PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 12th APRIL, 2026
(2 PM)
SUNDERLAND 1(0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0(0)

Sunderland scorer:-
Mukiele, 61

Attendance:- 47,010

Referee:- Rob Jones
Assistants:- Neil Davies, Nick Greenhalgh
Fourth official:- Tom Bramall
VAR:- James Bell
Assistant VAR:- Nick Hopton

Teams:-
Sunderland (4-2-3-1):- 22. Roefs; 20. Mukiele (sub 32. Hume, 82), 13. O'Nien, 15. Alderete, 17. Reinildo Mandava; 34. Xhaka (Capt.), 27. Sadiki; 11. Rigg (sub 7. Talbi, 82), 19. Diarra, 28. Le Fee; 9. Brobbey (sub 18. Isidor, 90+8)

Subs not used:- 31. Ellborg; 3. Cirkin, 6. Geertruida, 51. Jenson Jones; 50. Harrison Jones; 12. Mayenda

Booked:- Brobbey (foul on Pedro Porro), Rigg (foul on Van de Ven), Hume (foul on Tel)

Spurs (4-2-3-1):- 31. Kinsky; 23. Pedro Porro, 17. Romero (Capt.) (sub 4. Danso, 70), 37. Van de Ven, 13. Udogie; 14. Gray (sub 6. Palhinha, 62), 22. Gallagher (sub 7. Xavi Simons, 85); 39. Kolo Muani, 15. Bergvall (sub 29. Sarr, 62), 9. Richarlison (sub 11. Tel, 62); 19. Solanke
(Armband to Van de Ven)

Subs not used:- 40. Austin; 3. Dragusin, 24. Spence; 8. Bissouma

Booked:- Romero (foul on Brobbey), Van de Ven (foul on Brobbey), Pedro Porro (dissent)

Spurs are out of luck, and running out of time

Thanks to Eugene Gasper for the picture

The new coach bounce has yet to arrive as Roberto de Zerbi learned more about the task he has in trying to ensure Spurs' Premier League status. Spurs once again failed to win (their last league win was 15 games ago) and lost their sixteenth league game of the season. In mid-April we have yet to manage a league win in 2026. We lost to a horribly deflected goal, which left number two keeper Antonin Kinsky with no chance.

Once again, we also lost our captain, this time through injury after Sunderland's Brian Brobbey needlessly shoved Romero in the back, who then collided with Kinsky. Both our players needed treatment. Kinsky was okay to continue after having his head bandaged. Romero hobbled off in tears. Brobbey had been booked in the first half but got no punishment for his foul.

Referee Rob Jones was not our friend today. He did give us a penalty in the first half, but that was rescinded after a call to the monitor by VAR. Muani had been the victim on that occasion and was denied free kicks on at least two other occasions.

Spurs remain in the bottom three, two points adrift with six games to play. The last time we were in this position at this time of the season was in 1977. That was the last time we were relegated. Spurs are out of luck and running out of time.

De Zerbi made five changes to the team which had started Igor Tudor's last game against Forest. One was forced, with Kinsky having to replace Vicario, who is still recovering from his hernia operation. Kinsky was subject of a lot of pre-match talk after his disaster in Madrid against Atletico, but he acquitted himself well today, making one crucial save and generally playing with confidence.

The other changes in a 4-2-3-1 formation were Udogie for Danso, Bergvall for Spence, Gallagher for Sarr and Kolo Muani for Tel. Xavi Simons had to wait till the 85th minute to be introduced and Spurs missed his creative spark.

Sunderland were captained by Xhaka - once of Arsenal - and he was at the heart of so much of the home side's good work. Their coach Regis Le Bris made four changes with goalkeeper Roefs returning in favour of Ellborg, Reinildo replacing Hume, Mukiele for Geertruida, and Le Fee for Talbi.

Thanks to Andy Park for the picture

Spurs kicked off and played away from their loyal fans, who were in good voice, certainly in the first half. There were encouraging signs as early as the second minute in a move down the left flank, started by Kinsky's distribution. Solanke cut the ball back into the danger area where ultimately, Pedro Porro's shot required a save by Roefs. It wasn't long before Kolo Muani fed Richarlison, but his shot lacked strength.

