Joao Palhinha’s late winner finally ended Tottenham’s long wait for a Premier League victory, but it did little to ease their mounting relegation concerns.
Spurs claimed a narrow win at already relegated Wolves - their first league success since December - yet results elsewhere ensured they remain third from bottom, two points adrift of safety with just four games to play.
Palhinha struck seven minutes from time, poking home from close range after sustained pressure, before goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky preserved the lead with a superb stoppage-time save from Joao Gomes’ free-kick.
Despite the victory, it was a nervy and uninspiring performance from Roberto De Zerbi’s side, who struggled for quality throughout and were dealt further blows with injuries to Dominic Solanke and Xavi Simons.
Tottenham dominated possession but lacked cutting edge for much of the match.
Simons missed a key opportunity before being forced off injured, while Rodrigo Bentancur was denied by a strong save from Jose Sa.
Ultimately, it took a scrappy finish from Palhinha to make the difference in a game where Spurs rarely looked convincing.
The emotional swings of the relegation battle were felt throughout the day, with other results briefly lifting Spurs out of the bottom three before late drama elsewhere dragged them back in.
For Wolves, whose relegation was confirmed earlier in the week, the performance offered little encouragement.
They struggled to create meaningful chances and lacked the attacking presence to trouble Spurs consistently.
Manager Rob Edwards will now be focused on rebuilding momentum ahead of next season, with recent heavy defeats threatening to undo any positive progress made earlier in the year.
While Spurs showed resilience to secure a crucial win, their survival hopes remain precarious.
With tough fixtures still to come, they will need to improve significantly if they are to avoid a first relegation from the top flight since 1977.
For now, they remain in the fight - but time is quickly running out.
