Tottenham Hotspur are at risk of setting two unwanted firsts when they pit their wits against Wolverhampton Wanderers in Sunday's Premier League contest.
Ange Postecoglou's injury-hit side are not ending 2024 as they mean to begin 2025, having suffered four losses in their last five top-flight matches after Boxing Day's 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.
The off-colour Lilywhites are at risk of entering the New Year in the bottom half of the Premier League standings as they lie in 12th place, a staggering 11 points behind Forest in the final Champions League position.
Spurs' efforts over the festive period have not been helped by a defensive injury crisis, as Ben Davies, Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are all sidelined, while Radu Dragusin came off with an ankle injury at the City Ground.
Should Dragusin not be passed fit to take on Vitor Pereira's side, 19-year-old Alfie Dorrington and 18-year-old Archie Gray could act as Spurs' central pairing this weekend, or Yves Bissouma could start as an emergency defender.
Spurs at risk of unwanted home record in Wolves clash
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Tottenham's decimated defence can be blamed for their recent lack of rearguard discipline on home soil, where they conceded four goals to London rivals Chelsea and six to Liverpool earlier this month.
If Spurs ship another quartet of goals to Wolves on Sunday, it will mark the first time in the club's history that they have conceded four or more goals in three consecutive league matches on home soil.
The Lilywhites have been found wanting at the back at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ever since late October, conceding at least once in their last eight home matches since a 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League.
Postecoglou's team also let in three against Manchester United in the EFL Cup quarter-finals, thanks in no small part to Fraser Forster howlers, although they still prevailed in that seven-goal thriller to keep their silverware hopes alive.
Spurs have sometimes negated their defensive concerns at the other end of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium pitch, scoring in 12 straight home games in all competitions, but only one of their last six has ended in victory.
Tottenham could match 69-year losing streak on Sunday
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In addition to losing at home to Liverpool and Chelsea this month, Spurs have been beaten by Bournemouth and Forest on the road, suffering more Premier League defeats than any other team in December.
Another reverse on Sunday would see Tottenham lose five league matches in one month for the first time in the Premier League era, having not suffered that fate since a quintet of losses in October 1955.
The head-to-head history books do not make for pleasant reading for the Tottenham faithful either, as Wolves have beaten Spurs in four of their most recent five scraps, including each of their last three Premier League contests.
If Pereira can mastermind a fourth straight win for the club over Tottenham this weekend, the 56-year-old would set a more desirable record, becoming the first Wolves boss to win each of his first three top-flight games at the helm.
Furthermore, the only time Tottenham have lost their last league game of a calendar year in the last 15 years was at home to Wolves in 2018, when Willy Boly, Raul Jimenez and Helder Costa wiped out a Harry Kane opener.
Ben Knapton
