João Palhinha rose to the occasion in the dying minutes, slotting home the decisive goal that handed Tottenham Hotspur a 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. This win marked the first Premier League success for the North London club in the 2026 campaign and injected a much-needed surge of optimism into a side that continues to hover perilously close to the drop zone. The match at Molineux unfolded with drama from the outset.
While Spurs managed to break the deadlock late on, the broader fixture list also delivered a tense climax elsewhere: Everton managed to equalise against West Ham United, briefly nudging Roberto De Zerbi's side out of the relegation zone before Callum Wilson's late strike for the Hammers dampened the celebratory mood. For Tottenham, the three points were even more valuable given the double injury blow that saw Dominic Solanke and Xavi Simons forced off the pitch, leaving the team shorthanded. Despite the setbacks, Tottenham remain just two points behind West Ham and keep alive their hopes of preserving Premier League status, largely thanks to Palhinha's heroics.
The match report listed the line-ups in detail, noting that Wolves fielded a mix of seasoned campaigners such as Sa, Lima, and Matt Doherty, while Tottenham's starting eleven featured the likes of Kinsky, Pedro Porro, and a midfield anchored by Bissouma and Bentancur. Substitutes Richarlison, Tel, Palhinha himself, and Bergvall were also mentioned, with Palhinha earning the Player of the Match accolade.
Spurs began the encounter energetically, but the first half was relatively quiet in terms of clear-cut chances, reflecting the careful tempo that belied the urgency of their situation. The 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 opener against Everton, and they pressed forward, with Adam Armstrong coming close to scoring twice. The turning point arrived from a well‑taken corner delivered by Mathys Tel.
Pedro Porro's delivery found Richarlison, who redirected the ball towards goal where the freshly introduced Palhinha was waiting. He calmly finished, giving Tottenham the lead.
The final minutes saw Wolves push for an equaliser, with Antonin Kinsky making a crucial diving save to deny João Gomes from a free‑kick in the 98th minute. Tactically, Wolves made five changes at halftime, including the introduction of former Tottenham defender Matt Doherty as captain and Pedro Lima making his first Premier League start of the season. Tottenham made a single alteration from the side that drew with Brighton, with Djed Spence replacing Destiny Udogie. The victory could prove pivotal in Spurs' season.
Without these three points, they would have been four points adrift with only four games remaining, a deficit that would have seemed almost insurmountable. The win therefore offers a glimmer of hope and a potential catalyst for a late‑season surge.
After the match, Palhinha was asked whether the result might change the narrative for Tottenham. He responded modestly but passionately, saying, "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 finals into the final of the league and we need to do our job and hopefully this win can change what happened in the past, give us a bit more motivation as well, because it's been a long time without victories." He continued, emphasizing the importance of details and the collective effort required to stay up: "We all want to give something and we will give everything that we have until the end of the season, because it means a lot for us to keep the Premier League." Tottenham manager Robert De Zerbi, speaking at the post‑match press conference, reflected on the team's performance. He praised the first half for its control, noting, "In the first half, in the first 35 minutes, we played well. We didn't create big chances to score but we had total control of the game." He then admitted that the second half was affected by pressure, a lack of wins earlier in the year, and perhaps the psychological weight of facing a team already relegated. "I hope this result can change something in our heads, in our mentality," he added, urging his squad to improve the intensity and cohesion that had slipped in the latter stages.
De Zerbi also addressed the injuries to Solanke and Simons. He described Solanke's issue as a muscular problem of uncertain severity, while Simons was dealing with a knee concern that would be assessed in the coming days.
"For Solanke it's not a big problem, I don't know how many games we lose him, but I would like to know the situation of Xavi, because the knee is always different than the muscular injury," he explained. Kinsky's late‑game save also earned praise: "He deserves this day because he played very well, especially today, he was crucial for the result. He deserves everything, because he's a good guy, he's a good keeper, and especially after Madrid, he deserves one day like today." Wolves manager Rob Edwards offered his perspective, acknowledging the difficulty of facing a Tottenham side that, despite recent struggles, possessed quality and high motivation.
He highlighted the emotional toll of Wolves' recent relegation confirmation, stating, "It's been really challenging this week for us, officially relegated. It's been really tough. So, for the players to give everything and match Tottenham's intensity, the lads deserve a lot of credit." Edwards commended both sets of supporters and players, noting that despite Wolves' three‑game losing streak and bottom‑of‑the‑table position, the team never gave up. He stressed that turning the situation around would take time, especially outside the transfer window, but expressed optimism for a brighter future: "At the moment, times are tough.
We've got to stand up, take it, and then hopefully in a year's time, we're sitting in a much more positive place." In summary, Palhinha's late strike not only delivered Tottenham's first win of the 2026 Premier League season but also sparked a renewed belief that the club can still fight for survival. With only a handful of matches left, every point is vital, and the morale boost from this victory could be the difference between relegation and a hard‑won stay in England's top flight. Watch the full match on Sky Sports or stream via the Sky Sports app. If you don't have Sky, you can still access highlights and live Premier League tables online.