Former referee gives his verdict on Andre controversy in Tottenham win vs. Wolves

Tottenham earned a narrow 1-0 win over Wolves.

Tottenham finally found themselves on the winning side of things in the English top tier with their win at Molineux this weekend, but yet another Spurs game comes with controversy, like many of those losses.

Tottenham win but it comes with controversy

This 1-0 win over Wolves ends Tottenham’s record-equalling 15-game run without a win, and you could sense how much it means to the fans given how loud that away stand was yesterday. But among all that, one of the post-match conversations has been centred around a controversy around two midfielders, André and Yves Bissouma. It comes down to whether Spurs were denied a numerical advantage at a crucial stage.

The incident came in the first half, where you could sense the Lilywhites’ nerves as it ended up being a scrappy first forty-five with a sense going around the fans (and it looked like in how Tottenham played as well) that something else could go wrong at any moment.

And then Wolves midfielder André puts on a challenge on Bissouma, which has a similar nervy feel. It was late enough to spark concern and then also heavy enough to draw a reaction from Tottenham players around Biss.

Referee Anthony Taylor pulled out a yellow card for that challenge, but nothing more. And for many of the Lilywhites fans in the stands, it looked borderline red (especially with the already piling injury list that Tottenham have at Hotspur Way).

Mike Dean speaks on Andre controversy

But former referee Mike Dean saw it differently. While speaking during live coverage, he insisted that the on-field decision by Anthony Taylor was correct. He pointed out that it is more about the nature of the contact. As per Dean, Andre came in with the challenge, which stayed low and along the ground. It was just enough to keep it beneath what could have drawn a red.

Speaking live on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday via Tottenham News, he said the following:

“He [Andre] has caught him [Bissouma] low. I think Rob Edwards was thinking the worst.”

“But he’s low, and he’s gone along the ground, so it’s probably just about the right decision.”

Tottenham are having a season compounded by injuries, and that is what would draw those ‘asking for a red’ reactions from the Lilywhites players as well. But for all the controversy, Tottenham did something they have not managed in months as they found a way to win and finally get those three points, and that is what matters.

Now the North Londoners visit Unai Emery’s Aston Villa next week in what would be another must-win game for Spurs.