Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Roberto de Zerbi earned his first win as Tottenham manager with victory at Wolves
Football reporterPublished1 minute agoCommentsIt has taken 118 days but Tottenham finally have a win and hope to cling to.
Joao Palhinha's late goal at Wolves gave Tottenham their first Premier League victory since December and stopped them slipping into deeper despair.
The drama 151 miles away at London Stadium did not go unnoticed at Molineux as West Ham's late winner against Everton kept Spurs in the bottom three.
Tottenham had briefly climbed out - following Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's equaliser for the Toffees - before Callum Wilson's stoppage-time strike for West Ham kept the Hammers above the drop line.
Two points from safety with four games to go, Tottenham remain 18th and are fighting to keep the spot in the top flight they have held for nearly half a century.
Tottenham had not won in the Premier League since a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace on 28 December, and De Zerbi had underlined the importance of their trip to Molineux.
"I don't want to put pressure but we have to know the situation," he said in the week. "We can't forget the table; we can't forget we need to win.
"What we have done until now is not enough. If we win at Wolves, it's not finished."
It is certainly not finished, but with games running out there was little urgency from Spurs in the first half in Wolverhampton.
Safe passing with little creativity showed their nerves, and eight defeats in 11 in all competitions explained a lack of confidence.
It was something De Zerbi picked up on and he wants to see the victory affect his players' mentality.
"I hope this result can change something in our head," he said. "For the other results, it's already very tough to win a game for us. If we put our heads in the other teams it will be too tough for me.
"The players know what they can do on the pitch, especially this season. We didn't win a game in 2026 but in the Champions League [league phase] they finished fourth.
"They have to be positive and they have to feel full of confidence because they are good and [should not look at] the other results."
It was De Zerbi's first win in his third game as Tottenham boss, having lost to Sunderland and drawn with his former club Brighton.
Tottenham will go to fifth-placed Aston Villa on Sunday, 3 May with De Zerbi confident survival can be achieved.
"I believe we can stay up. If I am here it's because I am positive. The most important thing is the quality of the players and human level of the players," De Zerbi said.
"It was a surprise for me because I didn't know them. When I knew the players better I understood we have the chance to stay up.
"When you watch the game from the TV or the stands you can't understand if they have the right spirit or attitude. I work with them every day and all the players are professional, good guys. They are suffering from the situation.