The first leg of Sky’s Super Sunday saw Sunderland welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the Stadium of Light. An air of positivity circulated around the stadium with renewed hopes in the club’s fortunes following a positive end to the transfer window.
This transcended to the pitch as the home side started much the brighter. Positive link up play between Jeremain Lens and Fabio Borini at times showed why Advocaat prefers these men in the wide areas with the ability to cut inside.
Sunderland asserted themselves on the game from the off, pressurizing Tottenham’s backline that lead to numerous shaky clearances from the Spurs defence. It was clear the away side were here for the taking although Sunderland were yet to show any real sign of capitalizing.
Then came arguably the home side’s best chance of the game just before the half hour mark when an excellent through ball from Jeremain Lens played in Jermain Defoe. The former Spurs man was through one on one with Lloris only for his scuffed shot to strike off the far post. This was the pattern of the game up to the half time whistle with Toivonen also providing a different dimension to the game by using his aerial threat as an outlet to get the longer balls down to Defoe and the wingers.
It wasn’t complete dominance from the home side, England international Harry Kane was lively throughout the opening 45 whilst if it wasn’t for a strong block from Jordi Gomez, Son Heung Sin looked set to make it 1-0 to the away side shortly before the half-time whistle.
Although, the home side did continue to show a lot of promise after half time with the decision to play Defoe down the middle proving successful after his many well-timed runs allowed him to have as many shots on goal in the first 45 as he has had all season.
Kaboul was looking to have his strongest game in a Sunderland shirt, asserting his power and dominance over Kane to great effect. Although, in the premier league if you don’t take your chances you get punished. This showed signs of being the case with the introduction of Andros Townsend for Spurs. He tormented Van Aanholt down the left side; this gave the away side an outlet to get at Sunderland and get the ball into the box.
The lack of match fitness in some players began to show around the 70th-minute mark, leading to a double substitution with Watmore and Cattermole replacing Borini and Gomez. The Italian left to rapturous applause following his second debut for the club. The substitutions created a stop-start rhythm to the game with Spurs still looking like they had recovered quicker from the recent international break quicker than the home side.
Prior to Sunderland’s final change of Toivonen for Rodwell, Spurs came close twice through an Eric Dier and Ryan Mason. It was the latter who made the home side pay after the quick, successive substitutions from Sunderland proved to be their downfall. Neither Rodwell or Cattermole managed to pick up on the clear run from Mason and his one-two with Lamela enabled him to smartly loft the ball over onrushing Pantilimon to the despair of the majority of the 40,000 plus.
This created an all too familiar flat atmosphere within the ground. Sunderland did show signs of getting back into the game with Jack Rodwell hitting the bar five minutes from time. But Mason’s goal knocked them back and Spurs’ superior fitness appeared to be the difference in this tight affair.
From a Sunderland perspective, there’s a lot of promise to be taken from the game but once again they are left empty handed. Next stop, the South Coast.
