Conor Coady ‘sends direct message’ to Gareth Southgate despite Wolves losing to Tottenham as Ryan Mason labels MOTM award ‘strange decision’

Tottenham moved back into the top-six as they beat Wolves 2-0 at home on Sunday.

Goals from Harry Kane and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg were enough to take all three points, but it could and should have been more.

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Harry Kane netted his 22nd Premier League goal of the season

The win was an important one for Ryan Mason’s side as it lifted them above West Ham, and out of the dreaded Europa Conference League places.

But it was the performance of Conor Coady that caught the eye. The defender made an astonishing ten clearances in the first half.

“This is a direct message to Gareth Southgate, this. Like you wouldn’t believe, from Conor Coady,” said Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville.

It was a performance that could prove decisive with England places up for grabs.

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Conor Coady impressed against Tottenham as they lost 2-0

For the first hour of the game, it was all Tottenham with the visitors under pressure.

Kane eventually broke the deadlock just before half-time.

The England striker had earlier hit the post before scoring his 22nd league goal of the season as he beat the offside trap from Hojbjerg’s cross and produced a clinical finish, with the goal upheld after a VAR check.

It was his 22nd Premier League goal of the season, initially going one ahead of Mohamed Salah before the Egypt forward scored in the later kick-off.

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Kane opened the scoring just before half-time in a well-deserved goal

It should have been more for Spurs, though, were it not for Coady’s ten clearances in the first half. All in front of England boss Gareth Southgate who was watching on from the stands at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The momentum continued in the second half with Spurs hitting the post twice in the same phase of play.

Kane’s effort was tipped onto the post by Rui Patricio before Dele Alli crashed his shot onto the woodwork from the rebound.

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Hojbjerg sealed the win for Tottenham with his second half goal

Spurs then deservedly doubled their lead just after the hour mark.

Sergio Reguilon won the ball back high up the pitch, Heung-min Son fed Gareth Bale, whose shot was parried by Rui Patricio only for Hojbjerg to fire home the rebound.

Despite Spurs claiming the 2-0 victory, it was Coady who was named as Neville’s man-of-the-match.

The decision to give the Wolves centre-back the award was met with bemusement by Spurs interim boss Ryan Mason.

After the match, he said: “Dele for me was man of the match, it’s strange a central defender gets it when his team conceded two and probably conceded double figure shots on targets.

“I’m not the one making those decisions, we all know how good Dele was and all know how good our players were.

“We were the better team and had the better individuals today.”