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Gav says…
Brobbey hits his stride
I think Brian Brobbey has been really good recently and the goal he scored against Spurs was probably the best we’ve scored all season, although you have to give credit to Omar Alderete, Nordi Mukiele, Granit Xhaka and in particular Enzo Le Fée for their part in it, too.
It was a superb team effort and the way he lashed it home was fantastic — he absolutely wellied it into the net.
Hopefully this is the start of a purple patch for the big man, who looks a real threat up top and is showing why we paid so much money for him.
A great second half response
We were naff in the first half — more on that later — but we responded really well after half time and I don’t think there can be any denying that we deserved to get back into the game.
We really improved after the break and the Lads came out and really gave it their all; in fact, I think in the end Spurs could probably count themselves as lucky to have escaped with only a point.
It felt like one of those games where if it had gone on another ten minutes we’d have probably got a second goal, but alas, we take the point and move on — and considering how decent Spurs were in the opening forty five, it was probably a fair result.
Slack first half passing
I think you could see particularly in the first half that the lads were a little fatigued from a gruelling runout against Manchester City a few days ago, but that was no excuse for just how bad our passing was in the opening half of the game.
The amount of times we conceded possession was ridiculous and so unlike us.
Thankfully, we fixed it in the second period and Spurs never took advantage, but we have to be careful that we aren’t that bad against Brentford as they’re confident and would surely take advantage of such massive lapses in concentration.
A questionable first half formation
I don’t think the shape we started the game with was working and whilst Régis Le Bris eventually sorted it out, we could’ve been put to bed in that first half if Spurs had been better, so we probably should’ve changed things up sooner.
Calum Mills says…
Bravo, Brobbey!
Scored a brilliantly taken equaliser to top off an excellent second half performance.
After a quiet first half he battled for the second forty five minutes, was everywhere across the pitch and his willingness to track back was tremendous.
The likes of Rodrigo Bentancur, Cristian Romero and Pedro Porro will be glad they don’t have to deal with him every week, as even their typical shithousery failed with our big striker coming out on top.
Le Fée’s energy and Geertruida’s work rate
How Le Fée keeps running is beyond me.
I thought Sadiki was our “energiser bunny” in the middle of the park but even after a breathless game against Manchester City, Le Fée still clocked up the miles and his second half showing was as if he’d had a week to recover. Unlucky to not score with a brilliant run and deft header, but his first-time ball to assist Brobbey was excellent.
As for Geertruida, I love this lad.
As an opposition manager, you don’t know how to deal with him as he plays everywhere — although the more I watch, I love him in the middle of the park.
His reading of the game was superb; he has such a great understanding with Granit Xhaka and Le Fée that it may mean when AFCON finishes, Habib Diarra and Sadiki won’t just walk back into the starting eleven.
The fight he showed when getting at Bentancur was great to see as well. Can we sign him permanently, please?
Poor Sunderland passing
Countless times in the first half, we were nearly the victim of our own downfall by needlessly and aimlessly giving the ball away through misdirected passes or being too casual when trying to get the ball forward.
Luckily, Spurs didn’t know what to do with it either so we only went in 1-0 down at half time.
Difficult games for Simon Adingra and Romaine Mundle
This was the Adingra we saw at the start of the season, sadly.
Just when you thought he’d turned a corner, his performance was as poor as we’ve seen from him in a Sunderland shirt — and it didn’t help that his immediate replacement in Mundle didn’t offer much more, either.
I feel like Mundle lacks the awareness to the pace the league requires to be successful, as he’s often caught on the ball or closed down before he can move it off to another player.
He definitely hasn’t found the rhythm when trying to beat his man, so maybe a start against Everton in the FA Cup could help with this?
Ciaran McKenna says…
Another terrific point!
I feared the worst after the first half performance as we looked leggy and unmotivated, but the Lads turned it around in brilliant fashion in a much rejuvenated second half display.
We’ve played four games so far during this AFCON- affected period — all resulting in well-fought draws — and this was no exception.
A great fightback from the brink to take something back to Wearside
An emphatic finish from Brian Brobbey
He had a tough first half with not much to work with, but my word — did he take his chance when it came.
A brilliant passing move all the way from Omar Alderete, set up beautifully by Enzo Le Fée with the one-two and finished with thunderous volley into the top corner.
No chance for their goalkeeper (or any goalkeeper for that matter). and it also seemed to really motivate Brobbey, who stepped his performance up a gear after the goal.
A poor goal conceded
Their goal was poor and epitomised our first half perfromance.
There shouldn’t be a man left totally unmarked at the back post and he shouldn’t be able to take a touch and pick a pass. We should’ve been faster to react, to press the ball and block the shot, but we weren’t, and it was very frustrating to see.
Romaine Mundle struggles
Mundle was really poor off the bench.
I really like him and clearly Régis Le Bris does too, but he’s done next to nothing with the opportunities that he’s been given. He’s a very talented player and I have faith that eventually it’ll click into place, but if you’re going to be the first substitute, coming on, you’re expected to make more of an impact.
I understand that it’s easier said than done to come on against a Champions League team whilst everyone else has settled into the game, but I’d still like to see more from him — and all the substitutes.
John Wilson says…
Dan Ballard returns
Great to see big Dan back.
He came on at 1-0, and it would be easy to be confused at bringing on a defender when we were trying to push forward, but the change in shape and Ballard’s threat up front was a bold move and it turned the game.
Brian Brobbey makes his mark
Another great battling performance from the stocky frontman.
He deserved his goal, and what a blast it was! Spurs were there for the taking and but for a non-existent first half show, we could’ve bagged three points.
