João Palhinha stepped up in the dying minutes to net the decisive goal for Tottenham Hotspur, delivering the North London club its inaugural Premier League win of the 2026 campaign. The 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux not only broke a barren spell but also rekindled a sliver of hope for survival as the Spurs continue to hover in the relegation zone. The climax at Molineux was dramatic despite the fact that Spurs had already taken the lead.
Earlier in the day, Everton managed to level against West Ham, briefly lifting Roberto De Zerbi's side out of the drop zone before Callum Wilson's late winner for the Hammers dampened the celebration. The timing of Palhinha's strike made the three points even more valuable for Tottenham, especially after they suffered injuries to forward Dominic Solanke and midfielder Xavi Simons during the match. Even with those setbacks, Spurs remain just two points adrift of West Ham and keep alive their aspirations of staying in the top flight, thanks largely to Palhinha's heroics. Wolves' line-up 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), with Richarlison (7), Tel (7), Palhinha (7), Bergvall (6) and Dragusin (n/a) on the bench. Palhinha earned the Player of the Match accolade. Spurs began the encounter with intent, but the first half produced few clear-cut chances, reflecting a tempo that seemed at odds with the urgency of their situation. The early injury to Solanke, followed shortly by Simons missing a good opportunity, added to the tension felt by the travelling supporters.
Wolves grew in confidence as news of West Ham's opening goal against Everton increased the pressure on the already nervous Tottenham side, and they threatened twice through Adam Armstrong. The turning point arrived from a well‑taken corner by Mathys Tel. Pedro Porro delivered the ball to Richarlison, who held it up for the on‑coming Palhinha.
The Portuguese midfielder timed his run perfectly and slotted the ball home, securing the win. The final minutes were tense, with Antonin Kinsky making a crucial diving save to deny João Gomes' 98th‑minute free‑kick. Wolves made five changes at halftime, including the introduction of former Tottenham defender Matt Doherty as captain and Pedro Lima earning his first Premier League start of the season. Tottenham made a single alteration to the side that had drawn with Brighton, bringing Djed Spence on for Destiny Udogie.
This victory could prove pivotal in Tottenham's season. Without it, the club would find themselves four points behind safety with only four games remaining.
The win injects a much‑needed morale boost and provides a realistic chance to claw back into the league. Palhinha, when asked if the result would change Tottenham's fortunes, responded: "I don't know, hopefully it changes, that's the reality, but this victory is much more than that. For me, for my teammates and especially for the club and the supporters, it's not a normal season that we have been leading until today.
We all have responsibility in this season, but the reality is we have four fixtures left and we need to do our job. Hopefully this win can change what happened in the past, give us a bit more motivation because it's been a long time without victories. Sometimes it's the details. What we can control now is finishing the season strong and keeping the club where it belongs – the Premier League." Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi addressed the press, noting the team's early control but acknowledging a dip in the second half: "In the first half, the first 35 minutes, we played well.
We didn't create big chances but we had total control of the game. Then, in the second half, the pressure – maybe because we hadn't won a game in 2026, maybe because we were playing Wolves who were already relegated – affected us.
I hope this result can change something in our heads, in our mentality. The most important thing is the quality and the human level of the players. It was a surprise to me at first, but once I got to know them better I realised we have a chance to stay up. All players are professional, good guys, suffering for this situation.
I want to give them confidence and order on the pitch because the second half was not good enough." Regarding the injuries, De Zerbi explained: "Solanke has a muscular injury, the exact grade we will know in the next few days. Xavi has a knee problem – knee injuries are different from muscular ones. I spoke with him recently and he feels better than at the start of the injury." He also praised Kinsky's late save: "He deserves this day because he played very well, especially today.
He was crucial for the result. He's a good keeper and after his performances against Madrid, he deserves a day like this." Wolves manager Rob Edwards reflected on his team's effort despite the relegation confirmation: "It is not as easy as just turning up and beating Tottenham because they've been struggling. They have many good players and their motivation is incredibly high.
This week has been challenging for us – officially relegated – but the lads gave everything and matched Tottenham's intensity. They were brilliant throughout the game. We've lost three in a row and are at the bottom, but everyone gave their all.
It will take time to turn things around, and we are not in a transfer window to make big changes. We have four more games left, and we must fight. At the end of the match, I looked around and saw no one who gave up.
They fought hard." The win also sparked a surge in fan engagement, with Sky Sports promoting the match highlights and offering subscription options for those without a Sky account. The Premier League table remains tightly contested, and Tottenham's next fixtures will be crucial as they aim to secure enough points to avoid the drop. In summary, João Palhinha's late header not only delivered Tottenham's first win of the year but also injected a vital lifeline into a club fighting for survival. The victory underscores the fine margins in a relegation battle and highlights the importance of resilience, tactical adjustments, and individual moments of brilliance.
With the season entering its final stretch, Spurs must build on this momentum, manage injuries wisely, and maintain the belief that they can stay in the Premier League.