Two minutes: that’s how long it took for Tottenham Hotspur to ease a first few lingering nerves that a decimated defence might make them a less-effective team, following that wild and wacky defeat to Chelsea last time out. It wasn’t the end of them by any means, but it gave Spurs both an early lift and something to fight for. And 88 minutes: that’s how long Ange Postecoglou had to observe and realise that – despite his makeshift team’s obvious effort, desire and willingness to go above and beyond – there just wasn’t the cohesion and balance needed to keep out the best attacks in the Premier League. And that was before Wolverhampton Wanderers’ late turnaround. Brennan Johnson it was who scored early, tapping in after a typically fast-flowing move down the right flank but Spurs rarely threatened thereafter and it was a very different type of performance for the majority of the rest of the game. Even so, they still led until just when the injury time board was being raised; a magnificent first touch and volley from Pablo Sarabia later, matters were levelled. And with the latest of late sucker-punches, Mario Lemina slid in to send the home fans delirious, six minutes past the 90, for Wolves 2-1 Tottenham. In between, a whole lot happened to give Postecoglou both reason for optimism and pause for thought. While the back line was very much a restructured one, the attack was merely the same, but different: James Maddison’s injury meant his scheming and invention was replaced by Pape Sarr moving slightly higher up, a ferocious runner into the channels and still a hard-working operative in deeper areas. But without Maddison as that connection, and perhaps without the left-wing thrust from deep of full-back Destiny Udogie, Spurs found it a lot more difficult to break out of their defensive shape, a lot more difficult to maintain possession high upfield. Their intermittent threat, when it came, was of the counter-attacking variety, mainly through Dejan Kulusevski’s ball-carrying, and rarely with the weight of numbers to make a telling final difference. At the other end of the pitch was where the real tale was told, where Postecoglou’s real lessons to take from the match were. Eric Dier was making his first league start of the season, recalled at centre-back, alongside Ben Davies – just a second start for him. Both played well, is the starting point of any assessment. But the issue is that they played well individually: recovery challenges, last-ditch clearances, a couple of vital interceptions of low crosses and cut-backs. There was not, as would perhaps be expected given their minimal gametime this term, any semblance of cohesion, of understanding, of partnership. That has been the big plus at the back this term for Spurs, the rapid way in which Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have filled in for each other, complemented each other’s skillsets and coped with attacks between them. Here instead – and add in a switched-to-left-back Emerson Royal under the same headings – it was all about each defender desperately trying to be that last man, get that last touch, make that last block to protect the fragile lead. There shouldn’t be any blame headed to Dier or Davies for that, as both reasonably did as much as they could, but Spurs’ lack of cohesion saw them exposed and exploited time after time by a very progressive – and very wasteful – Wolves attack. The hosts averaged fewer than 12 shots per game in the Premier League this season; they had surpassed that tally well before the hour mark here. But a combination of wayward strikes, those aforementioned blocks and frankly odd decision-making meant Guglielmo Vicario was nowhere near as tested as he might have been. In the end, it took shots number 16 and 17 to beat the Italian, and to beat Spurs. But as harsh as that late turnaround in scoreline might feel at the final whistle, the truth is a more ruthless and prolific team, one who averages more than Wolves’ 1.3 goals per game this season perhaps, would have had the points sewn up far earlier. Postecoglou can take solace in the heart and effort, and the fact that a third of Romero’s ban is over, plus the entirety of Udogie’s. But had Spurs held out, the truth of the game wouldn’t have been any different to the boss, they’d just have more points at the end of it. Van de Ven in defence and Maddison in attack have been core components of both recovery and intricacy in Spurs’ play this season, and neither have obvious replacements. Work lies ahead over the international break to ensure Tottenham’s early season promise doesn’t fade away entirely in the aftermath of that damaging defeat to Chelsea. Read More Wolves vs Spurs LIVE: Latest Premier League updates Football fan convicted of racially abusing Rio Ferdinand Wolves vs Newcastle United LIVE: Latest Premier League updates Malmo v Elfsborg is the Swedish title decider you (probably) haven’t heard about Chelsea’s downward spiral offers stark warning to Man City Chelsea will be fighting for titles sooner rather than later, says Pep Guardiola

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A rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk would reportedly not be for the status of undisputed heavyweight champion, due to a key ruling by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) this week. It was announced last week that WBC champion Fury and Usyk, who holds the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts, will box each other in Saudi Arabia – likely before the end of March. ESPN reported this week that the contract for the fight, which is set to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion in over 20 years, includes a two-way rematch clause. Therefore, the loser, whoever that may be, can ensure a second bout against the winner without having to fight a different opponent first. However, the IBF has ruled that the winner of Fury vs Usyk must box mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic before any rematch takes place, per ESPN. Otherwise, the winner of Fury vs Usyk will be stripped of the IBF belt, and their rematch will only be for the remaining belts. Croatian Hrgovic, who holds an unbeaten record, told ESPN: “The IBF wrote that if I won my last fight and if Usyk beat [Daniel] Dubois, the IBF would enforce my mandatory status to fight Usyk for the title. “The IBF has now allowed Tyson Fury and Usyk to do a unification first. The winner of that fight is mandated to fight me immediately after, with no other intervening fight, so I expect to fight for the heavyweight championship early next year. “I’m disappointed at the delay, but I will stay ready, and I won’t let it distract me from my goal of winning the title. Whether against Usyk or Fury, my time is coming.” Ukrainian Usyk, 36, retained his titles with a stoppage win over Dubois in August, after climbing off the canvas following a controversial low blow, which many viewers believed was a legal body shot by Dubois. Dubois’s promoter Frank Warren, who also promotes Fury, lobbied for a rematch but to no avail so far. Meanwhile, Briton Fury has not fought since December, when he retained the WBC title against Derek Chisora, whom he had already beaten twice before. Fury, 35, is set to fight former UFC champion Francis Ngannou next, facing the mixed martial artist in a boxing match in Saudi Arabia on 28 October. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Tyson Fury contacts cruiserweight champion for help before Oleksandr Usyk showdown Tommy Fury explains why he has ‘never been fan’ of KSI ahead of crunch boxing match Let’s get ready to rumble! Inside the ropes with boxing’s ring announcers

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