But another point won, and a full ninety and a goal for Brobbey.
A lacklustre first half display
Very poor and frustrating.
The Lads lacked energy and vigour — you could say that was predictable after the showing against Manchester City — but consistency of levels and performances are key for a good team and we lack consistency at the moment.
The energy picked up in the second half, but we didn’t show up early on.
Passing problems
The passing was also missing for large parts of the game and it was almost like watching a team of strangers at times.
Miscommunication, sloppy passes and not on the same page as each other. Very strange and very unusual but thankfully, we woke up to warm everyone up.
Jon Guy says…
A Régis Le Bris game management masterclass
I’m now at the point where if we are in the game at half time we will get something out of it because Regis is so tactically aware we are a different side in the second half. He did an amazing job to sort the team out for the final 45 minutes.
Dan Ballard gets back in the groove
So good to see Dan back on the pitch. He is so important to this side.
Simon Adingra finds it tough
So disappointed with our winger.
He and Brian Brobbey were Sunderland’s “out ball” today and it was so frustrating as he didn’t show up in the first half.
A less-than raucous atmosphere
The home crowd, a huge stadium…and they were awful.
I was in the home end and they were silent.
However dire your team is, you need to get behind them. They turned away minutes into the game and it just shows what we deliver week after week.
Joseph Tulip says…
Amazing team spirit
After a difficult first half, we came out with renewed vigour in the second half and were the better team thereafter.
Not only did we defend doggedly as a team, we got forward and could easily have won the game.
Second half creative spark
We were very inventive going forward after the break.
Brian Brobbey had arguably his best game for Sunderland — not only scoring a superb goal but holding the ball up and bringing others into play. He’s looking fitter with every game and did his fair share of pressing and defending too.
Granit Xhaka dictated our play, Enzo Le Fée came to life and both Trai Hume and Nordi Mukiele got forward to support the attack.
An intriguing tactical approach
In the first, half we looked leggy — which was understandable — but Régis Le Bris wasn’t frightened to make changes to make us more of a threat and take pressure off our defence.
Dan Ballard’s introduction enabled Lutsharel Geertruida to move into midfield, while Spurs could never settle with Romaine Mundle on the left, Simon Adingra switching to the right and Mukiele getting forward from right back.
A strong Sunderland mentality
We were possibly running on empty after Manchester City but after a slow start, our adrenaline and “til the end” mentality saw us through once again.
I think fatigue could well be an issue but with few options for rotation, the Lads are really putting in a shift to see us through until the African players return.
Lars Knutsen says…
Another great team performance
During the second half, everyone stepped up and Spurs knew they were in a game.
We were very competitive in midfield and defence, and our attack came to dynamic life in the final thirty minutes of the game. For once we were ahead in the overall possession stats., and we could easily have left this impressive stadium with all three points.
The players stayed after the whistle to celebrate with the travelling fans. long after the home team had disappeared down the tunnel.
Brian Brobbey comes of age
If anyone needed convincing about Brobbey, this was the input over ninety-plus minutes that any doubters needed. It was a sensational performance from our number nine which showed that he’s reached full fitness and has bought into the current Sunderland ethos.
He showed massive awareness and was a constant pest to the home defence. The goal itself — a one-two with Enzo Le Fée followed by a powerful finish into the top corner — was a thing of beauty.
A slow Sunderland start
There was a low-key feel to the first half.
Spurs were a bit hesitant given their poor home record, and we started slowly — did we really show up? This wasn’t surprising given how draining the last couple of home games have been, given AFCON and other absences.
In the second half, we shook off our shackles and came forward very effectively.
We’re hard to beat, but wins are currently rare
It’s fine saying that we are unbeaten in the last 5 games, with one defeat in eight, but the truth is that we’ve only won twogames since Stamford Bridge in October.
We need a couple of wins to lift us back into European qualification.
In some ways I can’t believe I’m. writing this as we still need to reach forty points, but Sunderland’s performances have raised the expectations of all fans.
Mark Wood says…
A sensational goal from Brian Brobbey
It was a great build up, with Enzo Le Fée showing a great touch to play the ball into Brobbey’s path — and the finish itself was emphatic.
At that stage it was nothing less than we deserved and it was a timely contribution from Brobbey himself, who’s been playing well enough in recent weeks but with little reward and now finding Eliezer Mayenda breathing down his neck for the centre forward role.
A great Sunderland comeback
As the second half wore on and with Sunderland still a goal down despite taking control of the game, you had to wonder if it was going to be one of those days where it just wasn’t going to go our way.
However, this is a Sunderland team that all the pundits like to emphasise has plenty of spirit and togetherness while also not waking up at this point going into the New Year to what all us fans know — we have quality in there too.
It was quality that crafted our equaliser and you cant go to a place like Tottenham and look the more likely winner without having something more than grit and huff and puff.
The beast is back!
It was worrying to face the possibility that Dan Ballard could’ve faced a lengthy spell out injured as he’s made himself a key player for us this season.
Seeing him back on the pitch in the second half was good news and with Ballard hopefully returning to our starting eleven, it’ll give us more options, with either a five at the back or someone else to move forward.
Either way, our defence looks more solid with him in the middle.
A lack of energy from the Lads
I can’t really moan as this was our second game in a few days, but Tottenham looked like they had an extra yard on us in the first half and deserved to be leading at the break.
That said, it’s over ninety minutes and not forty five, so maybe “the entitled” down at White Hart Lane need to look at their own game plan after they came flying out of the blocks in the first half.
We looked the more likely winners by the time the full time whistle had gone.