STADIUM OF LIGHT – Is that it? The sum total of Tottenham’s response to sinking into relegation peril a Pedro Porro pot shot and a brief injury time flurry?
They carry the look of a side who fate is conspiring to relegate – defeat coming with a side helping of their influential captain trotting off disconsolately with what looked like a serious injury. The Championship is approaching at breakneck speed for this broken club.
What happened here was a neat summary of Spurs. Too meek, too many touches, too little stomach for a fight. Pre-match must have focused on the threat posed by Brobbey, Sunderland’s striker and prize bruiser, and yet he was still a serious problem throughout.
The noises before the game had seemed much more positive too. There was a buzz at the pre-match meal, excited chatter around the tables. De Zerbi’s work on the training ground has been positive, diligent and has shown the human touch. In one stirring speech he told players seeking an exit route to come and see him in May – but until then invest everything in saving Spurs from the most catastrophic relegation in Premier League history.
But, as it did with Tudor’s tough talk, the dream of a new manager bounce collided with reality. Spurs were, frankly, a whole ball of nothingness. There was a semblance of competence in the first half but they were dreadful when asked to chase the game.
Predictably the goal that consigned them to a seventh defeat from eight was laced with misfortune. Nordi Mukiele’s shot was going nowhere when it left his foot but it careered off Micky van de Ven’s back to beat the desperately unlucky Antonin Kinsky.
Predictably, there was no response. There very rarely is with this version of Tottenham, whose resilience has been a problem all season. They are everything Sunday’s opponents are not. Sunderland find ways to win, screwing with xG stats to rejuvenate their dream of qualifying for Europe. Spurs seem to relish discovering new ways to lose.
That could end up costing them but not nearly as much as their almost complete lack of threat in the final third. De Zerbi rolled out a front three of Richarlison, Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke here but with the exception of a snap shot from the latter and the weakest of efforts from the Brazilian, they created next to nothing on Wearside.
Perhaps with another week De Zerbi will be able to inject more of his trademark attacking anarchy into this side. But don’t bet on it. This is a squad pieced together in a summer that was three managers ago and they have already gambled the house on a new voice being the answer. That ship sailed a while ago.
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But it said it all that Kinsky’s fine save from Brobbey was the most encouraging moment of their first half. He was competent throughout, a quiet moment of rehabilitation amid the general chaos.
As Spurs flounder Sunderland, whose impressive return to the top flight was in danger of fizzling out a few weeks ago, appear to have found a second wind. Brobbey is a big part of that, always difficult to shake off the ball but now with unshakeable self belief.
Tottenham didn’t seem to know what to do about him.
