Bruno Lage explains 'pressure' on Wolves star Raul Jimenez after Tottenham heroics

Bruno Lage heaped praise on Raul Jimenez after Wolverhampton Wanderers’ star striker ended his wait for an open play goal to down Tottenham Hotspur.

Jimenez scored his first goal from open play since November 20 to set Wolves on their way to a crucial 2-0 win over top six rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Midfielder Leander Dendoncker added the second goal as Wolves leapfrogged Spurs to claim seventh spot in the Premier League.

Jimenez, 30, has endured a frustrating season in front of goal with his volley at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium just his fifth strike this term.

But Lage has ignored calls to drop Jimenez and started the Mexican for the 20th time in the Premier League against Spurs.

Speaking after Wolves’ win in north London, Lage said: “There were a lot of questions about Raul after the Arsenal game, ‘He should score goals, he should score goals, he should score goals’.

“The way we are training we put a lot of pressure (on him). I don’t say a word to Raul about scoring goals. My pressure is always on training. If they train the way I like, and they play the way I like, the good things will come.

“The players know they have pressure. From my side it’s about working hard every day. I didn’t talk about goals and today Raul scored again.

“This is football, it’s very hard. He knows as a striker he needs to score goals, but he has a lot of things to do.

“It was not just about the goal, he also produced a good performance - and this is the most important thing.”

Wolves have won five of their last seven league games to put themselves in European contention with 15 games to go.

Lage’s team take on Leicester City next weekend before a double-header with fellow top four pretenders Arsenal and West Ham the following week.

“The goal