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· Last Season's Corresponding Game - Spurs 1 Sunderland 0
· This Season's game - Sunderland 1 Spurs 2
· This week - last year
· What happened in the Premiership in Match 38 2011-12
· See the current injury list for all Premiership Teams
· All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats
Full League Record against Sunderland
Premier Pl W D L For-Ag Pts
Home 11 9 1 1 23 - 9 28
Away 12 5 3 4 17 -15 18
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Total(Prem) 23 14 4 5 40 -24 46
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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 29 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) 23 14 4 5 40 -24 46
Total(Div 1) 74 22 23 29 88 -105 71
Total(Div 2) 2 1 0 1 4 - 4 2
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Grand Total 99 37 27 35 132-133 118
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Last Six Premier League results:-
Spurs
Spurs 2-2 Everton
Spurs 3-1 Man City
Wigan 2-2 Spurs
Spurs 1-0 S'hampton
Chelsea 2-2 Spurs
Stoke 1-2 Spurs
Sunderland
Chelsea 2-1 S'derland
Newcastle 0-3 S'derland
S'derland 1-0 Everton
A. Villa 6-1 S'derland
S'derland 1-1 Stoke
S'derland 1-1 S'hampton
Pos P W D L F-A GD Pts
5. Spurs 37 20 9 8 65-46 19 69
17. S'derland 37 9 12 16 41-53 -12 39
I've had a "Eurovision"!
I've had a "Eurovision"! Spurs will beat Sunderland at White Hart Lane tomorrow, whilst Arsenal stumble at Newcastle!
It has happened before, but fourth place was not at stake on that occasion. On Sunday May 14th 2000, Spurs beat Sunderland 3-1 at home, whilst Arsenal lost 4-2 at St. James' Park. Spurs were mid-table, and Arsenal had already secured second place, a distance behind champions Manchester United. I wrote a report in "Gladiator" style, as the Ridley Scott film had opened that week-end, and I cast David Ginola in the role of Gladiator "Maximus". (Spurs 3 Sunderland 1 - 14.05.2000)
Stephen Carr scored a magnificent goal for Spurs, and David Ginola played his last competitive game for the club, managed then by George Graham, who had often under-valued Ginola's grace, style, and attacking ability. Sunderland actually finished above us that year, with Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn leading their attack, and Peter Reid at the managerial helm. Phillips was the league's top scorer that season, with 30 goals.
Up at St. James' Park, Gary Speed (sadly no longer with us)scored two of Newcastle's goals, with Shearer and Griffin also getting on the mark.
May history repeat itself tomorrow regarding the scorelines!
We all know only too well what is at stake, and once again, Spurs have a last-game showdown with Arsenal for the decisive place in the Champions League qualifying race. Last year of course there was uncertainty when we did finish fourth (behind Arsenal), and the following week Chelsea won the Champions League. I need say nothing about "Lasagne-Gate" in May 2006, but you can read that report here if you feel the need (West Ham v Spurs May 2006).
Sunderland have reason to be grateful to Arsenal for their demolition of Wigan on Tuesday night. Wigan were thus consigned back to the Championship after 8 years, but had they won, the relegation battle would have gone into this last day, and Paolo Di Canio's men would have been very much involved, sitting in 17th place today.
Di Canio's appointment at the end of March, after Martin O'Neill's side had lost narrowly to Man Utd, was received with great negativity in various quarters, with a lot of focus upon his political comments and gestures of the past. However, with just two wins (3-0 at Newcastle, and 1-0 at home to Everton) Di Canio inspired his men just enough to secure Premier League football for another season.
Spurs could hardly wish for better opposition for this decisive game. We average two points per game against this team, which has only won once at The Lane in the Premier League. That was a Roy Keane inspired 2-1 win against Juande Ramos's Spurs in August 2008. Harry Redknapp would arrive two months later. Our points per game ratio against Sunderland is even better than that against Everton and Manchester City, who historically have been two favourite teams to play in the Premier League.
When we played up at The Stadium of Light in December, Aaron Lennon scored one of his best Spurs goals, and we never lose when Aaron scores, so let's hope he is fully fit tomorrow. (Sunderland 1 Spurs 2 - 29.12.12) The next goal Lennon scored was in the 2-1 win at home to Arsenal at the beginning of March.
Since that defeat, Arsenal have gone on a run of 9 games unbeaten, winning 7 of those games. Sadly for Spurs, they have been showing great form. We've had some great wins, such as the 3-1 over Man City, and good results such as the draw at Chelsea, but when it comes to Champions League qualification, wins are required almost every week.
Sunderland will be playing for pride, but also for north-eastern supremacy over Newcastle, who they can surpass in the League, with a win over Spurs, should Newcastle lose. Di Canio's team is sorely weakened though, with two players suspended (Sessegnon and Gardner), and injured absentees such as striker Steven Fletcher. Spurs' Danny Rose is illegible of course, and has returned to Tottenham, after his successful season-long loan.
Spurs have Assou-Ekotto back in the frame after a knee injury caused his absence last week at Stoke. Other than the long-term absentees of Kaboul, Sandro and Gallas, Andre Villas-Boas has a full squad from which to select his team. Tomorrow's referee will be Andre Marriner, who was in charge for our recent draw against Everton and a home win against West Ham this season.
Like Sunderland, Newcastle will also be playing for North-East pride. Their last two home matches have been disastrous defeats (3-0 to Sunderland and 6-0 to Liverpool), so there is plenty of pride to be restored and there are season ticket renewals to encourage. The trouble is they have a host of injuries and have to play veteran goalkeeper Steve Harper due to Krul's injury and Elliot's suspension.
So many people that I encounter on and off-line seem to be convinced that Arsenal will win and that Spurs will fail again at the last hurdle, even if they win convincingly tomorrow (and I think they will win). I do not see it as such a certainty.
Going back to that last game of 13 years ago, when David Ginola stalked the hallowed turf of White Hart Lane, I like to think that the footballing spirit of Ginola (who also played for Newcastle of course) can pervade in both places, sending us home happy, and not having to endure those gloating gooners. I'll be hoping for a goal or two from our modern-day hero Gareth Bale, who was this week announced as the Premier League's player of the season. Unsurprisingly, Gareth is on target to win the Spurs Odyssey vote too!
Whatever happens, Spurs can achieve a Premier League club record of 72 points, and I'll be proud of my team's achievements without key players such as Younes Kaboul for all but one game, and Sandro for half a season. We've had some great moments this season, about which I shall reflect in the next few weeks, and we can look forward to European football next term, come what may.
COME ON YOU SPURS!
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