Sunderland 1 - Spurs 2: Dangerous Jermain Defoe makes case
SINCE their six-goal defeat at Manchester City a fortnight ago, Tottenham have risen faster than an MP’s pay packet. This victory means Andre Villas- Boas’s side are now just three points behind Liverpool in second place.
Jermain Defoe says he may have missed a few chances but he is creating them [AP]
Spurs did more than enough to win by a John O’Shea own-goal and with Jermain Defoe starting his second game in a row up front, perhaps Villas-Boas has decided he is his best striking option. Defoe may have missed a few chances, but he was creating them.
“If I was playing games and didn’t look like scoring there would be a problem, but I hit the post twice and on another day I could have had a hat-trick,” he said.
There were chances at both ends before Adam Johnson took advantage of a terrible attempted punch by keeper Hugo Lloris to score.
Sunderland’s lead did not last long, as Paulinho poked home from close range. Spurs took the points just after the break as Mousa Dembele’s cross flicked off O’Shea to beat Vito Mannone .
Tottenham manager Andre Villas Boas talks to Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon [ACTION IMAGES]
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Sunderland are in deep trouble and boss Gus Poyet admits confidence is beginning to wane. “The problems are too many,” he said. “I am a normal person and I can have a fight with you, but if you beat me once, twice, I won’t come out a third time.
“I am not going to get kicked every time as I’m not that stupid. There needs to be a moment when there are no more excuses or bad luck.
“I am not criticising the players as I always say ‘we’. I am saying we as a group, every single one of us at the club.
“We are playing West Ham, Cardiff and Norwich next so when are we going to win three in a row? Now, it has to be now.”
Sunderland (4-4-2): Mannone 6; Bardsley 6, Celustka 6 (Giaccherini 78), O’Shea 6, Brown 8; Ki 6, Colback 5 (Cattermole 68, 6), Larsson 6, Johnson 6 (Borini 68, 6); Altidore 6, Fletcher 5. Booked: Celustka, Altidore. Goal: Johnson 37.
NEXT UP: Sunderland – Sat: West Ham (a) league. Spurs – Thurs: Anzhi Makhachkala (h) Europa League.
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