EPL: Tottenham on the slide as Wolves claim away win

Tottenham Hotspur sank to a third successive Premier League defeat as first-half goals by Raul Jimenez and Leander Dendoncker gave Wolverhampton Wanderers a 2-0 away win to lift them into seventh place on Sunday. After losing 3-2 at home to Southampton in midweek, Tottenham desperately needed a response to boost their top-four ambitions, but defensive errors cost them dear. Jimenez volleyed in after six minutes following a mistake by Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris and the French World Cup winner hardly covered himself in glory when Dendoncker doubled Wolves' lead 12 minutes later.

Lloris redeemed himself a little to prevent Wolves adding to their advantage before the break but Tottenham left the pitch at halftime to boos on a rain-sodden north London afternoon. Tottenham improved in the second half but the closest they came was a deflected Harry Winks shot against the post. Wolves were comfortable though and leapfrogged Tottenham into seventh place with 37 points, only three behind fourth-placed West Ham United who play at Leicester City later.

Tottenham slip to eighth with 36 points. When the Premier League resumed this week after a short winter interlude, Tottenham looked well-placed to challenge for a top-four finish as they have games in hand of their rivals. Antonio Conte was undefeated in his first nine league games as Tottenham manager having taken charge in November, but the optimism that run induced is fading fast.