Sunderland won a corner on the right, which was an inswinger taken by Xhaka. Kinsky had to push the ball over his bar for a second corner. Kolo Muani had gone down near the centre circle, but the referee paid him no attention. He didn't need treatment as it happens. Mr. Jones was happy to have "words" with Mukiele despite a cynical foul on Richarlison. Pedro Porro overhit the free kick anyway.

Xhaka took a free kick and hit it deep after which Kinsky held Alderete's low return cross. Kinsky was also down confidently at the feet of Brobbey as he tried to advance upon Le Fee's pass. For all Spurs' early promise, the home side began to look more threatening. Spurs' attacks down the flanks through Kolo Muani and Richarlison were too often stemmed. Brobbey headed over after a cross by Le Fee.

Sunderland protested when they were denied a free kick when Muani attacked down the right wing. Instead, Spurs were awarded a kick which was taken quickly. Muani got deep into the Sunderland area and went down under challenges from two defenders. Mr Jones pointed to the spot but changed his mind after review.

A cross from deep on the right by Gallagher was headed down by Solanke, but this time Richarlison could not hit his shot with any strength.

Romero was booked for his challenge on Brobbey in their running battle. Mr. Jones had tried to play the advantage, but when Sunderland failed, he called the play back. Mukiele headed wide from Xhaka's free kick. O'Nien (who is a veteran of Sunderland's recent EFL exploits) took a long throw after which Xhaka fired wide.

Romero led a break after Brobbey's booking, but had a shot blocked. Romero had chosen not to use Kolo Muani who was in space. Micky van de Ven saw yellow when he hauled down Brobbey just outside the Spurs box. Brobbey certainly is a handful! Xhaka's free kick was well over the target.

Romero hit a good ball to Richarlison, who won a battle with Reinildo. "Richie" got almost to the bye line, but the defence did enough to prevent him hitting a meaningful shot which went over the line before reaching the side netting.

Spurs won a cheap corner on the right, after which Pedro Porro crossed and Solanke tried and failed with a scissor kick.

After another Romero foul on Brobbey, and free kick by Xhaka, Kinsky saved well at close range from the centre-forward. In added time, Udogie and Richarlison advanced down the left. Udogie crossed. Solanke's shot was saved at the expense of a corner.

There was cause for hope at half-time. De Zerbi made no changes. Richarlison and Bergvall exchanged passes and when "Richie" shot the keeper's save rebounded off the Spurs man for a goal kick.

Spurs seemed to be slowing down a little, and more tentative in their approach football. Udogie was denied a foul when he approached the opposition area. Pedro Porro hit a good ball to Richarlison, who tried and failed to pass the ball into the net.

The sucker punch followed when Mukiele on the spin, hit a left-footed shot which took a wicked deflection off Van de Ven and beat the stranded Kinsky.

De Zerbi responded with a triple substitution which had been in mind before the goal. Romero and Kinsky collided after Brobbey's unpunished shove in the back. Kevin Danso replaced the injured (and tearful) Romero.

In the closing stages, Sunderland looked the more likely scorers. Solanke had a header held by the keeper after Tel crossed from the left. Xavi was a late substitution for Conor Gallagher.

Brobbey wanted a penalty when going down under Danso's challenge, but a goal kick was given. Udogie cleared in front of goal after Sadiki's cross from the left.

There were eleven added minutes, but that was not enough for Spurs. Substitute Hume was booked for a foul on Tel. Pedro Porro's free kick was pushed over by Roefs. After a one-two pass with Udogie, Pedro Porro came close again hitting a shot which won a corner. That came to nought.

The clock of doom is ticking more loudly now for Spurs. Their next opponents are De Zerbi's old team Brighton - challenging for Europe and on a run of three consecutive Premier League wins. It's 14 months since we managed such a feat.

. Declan Mulcahy's series "A dozen definitive days" - Part Six

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