Sorry Spurs stumble again as Jones dents top four hopes

DAVID JONES’ solitary strike lifted Wolves out of the relegation zone as his first Premier League goal of the season put a dent in Tottenham’s hopes of taking back fourth place at Molineux.

The midfielder started the move which resulted in him side-footing home a cross from Matt Jarvis in the 27th minute, and Wolves could also have had a penalty when Michael Dawson clipped Jarvis in the first half.

Tottenham’s best chance fell to Niko Kranjcar before they had gone behind, but he shot too close to goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.

Harry Redknapp’s side have now won just once in the last six matches and have scored three league goals in 2010 as a closer examination of their Champions League credentials has found them wanting – at least for now.

The result was huge for Wolves, with their first victory in seven league matches more than well deserved.

Jermain Defoe’s pace looked like causing Wolves problems early on and on more than one occasion defenders had to resort to niggling fouls to halt his progress.

Spurs captain Dawson had the first half-chance in the 13th minute from Gareth Bale’s corner but failed to connect properly with his header from seven yards.

Kevin Doyle went down claiming a penalty five minutes later but the challenge from Sebastien Bassong was more shoulder-to-shoulder and initial contact was outside the area.

Spurs went straight down the other end and Kranjcar should have scored after Defoe had back-heeled Eidur Gudjohnsen’s pass into his path but he shot too close to Hahnemann and the goalkeeper deflected the ball for a corner with his legs.

Wolves had their best chance moments later when Doyle broke through on the right but his touch gave him too narrow an angle and as Dawson got across to challenge he fired a shot across the six-yard area which Bassong turned behind.

However, the hosts took the lead with the simplest of goals which came out of nowhere in the 27th minute.

Jones played the ball out to Jarvis on the left and continued his run to side-foot home the cross first time from 15 yards.

The visitors stepped up the pressure in the second half but Wolves soaked it all up to register back-to-back home clean sheets in the league for the first time in the campaign.

WOLVES: Hahnemann, Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Ward (Elokobi 60), Henry, Foley, Guedioura (Mancienne 72), David Jones, Jarvis (Milijas 80), Doyle.

TOTTENHAM: Gomes, Kaboul, Dawson, Bassong, Bale, Bentley, Huddlestone, Jenas (Palacios 46), Kranjcar (Modric 72), Defoe, Gudjohnsen (Crouch 63).

Referee: Mark Clattenburg.