With half the Premier League season already gone, an odd quirk of the fixture calendar meant Tottenham Hotspur lined up against promoted Sunderland for the first time this campaign. A surprise outfit this season,
the Black Cats had already stunned many a top side this season, and despite a strong opening 45 minutes, Spurs were to be no exception.
Thomas Frank sprung a couple of surprises of his own with his starting lineup. Ben Davies made his first start since May last year, while Mathys Tel received a rare opportunity on the left, making for an attacking front four of Richarlison, Tel, Mohammed Kudus, and Wilson Odobert at the #10. Sunderland went unchanged from their impressive goalless draw against Manchester City in midweek.
Spurs began the match in a sparkling, energetic fashion, pressing well and showing good willingness to get the ball forward, in stark contrast to the last couple of fixtures. This positive start was dampened somewhat, however, as Kudus was forced from the pitch with an apparent injury, Randal Kolo Muani taking up a role on the right in Kudus’ stead.
Though Spurs were much improved in getting the ball forward, the lack of a true creative presence around the box was telling at times, with a final ball often missing from some impressive build-up play. Spurs pushed forward though, and while Tel saw a curled effort sail just wide and Richarlison had a corner nicked off his head, it was a set piece that broke the deadlock. Cristian Romero seemed to have acres of space as he took down the ball at the far post from a Tel corner, controlling before cutting a pass back towards the penalty spot. Micky van de Ven tried to sweep a first-time shot home, with Ben Davies smartly turning the ball into the net to put Spurs into the lead.
As sharp as they were in the first half, Spurs were sloppy in the second. With the press dropping off, Sunderland found themselves in possession in advanced areas of the pitch more and more, with that possession beginning to lend itself to chances. Ben Davies went from provider to savior, clearing a ball that was about to fall to Brian Brobbey for a tap-in, before Sunderland hit the upright twice, through Brobbey and Enzo Le Fee. Spurs did have a chance to double their lead as Richarlison broke in behind, but the chance was spurned as the Brazilian took the wrong option at the wrong time, waiting too long to square the ball before opting against the shot when it was probably the best course of action and losing possession.
Things started to get chippy as well. Ex-Spurs youth product Romaine Mundle let fly an elbow on Wilson Odobert that could have seen a red, while some clashes between Lutsharel Geertruida and Rodrigo Bentancur, and Brobbey and Pedro Porro threatened to boil over. Frank opted to make defensive substitutions to try and secure the lead, while Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris brought on attacking reinforcements, and it was the latter that paid dividends.
An excellent one-two between Brobbey and Le Fee cut the Spurs defense to shreds and set the Dutchman through on goal. He made no mistake, rocketing a shot past Guglielmo Vicario in goal and evening the scoreline. With the home crowd stunned, Spurs labored to find a late winner, but were unable to make a breakthrough as the 1-1 scoreline meant two points dropped.
Reactions
- Talk about a game of two halves. That first 45 minutes was probably the best I’ve seen Spurs play in some time; unfortunately, the team reverted to type in the second period.
- Ben Davies coming into the XI worked fantastically well, for two reasons: one, it meant better buildup solely due to having a left-footer on the left; and two, it allowed for a lopsided formation that afforded more freedom to Pedro Porro in possession, which in turn resulted in one of the best performances from the Spaniard for some time.
- Did Vicario handle the ball outside his box in the first half? It looked mighty close, and bizarrely there didn’t seem to be any replays of the incident.
- Wow, Mundle didn’t seem to have any love for his former club. He really went in with that elbow. On another day that sees red, but the fact that wasn’t given on the pitch means VAR was unlikely to intervene.
- The press was so, so good in the first half. Where did it go in the second? Was that tactical instruction, tiredness, or lack of focus? Maybe all three.
- Look, I get the idea of bringing Joao Palhinha on to protect a one goal lead. But bringing him on for Archie Gray instead of Bentancur only meant Spurs were going to completely concede possession and drop even deeper – something that played right into Sunderland’s… feet? It also meant Spurs were completely unable to generate any attack after conceding.
- Selling one of your right wingers and then immediately losing the other to injury? Cool, cool, coolcoolcool.
- Not long to wait for the next match, as Spurs soon head to Bournemouth in midweek.
- COYS!
