Spurs shuffle: Adebayor (left) rounds goalkeeper Wayne
Hennessey to score
Debut goal: Adebayor was on target
Emmanuel Adebayor scored on his debut to
help earn Tottenham their first Barclays Premier League win of the
campaign against Wolves at Molineux.
The on-loan Manchester City player broke the
deadlock midway through the second half after collecting a pass
from another Tottenham newcomer in Scott Parker.
After an even opening 45 minutes, Tottenham were
the better side in the second period and Jermain Defoe doubled
their lead.
Spurs fans may take time to warm to Adebayor
after his spell at Arsenal but more of these decisive sort of
contributions will surely win them over.
A clean sheet would also have delighted Tottenham
boss Harry Redknapp after conceding eight goals in the opening two
games, and there was an assured display from the recalled Ledley
King at centre-back.
Parker set up an early chance for Defoe after
dispossessing Karl Henry 30 yards from the Wolves goal but the
England striker's shot was deflected wide. Spurs were initially the
more threatening and twice came close to taking the lead within a
few seconds.
First Wayne Hennessey did well to deny Adebayor
at close range and the follow-up effort from Niko Kranjcar was
cleared off the line by Roger Johnson.
Wolves hit back and Brad Friedel had to be alert
to beat out a powerful drive from former Spurs player Jamie O'Hara
after Richard Stearman had caught Kranjcar in
possession.
The Spurs goalkeeper then excelled in turning a
low curling shot from Henry around the post at full stretch after a
powerful run by the midfielder.
Wolves were now asking questions and Friedel held
onto a Michael Kightly header from Kevin Doyle's cross.
Play was flowing from end to end and King's
header bounced down and over the bar from a Kranjcar
corner.
Adebayor had his first shot on goal after half an
hour but he did not extend Hennessey. Spurs defender Kyle Walker
became the first player to be booked for bringing down Kevin
Doyle.
Defoe was looking sharp for the visitors and had
a shot turned around the post by Hennessey.
Gareth Bale dragged a shot into the side-netting
in time added on. Henry was being caught in possession too often
and another lapse let in Adebayor, but Hennessey was alert and able
to hack the ball clear from the on-loan player.
O'Hara tried his luck with a volley from just
outside the box but it was easily dealt with by Friedel. Adebayor
managed to get in a shot despite the attention of three defenders
but it was deflected over the bar. But he was not to be denied and
put Spurs ahead after 67 minutes.
Parker supplied the vital pass and Adebayor took
the ball around Hennessey before netting from close
range.
Wolves try to retaliate and Parker was booked for
bringing down Kightly in a promising position. Kightly and Stephen
Hunt were replaced by Adam Hammill and Matthew Jarvis in a double
change by Mick McCarthy.
Hammill was immediately yellow-carded for
bringing down Parker before Spurs doubled their lead. Defoe played
a one-two with Kranjcar before drilling a low shot past
Hennessey.
Johnson showed his frustration by being booked
shortly afterwards for chopping down Defoe.