For once, when Redknapp talked about being down to the bare bones he was only mildly exaggerating. The whole of the first choice midfield was out except Aaron Lennon who started on the bench. Having played 20 minutes for Brazil against France midweek Sandro partnered Jermaine Jenaas, with Steven Pienaar and last week’s goal hero Niko Kranjcar out wide. Roman Paylyuchenko and Jermain Defoe played together up front, with neither looking particularly dangerous.
William Gallas was on the sidelines changing his boots (for the second or third time) when Sunderland got the opening goal 11 minutes in. Keiran Richardson, inexplicably linked to Spurs last week, whipped a cross in for Asomoah Gyan. He took a touch, turned and buried it in the bottom corner. The commentators seemed to think Gallas had wandered off not interested in the game, on the touchline changing boots like a Super Sweet 16 trying on different outfits, but he clearly had a problem and someone should have filled in in his absence.
It was not an entertaining match, typified by Spurs’ equaliser. Michael Dawson wandered away from his marker, Titus Bramble (now captaining a team in the Europa League spots would you believe), and headed Pienaar’s corner towards goal. Gallas got in front of Craig Gordon, let the ball run through his legs and subsequently Gordon’s.
Sunderland started the second half the better side, but didn’t give Heurelho Gomes much of a test. Spurs also played some decent football and just before the hour, Sandro, who had a very good second half, broke away down the right putting in a cross which John Mensah headed away. Kranjcar arrived to hit a right-footed volley into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
With 10 minutes to go Richardson hit the bar with a deflected punt, but ultimately all three points went to Spurs. Steve Bruce is always incredulous when his team don’t get any points, but the fact is they weren’t’ clinical enough and were punished. One of the stats of the season is how many points Tottenham have recovered from losing positions. It currently stands at a staggeringly impressive 19.
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