Sunderland were back in Premier League action as they faced Spurs on Sunday afternoon
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Sunderland enjoyed a big slice of fortune to score the crucial goal in the game but that was not to say that the three points were not thoroughly deserved.
Nordi Mukiele’s long-range strike flew into the back of the net via a wicked deflection but Sunderland created the better chances either side of that moment against a Spurs side who laboured despite the arrival of new head coach Roberto De Zerbi.
Having come through a bright start from the visitors, Sunderland played some inventive, attacking football epitomised by the energy of Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra in midfield. Other than a big save right on the brink of half time, Robin Roefs had little to do.
In a game of huge significance for the visitors, De Zerbi had set his stall out with an attacking line up that featured three strikers. It wasn't the extreme possession-based style for which the Italian has become renowned, however, with the risk being in an aggressive man-for-man marking system they deployed to try and spring players clear on the break. In the early stages it almost worked, with a cross from Dominic Solanke just eluding Lucas Bergvall before Richarlison fired straight at Roefs from a promising position.
Sunderland grew into the contest though, and spurned some big opportunities to take the lead. Lovely play from Reinildo and Le Fee saw the latter cross for Brobbey, who headed over the bar from close range. Spurs though they had a golden opportunity to take the lead when Kolo Muani went down in the box, but referee Rob Jones overturned his initial decision
Sunderland continued to have the better of the game, albeit with many of their better chances coming from set piece situations. Xhaka smashed a half volley just wide of the far post after a long throw fell into his path, before Brobbey drew a superb close-range block from Antonin Kinsky when a free kick was flicked into his path.
Sunderland actually had more possession in the first half, a signal of their intent and also the desire from the visitors to play on the break. It almost worked when Solanke drew a strong save from Roefs at close range just before the break, but Sunderland should have been ahead on balance of play.
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The first half had been an entertaining affair but the second was noticeably quieter to begin with, De Zerbi lining up a triple substitution before Sunderland struck on the hour mark. It was a big slice of luck from Sunderland as Mukiele’s long-range effort took a wicked deflection to wrong foot Kinsky, but it was also a good move that saw Diarra find the full back who drove infield unchallenged by a passive Tottenham defence.
Despite those changes, it was Sunderland who looked the more likely to score again and only some heavy touches and poor decisions in the final third prevented them from carving out some big chances as Spurs struggled to really test Roefs.
Sunderland’s inability to find that final pass in the closing quarter made the eleven minutes of stoppage time nervier than perhaps they should have been, though they defended their box resolutely and limited the visitors to a long-range shot from Porro that Roefs pushed well over the bar.
Sunderland held out to climb into the top half with a deserved win.