LUCK AGAIN ELUDES DICK’S BLACK CATS

SUNDERLAND manager Dick Advocaat admitted his team face a long relegation fight again this season after an unlucky defeat to Spurs left them rock bottom of the Barclays Premier League.

The visitors did not even manage a shot on target until the second half but, in the end, it fell to Ryan Mason to break the stalemate with a marvellous 82nd-minute winner.

Former Rangers boss Advocaat said afterwards: ‘It’s a disappointing result, but not disappointing the way we played. I think we deserved more than nothing, but you don’t always get what you deserve.

‘I have also said to the players: “This game, we have to take the positive things out of it. If you give this spirit, it will get you points as well”.’

Mason was as courageous as he was creative i n the way he f i nished a move he started, racing on to a super pass from Erik Lamela before lifting the ball over the towering, rapidly advancing figure of Costel Pantilimon.

That he maintained his composure when it was quite clear he was about to be clattered was to his credit. As was his attempt to celebrate the goal, adrenaline pumping, only to then collapse to the ground with what looked like a nasty knee injury.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino says Mason will have a scan today and he also backed misfiring striker Harry Kane to end his league goals drought soon, saying of the England striker: ‘His effort was great and you know he only needs time to score again because he has great skill in front of goal.’