. This season's home game - Spurs 1 Sunderland 1, 04.01.26
. Premier League Matchday 32 - last year
. See the current injury list for all Premier League Teams
. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here!

Full League Record against Sunderland
 
Premier       Pl   W   D   L    For-Ag  Pts
Home          17  14   2   1    37 -13  44
Away          16   7   5   4    22 -18  26
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Total(Prem)   33  21   7   5    59 -31  70  2.12 pts per game
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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
==========================================
Football Lge
Home (Div 2)   1   0   0   1     2 - 3   0
Away (Div 2)   1   1   0   0     2 - 1   2
==========================================
Total(Div 2)   2   1   0   1     4 - 4   2
==========================================
Total(Prem)   33  21   7   5    59 -31  70
Total(Div 1)  74  22  23  29    88 -105 71
Total(Div 2)   2   1   0   1     4 - 4   2
==========================================
Grand Total  109  44  30  35   151-140 142
==========================================

Last Six Premier League results:-

S'derland   -     LLDWLW

S'derland  0-1    Liverpool
S'derland  1-3    Fulham
B'mouth    1-1    S'derland
Leeds      0-1    S'derland
S'derland  0-1    Brighton
Newcastle  1-2    S'derland


Spurs       -     LLLLDL           

Spurs      1-2    Newcastle
Spurs      1-4    Arsenal
Fulham     2-1    Spurs
Spurs      1-3    C. Palace
Liverpool  1-1    Spurs
Spurs      0-3    Nottm Fst

Pos           P  W  D  L   F-A   GD  Pts
11. S'derland 31 11 10 10  32-36   -4   43
18. Spurs     31  7  9 15  40-50  -10   30

Who would have thought...?

Who would have thought that with just seven Premier League games left to play, Spurs and not Sunderland would be battling for survival. After Friday night's 4-0 win for West Ham over Wolves, Spurs find themselves in the bottom three for the first time in the second half of the season since January, 2009. Then, it was Harry Redknapp who led us to safety. Now, in mid-April, with just seven games to play, our situation is far more serious.

Who would have thought that Spurs would have their third coach of the season? That's more coaches than we've had home wins in the Premier League since last May! Igor Tudor left after seven games, five of which were in the Premier League, none of which were won. The "firefighter" managed to worsen our position. Now we have Roberto de Zerbi, who got his way with a long term contract. A desperate situation demanded desperate measures, and if the former Brighton and Marseilles coach manages to keep us in the Premier League, the expense of his appointment will be miniscule compared to the financial implications of relegation for our club.

Who would have thought that despite the international break and an extra week off for Spurs, the hope of a return for Mohammed Kudus would be blown out of the water by the news of a "setback" in his quest for fitness. Surgery may be required and he's another key player that we've missed for too long and who is not likely to be seen again this season. His absence is a severe blow to our hopes of survival.

"The Black Cats" were promoted last year after 8 years out of the Premier League. Their executive invested widely and wisely, and had already made a shrewd coaching appointment a year before when Regis Le Bris took over and guided the club to promotion, albeit via the play-off final.

Sunderland finished fourth last year, behind Sheffield United who they beat in the Wembley final, having disposed of Coventry in the semi-finals. "The Sky Blues", coached by Frank Lampard, currently lead the Championship and are favourites for automatic promotion. Thus they could pass us as we make the ignominious drop, unless we get our winning heads on. The term "battling" in the opening paragraph is a bit of a misnomer really, because we haven't battled well yet.

The whole of Wearside is probably still celebrating because in their last game before this three-week break, Sunderland did something Spurs have not managed since the 21-22 season. They achieved a league double over Newcastle, competing the feat in front of an astounded and depressed St. James' Park. They had an eight year absence, but the last time Sunderland lost to Newcastle in a league game was 12 games and 15 years ago. I wish we could say the same!

Sunderland have already reached 43 points, beyond the reach of Burnley and Wolves, and realistically assured of Premier League football next season. I can't remember when Sunderland last met Spurs 13 points ahead in the league table. When we met in January "Doctor" Tottenham gave their opponents a point when leading goalscorer Brian Brobbey scored a late equaliser. Brobbey scored the late winner at Newcastle too.

As it stands, Sunderland are on course to be the first top-flight team without an English scorer in any competition over one season since the 1890s. That was Sunderland too, with a Scots-filled team!

At the beginning of the season Sunderland had more than 80 season-ticket holders aged 85 and over. As a thank you for their support in recent troubled years, the promoted club gave them all free seats for the entire campaign. I've read recently that a good number of loyal Coventry fans stand to get free home season tickets next year, because of a deal struck in 2023. Oh for such gestures from Tottenham Hotspur who currently increase my concession ticket by 5% every year, and are still hoping for their exorbitant Premier League rates to stand at renewal time.

Spurs have lost 10 of their last 16 Premier League games, drawing 5 and winning just one. Sunderland's figures are won 5, drawn 5 and lost 6 in the same period.

Guglielmo Vicario is not fit yet, following his hernia operation the day after our last game, so either Antonin Kinsky (who suffered that massive blow to his confidence in Madrid last month) or Brandon Austin will play on Sunday (2pm on SKY TV). De Zerbi favours a traditional 4-2-3-1 formation and has already publicly stated his admiration for Pedro Porro, Romero, Van de Ven and Solanke. Our new coach does have the benefit of a stronger squad than his predecessors had for too much of the season. He has a choice of Udogie or Spence at left back, and for those who will fill the places behind Dominic Solanke. He has also mentioned the young talents of Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Mathys Tel in despatches.

I am boldly predicting a 2-1 away win!

Did you know? (1) - Harry Kane scored his first Premier League goal in a 5-1 home win against Sunderland on 7th April, 2014.

Did you know? (2) - Sunderland entered the league in 1890 and had never been relegated until 1958, becoming champions six times along the way.

Rob Jones referees us for the third time this season. In his previous two games we beat Brentford and drew at home to Manchester City. He's refereed Sunderland three times at The Stadium of Light and they've won all three - against West Ham, Wolves and Crystal Palace.

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