João Palhinha stepped up in the dying minutes to clinch a 1-0 triumph for Tottenham Hotspur, delivering the club its inaugural Premier League win of the 2026 campaign. The decisive goal came at Molineux against Wolverhampton Wanderers, a result that rekindles a sliver of hope for the North London side as they continue to battle against relegation.
The match unfolded dramatically, with Spurs taking the lead through the substitute's strike, only for Everton to level for West Ham United earlier in the day, briefly lifting Roberto De Zerbi's side out of the drop zone before Callum Wilson's late winner for the Hammers dampened the celebration. For Tottenham, however, those three points carry extra weight, especially after the loss of Dominic Solanke and Xavi Simons to injuries during the fixture.
The club now sits two points behind West Ham but still clings to the possibility of remaining in the top flight, thanks largely to Palhinha's heroics. Wolves' lineup featured 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 (n/a).
Tottenham fielded 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), while the bench offered Richarlison (7), Tel (7), Palhinha (7), Bergvall (6) and Dragusin (n/a). Palhinha was named man of the match. Spurs began the encounter energetically but struggled to produce clear-cut chances in a first half that seemed slower than the urgency of their situation warranted.
The early injuries to Solanke and Simons, the latter missing a good opportunity, added to the nervous atmosphere among the travelling supporters. Wolves, meanwhile, grew in confidence after hearing news of West Ham's opening goal against Everton, which intensified the pressure on Tottenham. They threatened twice through Adam Armstrong before the decisive moment arrived.
A well‑taken corner by Mathys Tel set the stage. Pedro Porro delivered the ball to Richarlison, whose effort forced the ball toward goal where Palhinha, having come on as a substitute, was waiting to tap it home.
The goal gave Spurs the lead, but tension remained high as Antonin Kinsky made a crucial save, diving to deny João Gomes' 98th‑minute free‑kick. Wolves made five changes at halftime, with former Tottenham defender Matt Doherty taking the captain's armband and Pedro Lima earning his first Premier League start of the season.
Tottenham made a single adjustment from the Brighton‑winning XI, bringing Djed Spence on for Destiny Udogie. The victory could prove pivotal in Tottenham's season, potentially serving as a catalyst that propels them out of the relegation zone.
Without these three points, the club would have found itself four points adrift with only four games remaining, a scenario that would have made survival exceedingly unlikely. The win injects a much‑needed boost of confidence and optimism.
Palhinha, when asked whether the result changes Tottenham's fortunes, responded: "I hope it does. This win means a lot for me, my teammates and especially the fans. This season hasn't been normal for us.
We all share responsibility, but we have four games left and we need to finish strong. We need to turn the tide after a long period without victories, particularly in matches where we felt we could have taken more points.
Sometimes it's the small details that make the difference. What we can control now is our work until the end of the season and trying to keep the club where it belongs – the Premier League. It means everything to us to stay up." Head coach Robert De Zerbi reflected on the performance in his post‑match press conference: "In the first half we were in control, even if we didn't create big chances. The second half was tougher – perhaps the pressure of not having won a game this year, playing against a relegated side, and losing our shape on the pitch.
I hope this result changes our mindset. The players showed quality and professionalism, and I now see that we have a real chance to stay up.
We need to improve our second‑half play and keep the right attitude." Regarding the injuries, De Zerbi added: "Solanke has a muscle issue – the exact severity is still unclear – while Xavi has a knee problem that we will assess in the next few days. Solanke's injury shouldn't keep him out for long, but Xavi's knee is a different matter.
He feels better than when the injury first occurred." He also praised Kinsky's late heroics: "He deserves this day; he played excellently and his save was crucial for the result. After his time at Madrid, he deserves a performance like today." Wolves manager Rob Edwards commented on his team's effort: "Beating Tottenham is not easy, especially given their quality and motivation. This week has been extremely challenging for us – we were officially relegated and have lost three games in a row.
Yet the players gave everything, matching Tottenham's intensity. We are at the bottom of the league, but everyone fought hard. It will take time to rebuild, and we are not in a transfer window to make big changes.
We have four games left; we must keep fighting. The boys didn't give up, and that deserves recognition." The match also featured a range of media and fan engagement opportunities, including live streaming on the Sky Sports app, subscription options for non‑Sky viewers, and access to the Premier League table and highlights. Additionally, a promotional Super 6 competition offered a chance to win £250,000, underscoring the commercial side of modern football.
Overall, Palhinha's late strike not only secured Tottenham's first win of the year but also injected a vital lifeline into a season that has been fraught with disappointment and uncertainty. The club now looks ahead to its remaining fixtures, hoping to build on this momentum and secure the Premier League status that it has historically enjoyed.