Tottenham slumped to a second home defeat in four days and a third League reverse on the bounce to leave Antonio Conte needing to find answers ahead of a daunting trip to Manchester City next weekend.
If the hat-trick of defeats to Chelsea could be explained by the chasm in the quality between the two squads, it is harder to justify back-to-back losses to mid-table Southampton and Wolves, who were 2-0 up inside 18 minutes and held firm as Spurs flooded forward in the second half.
Spurs could point to mistakes from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris for both the visitors’ goals, with the goalkeeper unconvincing before Raul Jimenez volleyed Wolves in front and inviting pressure with a loose pass in the build-up to Leandro Dendoncker’s close-range finish.
But the captain’s errors were part of a calamitous defensive display from Conte’s side, who were disorganised, susceptible to pressing and far too easy to play through for the second time this week. Even at 2-0, Wolves looked the likelier to score again before half-time, although Bruno Lage’s side were happy to drop off in the second half.
Spurs made far too many individual errors, including countless loose passes, hesitant touches and bad decisions, with their failings both individual and collective.
Having started the week as a good bet for a top-four finish and with renewed optimism after the transfer window, you now have to wonder if Spurs have the quality to guarantee any European football next season.
Conte is not beyond question, and his determination to persist with his preferred 3-4-3 system, which does not suit the squad nor get the best from Harry Kane and Heung-min Son, increasingly feels like a blind spot.
But if Conte can’t fix this squad, then who can? Spurs, as Conte has said, have a world class manager overseeing a middling squad, and while Lloris’ mistakes were uncharacteristic, they were let down by players who have consistently underwhelmed under different coaches.
The result added further weight to Conte’s claims that Spurs face a long and bumpy road to get back to the top and will struggle to get three points in any League game this season.
In the immediate term, though, the manager needs to find some answers to his side’s problems across the pitch.
The return of centre-half Eric Dier should help, as would a switch to a front two, which should create more space for Kane and Son, who both squandered openings here.
But if they lose at the Etihad Stadium, it will be four League losses on the bounce and six in ten matches this year – worrying form for any Spurs manager.
Sessegnon’s grim luck continues
Ryan Sessegnon was the fall guy as Conte ripped up his system within half-an-hour following his side’s appalling start.
The left wing-back was replaced by Dejan Kulusevski, with Spurs switching to a 4-2-3-1 system and the Swede supporting Kane.
Sessegnon had been no worse than the majority of his teammates – and better than some – and the decision appeared purely tactical, rather than a reaction to his performance. The 21-year-old went off the pitch on the far touchline and was applauded by the home fans as he trudged around the pitch dejected, before being met with a hug by Conte.
The moment was still the latest in a series of low points for Sessegnon, who has had already had several false starts under Conte.
On the eve of the game against NS Mura in November, the youngster spoke optimistically about how the Italian’s appointment could kickstart his entire career. He was sent off after just 30 minutes.
Sessegnon then impressed in the draw with Liverpool in December but tweaked his troublesome hamstring in the game, ruling him out for the next seven matches.
He finally returned to the Premier League XI today but his afternoon was short-lived. He just can’t catch a break at Spurs.
