Wolves 0-1 Tottenham: Player ratings as Dele Alli penalty gives Spurs edge

Dele Alli's first-half penalty ensured Tottenham maintained their winning start to the league season with a frenetic 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

The midfielder was felled in the penalty box by Wolves keeper Jose Sa in the ninth minute before stepping up himself to cooly send the Portuguese the wrong way. Wolves responded with plenty of endeavour but they struggled to work Hugo Lloris in the Spurs goal.

Bruno Lage would have called for greater composure in the second period and his players heeded his message as they laid siege to the Spurs penalty area. Adama Traore, a constant menace throughout, ought to have levelled on the hour mark when he was sent through on goal, only to be thwarted by Lloris.

The Molineux side continued to pour forward with purpose but a combination of the Spurs number one and last-ditch defending denied Lage from snatching his first points as Wolves boss.

Here’s a closer look at how both sets of players performed…

WOLVES PLAYER RATINGS

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Jose Sa (GK) – 6/10 - Difficult to criticise for conceding the penalty on Alli as the midfielder was clever, but redeemed himself nonetheless with a good stop from Harry Kane.

Max Kilman (CB) – 6/10 - A left-footer on the right-hand side of a back three may perplex some, but the 24-year-old showed its virtues with a commanding display on the ball. Great block from Son's cut-back in the second half.

Conor Coady (CB) – 6/10 - Commanded the Wolves back line well and sustained pressure by winning a lot of second balls.

Romain Saiss (CB) – 6/10 - Dealt with the pace of Lucas Moura well and looked assured throughout.

2. Wing-backs & midfielders

Nelson Semedo (RWB) – 7/10 - An improvement on Ki-Jana Hoever's display on the opening weekend. The Portuguese was a powerful presence on the right but often lacked a final ball.

Ruben Neves (CM) – 6/10 - Tested Lloris with a couple of his trademark long-range strikes. Faciliated Wolves well in the centre of the pitch.

Joao Moutinho (CM) – 5/10 - Quiet considering Wolves' share of possession but coped well alongside Neves.

Marcal (LWB) – 7/10 - Similar to Semedo on the opposite flank, as most of his good work was undone by a disappointing final cross.

3. Forwards

Francisco Trincao  (RW) – 6/10 - Showed some nice touches throughout, but lacked conviction in the final third.

Raul Jimenez (ST) – 6/10 - Fired over a shot on 26 minutes from the edge of the area. Looked lively but was well marshalled by Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez between the width of the posts.

Adama Traore (LW) – 8/10 - Threatened constantly down the left-hand side, sashaying infield and running directly down the flank. Both Sanchez and Japhet Tanganga failed to get a grip of him. Should have levelled for Wolves when sent through one-on-one.

4. Substitutes

Leander Dendoncker (CM) - 5/10

Fabio Silva (ST) - N/A

Rayan Ait-Nouri (LW) - N/A

TOTTENHAM PLAYER RATINGS

5. Goalkeeper & defenders

Hugo Lloris (GK) – 8/10 - Vital stop to deny Traore one-on-one in the second period and commanded his goal amid serious Wolves pressure.

Japhet Tanganga (RB) – 6/10 - Struggled massively against Traore in the first 45 minutes, and was booked on 37 minutes for a foul on Marcal. Improved in the second half.

Davinson Sanchez (CB) – 6/10 - Commanded his penalty box well but, like Tanganga, struggled to deal with the energy of Traore.

Eric Dier (CB) – 7/10 - Made some crucial interceptions in both the air and on the ground. Looks more composed than he did under Jose Mourinho.

Sergio Reguilon (LB) – 6/10 - Gorgeous through ball for Dele Alli to win Spurs' penalty but spent most of the game pinned back inside his own half.

6. Midfielders

Oliver Skipp (CM) – 6/10 - Booked in the first half for a foul on Traore but coped well physically.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (CM) – 7/10 - Excellent on both sides of the ball for Spurs. Lovely weighted through ball to Son in the second half which the 29-year-old should have done better with.

Dele Alli (CM) – 7/10 - A very intelligent run to win the penalty. Dispatched his spot kick with composure although faded out of the game as Spurs lost control in midfield.

7. Forwards

Lucas Moura (RW) – 6/10 - On the periphery of the game throughout and didn't cause Wolves any real problems.

Heung-min Son (ST) – 6/10 - Should have made more when played through by Hojbjerg in the second half and generally had a quiet afternoon.

Steven Bergwijn (LW) – 7/10 - Ineffective in the opening period, but his influence grew as Spurs threatened on the break. Sublime piece of individual footwork to tee up Kane late on.

8. Substitutes

Giovani Lo Celso (RW) - 5/10

Harry Kane (ST) - 6/10 - The wantaway striker spurned a one-on-one on his return to the side.

Harry Winks (CM) - N/A