while non‑Sky viewers are offered instant access without a contract.
The Premier League table and free highlights are available online for those following the relegation battle closely. Overall, Palhinha's late header not only secured three points but also sparked a glimmer of hope for a Tottenham side desperate to avoid the drop.
With only a handful of fixtures remaining, every point is precious, and the psychological lift from this victory could prove decisive as the club fights to remain in England's top division.