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Full League Record against Sunderland

Premier       Pl   W   D   L    For-Ag  Pts
Home           8   7   0   1    19 - 8  21
Away           7   3   1   3    11 - 9  10
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Total(Prem)   15  10   1   4    30 -17  31
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Football Lge
Home (Div 1)  37  14  12  11    57 -45  42
Away (Div 1)  37   8  11  18    31 -60  29
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Total(Div 1)  74  22  23  31    88-105  71
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Football Lge
Home (Div 2)   1   0   0   1     2 - 3   0
Away (Div 2)   1   1   0   0     2 - 1   2
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Total(Div 2)   2   1   0   1     4 - 4   2
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Total(Prem)   15  10   1   4    30 -17  31
Total(Div 1)  74  22  23  31    88 -105 71
Total(Div 2)   2   1   0   1     4 - 4   2
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Grand Total   91  33  24  36   122-126 104
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Last Six Premiership results:-

Sunderland

A. Villa   2-1   S'derland 
S'derland  1-0   Fulham
Newcastle  1-1   S'derland 
S'derland  2-0   Stoke
Arsenal    0-0   S'derland 
Liverpool  2-0   S'derland  


Spurs

Spurs      1-1   P'tsmouth
Spurs      3-1   Stoke
Bolton     3-2   Spurs
Spurs      0-0   Arsenal
Hull       1-2   Spurs
Spurs      4-0   M'brough

Pos           P  W  D  L   F-A   GD  Pts
13 Spurs     27  8  7 12  32-32   0  31
14 S'derland 27  8  7 12  27-35  -8  31

I have always wondered what is the truth about this superstition? It seems that in fact they can be lucky or unlucky. If one crosses your path it is supposed to be lucky, and to own a black cat is said to be lucky. Whilst it is said to be unlucky to turn away a black cat from your house and to meet one that turns away from you, on balance they seem to bear good fortune, which must be why Sunderland adopted the nickname "Black Cats". The name was only adopted after the move from Roker Park to The Stadium of Light in 1997. Apparently for years a black cat resided at the old Roker Park stadium, where it was nurtured by the club.

Certainly a game against "The Black Cats" has recently twice been bad fortune for Spurs, and only too memorable for the club's fans. It was on the opening day of last season, when a Spurs team including Pascal Chimbonda, Teemu Tainio and Steed Malbranque lost to a last minute goal by Michael Chopra, currently back at Cardiff after returning to Sunderland for a few games this season.

Then, a year later in our first home game this season, Sunderland gained their first ever Premier League win at The Lane with goals by Richardson and Cisse to out-number Spurs' one goal scored by Jenas. Malbranque was the only transferred Spurs player to feature against us, as Tainio got an early season knock, and Chimbonda had his first (known) upset with Roy Keane. The only respite was Spurs 2-0 home win last January when Aaron Lennon and Robbie Keane scored our goals. Keane's goal was his 100th for Spurs. Robbie will be booed by Sunderland's fans for turning them down before he first signed for us, but wouldn't it be great if two of Wednesday night's scorers repeated the trick tomorrow?

Sunderland will be seeking their first league "double" over Spurs since the 1969-70 game. It was in the home game on September 27th 1969 that Steve Perryman made his debut.

Sunderland went through a bad spell between October and December, with only one league win in 7 games, which led to them dallying with the bottom three, but for the most part of the season they have managed to keep their heads above water, so to speak, not that either of the two clubs are safe just yet.

We are level on points but separated by Spurs' superior goal difference.

Since 52 year old Ricky Sbragia took over from Roy Keane, Sunderland's form has improved dramatically, although they have yet to beat what might be currently regarded as a top team. The fans will be mightily pleased with the 4 points taken off Newcastle this term, and of course it would be their dream to see "The Toon" take the drop.

Teemu Tainio has made 12 full appearances in the league this season, and played in Sunderland's recent 0-0 at The Emirates Stadium. However, he is once again listed with a knee injury, so may not make the game tomorrow. Steed Malbranque has surely been one of Sunderland's most impressive acquisitions, and another former Spur, Andy Reid, also seems to turn in good performances for his current club. Marton Fulop has had a number of games this season, but made a mistake for one of the Liverpool goals suring the week.

No doubt Kenwyne Jones will be fired up to impress, having been publicly courted by Harry Redknapp in January. We always seem to have someone in the opposition team that can easily be extra-motivated to do well against us!

Harry Redknapp says he is hopeful that Ledley King will be fit for this game, but then that gives him the quandary of who to leave out. Maybe Jonathan Woodgate needs a rest after his Achilles problem. I would have thought that Vedran Corluka will return at right back, and that could mean that Chimbonda will start on the bench. No doubt his reception will not be too hot from the home fans either!

I don't think the team should be radically different from that which beat Middlesbrough 4-0 on Wednesday night, but one or two of those also played in the Carling Cup Final, so there may be some juggling about. Personally, I am ambivalent these days about Jermaine Jenas, and with either Palacios or Zokora beside him there may be a case for Tom Huddlestone to make a start. Mind you, that would be a luxury if both Lennon and Modric start, as Spurs do need a bit of grit for this tough away game. Ideally, I want to see Lennon and Modric in every remaining game, as they have consistently produced the goods throughout the season. Maybe Jenas stays in then!

At the end of the day, tomorrow will not be about luck. It will be about which Spurs team turns up, as usual. If it resembles that which played so well at Wembley, and then played with class on Wednesday, then a win is on the cards. However, I fancy we will struggle to come away with more than a point, but in the context of our last three league games, that would mean an objective being met regarding points acquired.

Did you know? It was in March 1997 that Steffen Iversen scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 win by Spurs at Roker Park. Allan Nielsen scored the other goal.