Spurs 2 - 1 SunderlandJan Vertonghen 3
Christian Eriksen 88
Sebastian Larsson 31
Jermain Defoe’s return to his old stomping ground failed to inspire lift-off for Sunderland, who remain deep in danger after Cristian Eriksen struck a winning goal for Tottenham two minutes from time. That sealed a valuable victory for Tottenham, who had opened the scoring in the third minute thanks to Jan Vertonghen’s deflected shot before Sebastian Larsson equalised in the first-half for the visitors with a wonderful freekick.
Defoe was acclaimed by both sets of fans when his name was announced before kick-off, and his manager watched on with renewed optimism. Believing that he had finally been given the high-calibre striker that he craved, Gus Poyet had heralded this match as the dawn of a new era for his team.
Defoe is a treasured part of Tottenham’s past – standing fifth in their all-time scoring charts – but his job here was to show he can help secure Sunderland’s Premier League future. Poyet adapted the team’s formation in an attempt to play to Defoe’s predatory strengths, deploying a 3-5-2 system with Steven Fletcher partnering the new striker while Billy Jones and Patrick Van Aanholt served as wingbacks. But even the finest plans will founder if undermined by rudimentary mistakes and Sunderland were complicit in their own undoing in the third minute.
Santiago Vergini, one of the visitors’ three centrebacks, struck an attempted clearance straight to Jan Vertonghen at the edge of the area. The Belgian’s shot looked harmless until it deflected off John O’Shea and into the net.
Sunderland tried to reply immediately and their fans appealed for a penalty when Defoe went down under a challenge from Vertonghen, but referee Chris Foy was unmoved. That was about as dangerous as the visitors got in the first half hour, during which their play was haphazard – perhaps owing to unfamiliarity with the new formation – and they struggled to feed Defoe. When they did send the ball in his direction, he tended to be caught offside.
Spurs, without sparkling, created chances to increase their lead. Cristian Eriksen shot weakly at Costel Pantilimon after good work down the left by Danny Rose and then, in the 24th minute, a long ball at the back found its way through to Roberto Soldado, who was played onside by the dawdling Vergini. The Spaniard, who at one stage was seen as an ideal replacement for Defoe at White Hart Lane, tried to flick the ball around the goalkeeper but Pantilimon foiled him well. Two minutes later Pantilimon was in action again, hurling himself across his goal to turn away an excellent 25-yard drive from Eriksen.
Fortune then turned in Sunderland’s favour and perhaps it bodes well that Defoe was involved. Having benefitted from a questionable offside decision the striker was awarded a contested freekick after a challenge by Vertonghen. There was no debate about Larsson’s execution, however, as the Dane curled a superb shot over the wall and into the net from 23 yards.
Harry Kane, the most promising of Tottenham’s post-Defoe strikers, was peripheral to proceedings until just before half-time, when his long-range shot rebounded off the base of the post. Pantilimon saved Rose’s follow-up. Kane went close again just after the break, forcing another stop from Pantilimon after a sweeping Spurs move. Most of the play was in the Sunderland half but Spurs were lacking sharpness so Mauricio Pochettino resorted to replacing Soldado with Emmanuel Adebayor.
The Togolese had not featured for the club since November and his entrance was greeted with boos from a smattering of home fans, who doubtless would welcome a January bid for him from elsewhere.
It was becoming increasingly clear, meanwhile, that Sunderland would be satisfied with a point from this fixture. Eriksen remained the brains in the Tottenham team. A cross from him in the 66th minute found its way to Nacer Chadli after another ricochet off O’Shea but this time the shot was blocked by Pantilimon, who by now was being loudly serenaded by the travelling fans.
Defoe had a proud record of scoring on his debuts for all five of his previous professional clubs but his attempt to do so for Sunderland ended in the 74th minute when he was replaced by Danny Graham. The substitute could have overshadowed the new signing when, in the 81st minute, Lloris could only parry a long-range shot from Adam Johnson. Graham failed to beat the goalkeeper with the rebound from 10 yards.
Sunderland became emboldened after that and sought a late winning goal. They might have regretted that adventurous intent in the 88th minute, when they fell victim to a rapid counter-attack. Andros Townsend led it, marauding 60 yards down the left before sending a low centre towards Eriksen. The Dane’s finished was immaculate, his low shot leaving Pantilimon motionless as it whizzed into the net via a post. Lloris preserved that lead by making a brilliant reflex save from Graham in stoppage time. Vertonghen looked like he had scored a third goal for Spurs in the dying seconds as Pantilimon was caught upfield as Sunderland desperately sought another equaliser, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
Guardian
