BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE,
SATURDAY 17TH JANUARY, 2015,
(3pm)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(1) SUNDERLAND 1(1)

Spurs scorers:-
O'Shea (o.g.), 3
Eriksen, 88

Sunderland scorer:-
Larsson, 31

Attendance:- 35,973

Referee:- Chris Foy
Assistants:- S. Burt & A. Nunn
Fourth official:- S. Hooper

Teams:-
Spurs (4-2-3-1):- Lloris (Capt.); Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose; Stambouli, Dembele (sub Townsend, 75); Eriksen, Kane, Chadli (sub Paulinho, 88); Soldado (sub Adebayor, 61)

Subs not used:- Vorm; Naughton, Davies; Capoue

Booked:- Vertonghen (foul on Defoe)

Sunderland (3-5-2):- Pantilimon; Vergini, O'Shea (Capt.), Brown; Jones (sub Buckley, 92), Larsson, Rodwell, Johnson, Van Aanholt; Defoe (sub Graham, 75), Fletcher (sub Wickham, 65)

Subs not used:- Mannone; Coates,; Giaccherini, Gomez

Booked:- Rodwell (foul on Eriksen), Jones (foul on Rose)

The Eriksen late goal trick wins it for Spurs!

Spurs faced the Premier League's draw specialists, and with only two minutes of the game remaining, it looked as if Gus Poyet's side would gain their twelfth draw of the season. However, substitute Andros Townsend raced away down the right wing, from his own half, and crossed low to Christian Eriksen, who fired home a dramatic winner which beat goalkeeper Pantilimon to his right and actually crossed the line after rebounding off the inside of the post.

It wasn't all over though, as Hugo Lloris had to make a heroic save from Sunderland's Danny Graham, who had already had a chance to give Sunderland the lead only 10 minutes from the end of the game.

Then, in added time, with Pantilimon committed in the Spurs area to a corner, Spurs cleared the corner, and broke for goal, with Paulinho passing to Vertonghen, inside his own half. Vertonghen carried the ball into Sunderland territory and responded to the crowd's urges to fire for goal, with the goalkeeper way behind the play. The ball hit the net; Vertonghen celebrated with gusto, as did the crowd. The goal was initially given, but then the officials decided (erroneously) that Vertonghen had been offside, and disallowed the "goal". Referee Chris Foy (not Hoy) had not been too kind to us all game, and this decision took the biscuit.

The win though was most welcome, putting Spurs back up to fifth place above Arsenal, at least for the night, and potentially for the next week or two, with the Gooners facing Man City away tomorrow.

Gus Poyet gave former Spur Jermain Defoe a debut, but for the first time, he failed to score on such an occasion, although he did cause a couple of moments of panic, one of which was to win the free kick from which Larsson equalised. Jermain got a rousing reception from the home crowd, and was found in his favourite position (offside) several times.

It seemed that Poyet changed his formation to accommodate Defoe, playing a 3-5-2, with Steven Fletcher partnering Defoe up front. However, Sunderland spent most of the time forming two banks of the remaining 8 outfield players to try and thwart the Tottenham attacking desires.

Spurs got the bonus of an early goal, when Eriksen's lofted cross from the right was only half cleared by Vergini to the feet of Vertonghen, whose shot took a heavy deflection to beat Pantilimon comprehensively. The goal may be subject of review by the doubtful goals panel, but for the moment, it remains credited to Vertonghen. (Since deemed to be an own goal by John O'Shea)

Soon after that, Defoe was down in the Spurs area, and had claims for a penalty denied. After 14 minutes, Spurs fans wanted handball when Eriksen crossed from the left after a Spurs throw.

Dembele had also been a target for Mr. Foy with almost every midfield challenge by the Spurs man being punished.

Spurs were missing Fazio today, and Eric Dier made his first (and a competent) appearance at senior level for Spurs at centre back.

Danny Rose and Nacer Chadli worked the ball successfully down the left flank. The cross was met by Eriksen, who hit a good low shot, saved well by Pantilimon, diving to his left. Pantilimon also came to the rescue of his side, when beating Soldado to a midfield ball, and then saved another Eriksen shot, this time to his right.

Sunderland had a great chance to score after a throw on the left, which reached Billy Jones, afforded too much space on the right. He crossed to Fletcher at the back post, but the striker failed to score, scuffing his attempt wide.

It looked as if Harry Kane had been fouled in the Sunderland half, but Spurs' appeals were ignored, and Vertonghen was punished when fouling Defoe about 22 yards out. Vertonghen got a yellow card, and Spurs conceded a goal, as Larsson stepped up and hit his shot over the wall, beating Lloris to his right.

Mr. Foy had harsh words for Danny Rose following a challenge on Larsson in the Sunderland half. Spurs then managed to snuff out the threat of Defoe from Fletcher's ball, following a Sunderland break.

As we entered first half added time, Harry Kane had a shot held by the goalkeeper, after Rose's cross, and then, after Dembele and Eriksen had set him up, Kane hit an angled shot with his right foot, which rebounded off the post. Rose's follow-up was held by Pantilimon.

Spurs got so close just after the break, when Eriksen crossed low and hard from the right, but Soldado just couldn't get the killer touch. That was Spurs' problem for a lot of the game, when they displayed good approach football, but just lacked the killer instinct. Chadli had a couple of good half-chances inside the Sunderland area, but just couldn't put them away.

Another fine piece of work by Eriksen gave him a shot, which passed just wide. Eriksen was then fouled by Rodwell, who saw yellow. After a quick free kick, Eriksen fed Kane, whose right foot shot won another Spurs corner.

Soldado was replaced by Emmanuel Adebayor, making his first appearance in a Spurs shirt since November. Adebayor didn't make too much impression until the game opened up in the closing stages, when he and his team-mates were finding more freedom.

Dier made a good midfield win on the floor and fed the ball to Kane, whose long range effort passed wide. Chadli had a chance when Eriksen chipped a ball into the area for Adebayor. Pantilimon saved again. Chadli then missed a chance after good work by Danny Rose and Harry Kane.

Jermain Defoe was replaced after 75 minutes by Danny Graham, but as Wickham had already replaced Fletcher, Sunderland still had two strikers on the field.

After a promising Spurs move, and a final pass by Eriksen, Andros Townsend had a chance, but hit his shot well wide.

Dier made what was nearly a crucial error in his own half, which led to Spurs struggling to gain control, Adam Johnson hit a shot to the right of Lloris, who could only pat the ball away double handed. Lloris then saved well from Graham, who was following up.

At the other end, Eriksen fed the ball to Kyle Walker, who hit a shot way over the target.

Soon after that came Eriksen's winner, and it is a fact that had Townsend not been on the pitch, we would not have scored this goal, such was the importance of his powerful, determined run, and final pass.

Eriksen's play throughout the game makes him a man of the match contender, but the early signs are that Hugo Lloris is the fans' hero, with his oh so crucial saves. Lloris had one more great save to make from Danny Graham, before we had the drama of Vertonghen's incorrectly disallowed goal.

Next up is game 36 of the season, and the little matter of a Capital One Cup semi-final against Sheffield United. See you there!

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