Sometimes all that matters is that you find a way to win. Just hold what you have, protect it, and somehow teeter over the line. Tottenham failed despite getting close and did not relieve the pressure building on Ange Postecoglou.
They seemed exhausted at the end. Lacking energy and confidence, wasting chances to make it safe before Jorgen Strand Larsen broke through a patched defense to rescue a point for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The visitors celebrated the fighting spirit of their rejuvenated team and the seven points achieved in three games under new coach Vitor Pereira.
Spurs fans booed loudly after the final whistle. His team has won just once in seven Premier League games since the win over Manchester City and will begin the New Year in the bottom half for the first time since 2008/09.
That was the season in which Harry Redknapp was called up from Portsmouth to replace Juande Ramos. Postecoglou will press on, still well placed in two cup competitions and with president Daniel Levy, the injury-conscious board of directors plotting against him.
There was a new one, a hamstring injury to Destiny Udogie that deepened the defensive crisis.
Jorgen Strand Larsen came off the bench to finish past Fraser Forster in the 87th minute.
Tottenham have now gone three games without winning in the Premier League and are still in the bottom half
Ange Postecoglou remains under immense pressure amid Tottenham's dismal start to the campaign
And an unnecessary yellow card for a tired and reckless challenge in midfield in added time by Rodrigo Bentancur, his fifth booking of the season that led to a suspension just three days after returning from a seven-match suspension for offensive comments in the media. Bentancur will miss Saturday's game against Newcastle.
“It all comes down to players who are desperate to change things,” Postecoglou said. 'It was an unfortunate moment. It didn't need to happen. I would prefer him not to make that tackle and be available for the next game.
“The players are obviously suffering. They want to turn this around and it's not for lack of trying.
“It's fair to say we're struggling a bit and we don't seem to be performing well in terms of getting players back and allowing us to refresh the team.” As soon as we get one back, we lose it.
'We have to get over it. “We still have a lot to play for with what lies ahead and we have to give the players all the support we can to perform at their best.”
Beyond the frustrations of the defensive injury crisis and congested schedule, Tottenham have found themselves with a Wolves team wearing a purple uniform and a purple patch since Pereira replaced Gary O'Neil, and before an imminent suspension for Matheus Cunha, their most creative player.
Cunha is awaiting the outcome of a violent conduct charge brought over his involvement in a post-match skirmish following the home defeat to Ipswich in O'Neil's last game, and won the free kick which gave Wolves the lead. at seven minutes.
Spurs were deceived and the visitors prepared to shoot before Ait-Nouri played a direct pass to Hee-chan Hwang, who broke away as Santiago Bueno blocked Brennan Johnson's attempt to keep his man and finished deftly, low inside of the post, in his first start since August.
The Wolves started better, but did not maintain the lead for long. Bentancur equalized with a header at the near post after a corner taken by Pedro Porro. Spurs were vulnerable but started to create some chances.
Radu Dragusin headed wide and Yves Bissouma shot wide from the edge of the area.
Then came the penalty awarded for a foul by Andre on Johnson. It was harsh in the sense that Johnson was more intent on designing contact than controlling the ball and the Wolves questioned the decision.
However, once referee Chris Kavanagh did so, VAR did not reverse the result. Son took responsibility, but his penalty was a goalless striker saved by José Sa diving to his right.
Johnson made the breakthrough in first-half stoppage time, teaming up with Dejan Kulusevski and firing for his 11th of the season and first in eight games.
Hee-chan Hwang got the visitors off to the perfect start in north London when he scored after just seven minutes.
Rodrigo Bentancur restored parity five minutes later before Brennan Johnson put the hosts ahead.
Son Heung-min missed a penalty moments before Johnson put Spurs ahead
Cunha, after having adorned the first half with charming touches, did not play again in the second. He was later seen on the bench with an ice pack behind his left knee. The visitors also lost Andre to injury in the second half, by which time Udogie had limped off.
With Djed Spence suspended after a red card at Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day, it marked Sergio Reguilon's first appearance for Tottenham in the Premier League since April 2022.
In the end, it was Strand Larsen who collected a pass from Ait-Nouri and made the most decisive contribution from the bench, unleashing a powerful shot past Forster at his near post, much to the delight of Pereira.
“I want more, especially with the ball,” said the Wolves manager. 'But the spirit is good. We need to fight to compete and that is what they are showing me. I'm happy and proud of their work.'