Shropshire Star

Wolves 1 Tottenham 0

Wolves clinched a priceless victory over Tottenham to move out of the Premier League relegation zone.

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Wolves clinched a priceless victory over Tottenham to move out of the Premier League relegation zone.

David Jones' 27th minute volley was enough to give Mick McCarthy's men their first victory in seven league outings.

The win moved them up to 15th and a point clear of the drop zone, as they signed off for a 10-day break before hosting leaders Chelsea.

Victory over Tottenham also made history as it completed the club's' first top-flight double in almost 29 years, since they beat Sunderland in April 1981.

Jones wasn't the only hero however on a night when Wolves unearthed another potential hero in midfielder Adlene Guedioura, who had a fine full debut and looks to be ready made for the Premier League.

But Tottenham forced the best chances of a first-half which the home side ultimately had control of.

Gareth Bale's viciously curling free kick fizzed inches wide after David Bentley's cross on just 33 seconds was tipped over by goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.

Then Jermaine Jenas was freed to head the ball over Hahnemann who came out but Karl Henry, who had been left standing by the initial pass, recovered to clear.

Play switched to the other end, where Kevin Doyle claimed a penalty for a push by Sebastien Bassong but replays showed any contact was outside the area.

Hahnemann was then off his line brilliantly to block Niko Kranjcar's effort with his legs, after Defoe's backheel split the defence.

But Wolves were gradually easing themselves into the game and the all-action Doyle beat the offside trap to latch onto Jones' pass for a cross put behind by Jenas.

Apart from Doyle, no one inspired more than Guedioura on his full debut.

The powerful midfielder, on loan from Charleroi, was full of running and no little ability in pushing forward at every opportunity.

Wolves' efforts were rewarded in the 27th minute with a goal started and finished by Jones, who swept home on the volley into the corner of the net from near the penalty spot after the midfielder had brought Matt Jarvis into play for the cross.

Their tails up, the home fans howled for a penalty when Jarvis tumbled under challenge from Michael Dawson, but referee Mark Clattenburg waved play on.

Jarvis continued to be involved and tested Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, who palmed his low drive aside.

The second-half started briskly and Kranjcar struck the side-netting with a fierce angled drive, before Doyle hooked wide under pressure after chasing down a lost cause.

But injuries to each side disrupted the momentum with Wolves left-back Stephen Ward, who is carrying a knee injury, replaced by George Elokobi and Spurs' Eidur Gudjohnsen making way for Peter Crouch within four minutes of each other after the hour.

Crouch's arrival saw Wolves forced to defend a barrage of crosses, but Hahnemann and his defenders proved equal to the task.

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