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1 month ago
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Boos are becoming an increasingly frequent fixture at the end of Tottenham games. After travelling supporters had voiced their anger at the goalless draw at Brentford on Thursday, it was the home fans’ turn to vent their frustrations after a result against Sunderland that could easily have been worse.
After a promising first-half display and Ben Davies’ opener, this draw will be even more disappointing for Thomas Frank having seen how his team were outplayed after the break by a Sunderland team still heavily depleted by players away on international duty. Brian Brobbey’s 80th-minute equaliser came at a time when the visitors were considerably the better side and perhaps looked like taking all three points.
This was the first game for Spurs since Brennan Johnson was sold to Crystal Palace for £35m. The irony would not have been lost on Frank when Mohammed Kudus, who had taken Johnson’s place in the team since arriving last summer, was forced off with a muscle injury before the 20th minute.
Up until then Spurs had looked bright. The Sunderland goalkeeper, Robin Roefs, was called into action to keep out shots from Mathys Tel and Richarlison, while Nordi Mukiele had to intervene at the last minute to stop the Brazilian connecting with a Pedro Porro cross. Tel also went close to opening the scoring when his bending shot went just wide of the far post.
Sunderland accepted their role as frustraters and Granit Xhaka relished his casting as the pantomime villain. The former Arsenal captain could only see the funny side when he slipped on his way to taking a first-half corner, much to the enjoyment of the home crowd.
Spurs found the breakthrough at a corner of their own. Wilson Odobert’s delivery was taken down by Cristian Romero at the back post and, with Sunderland standing stock still, he had time to lift his head and cut the ball back to his defensive partner, Micky van de Ven, whose shot was prodded in by Davies. It was the Welshman’s first club goal in over two years.
Spurs were sharper and more assertive than Sunderland. With six players still away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Régis Le Bris stuck with the same lineup that started Thursday’s goalless draw against Manchester City and, perhaps understandably, his side looked leggy. Frank’s team continued to create chances before half-time, with Odobert slicing a presentable half-volley over and Richarlison not properly connecting with an acrobatic effort.
Sunderland came out re-energised after the break and Spurs looked nervy under the first bit of pressure. Romero scuffed a back pass well short and Brobbey played a one-two with Eliezer Mayenda before hitting the side-netting with a powerful strike that took a nick on the way.
The visitors’ new sense of adventure, only enhanced when Le Bris threw on the winger Romaine Mundle for his fellow Spurs academy graduate, the left-back Dennis Cirkin, but that left them vulnerable. When Spurs found themselves three-on-two on a breakaway, Richarlison’s wasteful pass was cut out before it reached Randal Kolo Muani or Archie Gray in the middle.
More tactical and personnel changes from Le Bris allowed Sunderland to become a consistent presence in the Tottenham half. Enzo Le Fée, who started in a deeper role alongside Xhaka in midfield, was finding pockets of space in a more advanced position. Spurs lacked conviction on the break – a loose touch from Kolo Muani from Porro’s pass had members of the technical staff up in arms – and continued to rely on set pieces, including Davies’s long throws.
Le Fée grew in influence, hitting the foot of a post with a header from Mukiele’s cross with 10 minutes to go. Moments later, he created the equaliser. The Sunderland move was slick, Le Fée and Brobbey combining with first-time passes on the edge of the box before the latter rifled his shot past Guglielmo Vicario into the far corner. After João Palhinha headed wide, it was the away end that was in full voice before full time, when the boos rained down on Frank.
