It was looking like it was going to be honours even until the 94th minute, and really a draw would've been a fair result, but second-half substitute Michael Chopra gave Sunderland an undeserved win.
We can't learn much about Roy Keane's Sunderland from this display. Spurs were poor and although they dominated the match for long periods they never looked sharp or dangerous. Sunderland looked competent in defence but were never really tested. Paul McShane looks like a dominating figure at the back but could definitely do woth working on his first touch. He miscontrolled badly on a few occasions which could be disaterous if he makes a habit of it.
Up front for Sunderland the two Irishmen, Stokes and Murphy, lacked mobility and didn't look match sharp. When Sunderland were up against it they failed to hold the ball up and relieve the pressure. It was no surpise to see Stokes withdrawn after 70 mins and his replacement, Chopra, was far more efficient in possession.
Spurs frontline was none too inspiring also. All 4 of Martin Jol's strikers were used with Keane and Bent the two who looked closest to being 100% match-ready. They really missed the width offered by Lennon with his replacement, Tainio, preferring to tuck inside. Malbranque on the left also failed to get near the touchline regularly. This narrow approach played into the hands of a tight, well drilled Sunderland.
Spurs defence was missing 3 first teamers and looked easily exposed on a few occasions. Murphy found himself in space at the back post after 40mins as the Spurs defence slept but he failed to convert what was the only real chance of the first half. Etuhu found himself on the end of a free kick(probably the only set-piece that wasn't squandered by Sunderland) only to "thigh it" for Robinson to save. The warning signs were there and sure enough 93mins in the ball found its way to Chopra in the box after good work form Wallace on the right, and he clinically tucked it away.
All in all a poor match with both teams needing to improve several areas of their respective games.
Man of the MAtch: Paul McShane - kept Berbatov and then Bent under control and won everything in the air.
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