New year, same Spurs?
Tottenham's start to 2026 was an amalgamation of their 2025 under head coach Thomas Frank â a 0-0 draw at Brentford represented another point won on the road and another game where they created very few chances.
The result means Spurs have the best away record in the top flight at the halfway stage â with 18 points amassed from 10 games â but it was yet another match where they were toothless in attack for almost the entire 90 minutes.
The performance was greeted with what can best be described as gallows humour from the travelling Spurs contingent, who punctuated the lack of action with songs about fan favourites Dele Alli, Eric Dier and even former manager Martin Jol. They also chanted "Boring, boring Tottenham" and jeered current boss Frank as he approached them at the full-time whistle.
"It's not perfect⦠we want us to be free-flowing," said Frank in his pre-match press conference on Friday. "We need to do everything we can to put in an attacking, intense, front-footed performance against Sunderland."
Black Cats could change Tottenham's fortunes
Tottenham's home form in 2025 was their worst on record and 11 league defeats in front of their own fans is the most they have ever suffered in a single calendar year.
However, the Lilywhites have an enviable record when it comes to this fixture. They are unbeaten in their previous 14 top-flight meetings with Sunderland since a 3-1 loss at the Stadium of Light in April 2010 and have won 14 of their 16 Premier League home matches against the north-east club (D1, L1).
Another victory this weekend could spark Tottenham's season into life and would go some way to repairing the apparent rift between head coach and fans.