CATS PUT UP A FIGHT FOR VITAL POINT
DEADLINE DAY FAILED TO BRING ANY NEW FACES, BUT IT DID BRING AN UNEXPECTED POINT
Deadline Day has, to many eyes, in recent times descended into something of a farce.
A sea of yellow ties, ‘in the know’ tweets and pointless car window interviews, but very little in the way of actual transfers.
So it was for Sunderland, Jim White providing little in the way of hope for the Black Cats faithful as Leicester dug their heels in over Leonardo Ulloa.
Yet if all had seemed lost, the players who remain at the Stadium of Light showed they still have something to give.
An unexpected, precious point against one of the finest sides in the league, a game they could have stolen in the first half.
For all the talk of transfers, this was a reminder that there is nothing more uplifting than seeing some real tenacity and purpose on the pitch.
Didier Ndong was excellent in midfield, harrying, pressing, and even showing some real intent with the ball at his feet. Lamine Kone returned and despite one or two botched clearances, helped shore up the defence. John O’Shea and Jason Denayer looked noticeably more composed and assured with the Ivorian alongside them in defence.
Tottenham finished well in the ascendancy, of that there is no doubt. Sunderland had their last shot of the game in the 39th minute, unable in the second half to get hold of the ball, move up the pitch and cause the visitors serious problems.
Mauricio’s Pochettino’s side were full of their trademark intensity, and Victor Wanyama really ought to have done better when presented with a free header at the back
post. There were one or two other close shaves. Javier Manquillo got a slight deflection on a powerful Kyle Walker drive, pushing it just over the bar. Eric Dier, too, could have won at the death but couldn’t quite convert. Despite that, Vito Mannone had little to do.
For all Tottenham’s territory and possession, they never threatenen to overwhelm Sunderland. Their wingbacks, so utterly destructive in recent times, never got going. Dele Alli, magnificent over the festive period, was a passenger.
Sunderland were tighter, more organised, less panicked.
In the first half, they carried a genuine attacking threat. Jermain Defoe ran through early on after a fine floated pass from Jack Rodwell. He did well to escape Victor Wanyama’s attentions but Toby Alderweireld scrambled back to force the shot wide.
Fabio Borini had the game’s best chance, the Italian preferred to Adnan Januzaj through the middle. A lucky deflection left the ball sitting invitingly for the halfvolley, but he could only fire straight at stand-in stopper Michel Vorm.
Of course, none of this is to say that Sunderland did not need extra bodies, or that a corner has definitively been turned.
The absence of a proper target man was still felt here, particularly in a second half when Sunderland’s creative deficiencies forced them deeper and deeper into their own half.
It will not be enough against Crystal Palace just to defend well, they must find a way to hurt teams more regularly and create more chances for Jermain Defoe. Results elsewhere have gone against them, Swansea City and Crystal Palace clearly buoyed by the extra business they have been able to do in January.
Safety looks worryingly far away now, but at least they have given something to hold onto. After the predictable deflation of Deadline Day, it was much needed.
Sunderland were tighter, more organised, less panicked.