Kane strikes, Dembele returns as Spurs seal win against Sunderland
Kane strikes, Dembele returns as Spurs seal win against Sunderland
LONDON, England -- Three points from Tottenham's 1-0 victory over Sunderland in the Premier League:
1. Kane scores again as Spurs sink Sunderland
Harry Kane scored for the second consecutive league match as Tottenham continued their solid start to the season with a 1-0 victory against 10-man Sunderland. The result moved unbeaten Spurs back into the top four after three league wins on the trot and left David Moyes' side languishing 19th, with one point from five matches.
Mauricio Pochettino made three changes from Wednesday's Champions League defeat to AS Monaco, with a first start of the season for Mousa Dembele after suspension and a return for Victor Wanyama. Eric Dier moved to centre-half and Jan Vertonghen to left-back, while there was a full debut for Moussa Sissoko as well. Ben Davies, Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen made way.
Before even kicking a ball, Sissoko had made Sunderland sweat. Moyes named Patrick van Aanholt at left-back, but the manager replaced the baffled defender with Jason Denayer 15 minutes before kickoff, switching Javier Manquillo to left-back to mark Sissoko. It didn't work, as Denayer was terrorised by Son Heung-Min throughout.
Tottenham Hotspur
Sunderland
On Friday, Pochettino struggled to explain his side's habit of starting slowly this season, but Sissoko's effort was the first of 19 Tottenham attempts in the first half. They simply couldn't find a way past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Pickford reacted smartly to Kane's shot after Son's fine cross before completing comfortable saves from Dembele and Wanyama and smothering Kane at the near post. With the returning Dembele setting the tempo, Spurs were firmly in control and the only thing missing from their best half of the season so far was a goal. Just before halftime, Pickford was finally beaten when the lively Son -- starting his third match in a row -- countered and cut inside, only to see his low shot come back off the post.
Sunderland had barely had a sniff, aside from a scuffed chance from Jermain Defoe, but they almost delivered a sickener just before the break. Adnan Januzaj did superbly to dance around Toby Alderweireld and cut back for Steven Pienaar, whose shot beat Hugo Lloris, but Kyle Walker cleared off the line.
The goal, when it came, was greeted with relief as much as celebration at White Hart Lane, in part because Kane was the scorer. The England striker got off the mark for the season at Stoke last weekend but he was forced to answer questions about form and fatigue once again following his poor display on Wednesday. The 22-year-old had been relatively quiet but just before the hour, he pounced on a dreadful mishit from Papy Djilobodji to finish from close range. Kane started slowly last season too, but once the floodgates opened, he was hard to stop.
Spurs pressed for a second to make the game safe and Pochettino was visibly frustrated on the touchline as substitute Lamela, Son and Kane all flashed shots wide. Sunderland, however, never looked like grabbing an undeserved equaliser.
Just before the whistle, the lively Januzaj was sent off for a second bookable offence for clattering Ben Davies. It was a miserable end to another trying afternoon for Sunderland and there was a worry for Spurs too, when Kane was taken off before the end, holding his ankle.
2. Dembele sparks most assured display of season
Pochettino was only half joking when he said Tottenham "did not exist" without Dembele last month, but he reacted defiantly to the suggestion that it was a mistake not starting the midfielder in the defeat to AS Monaco. Dembele did start against Sunderland, returning to the first XI after a six-match ban for scratching Diego Costa's eye, and it was no surprise to see Spurs' most assured display of the season so far upon his inclusion.
With Wanyama sitting, Dembele had license to roam and he drove Tottenham forward with his unique combination of grace, skill and power. Sunderland sat deep -- far too deep, at times -- an approach that has caused Dembele-less Spurs problems this season. Both Everton and Crystal Palace frustrated Pochettino's team for long periods in the Belgian's absence.
Dembele can beat a man with the drop of the shoulder and a turn of pace and he was able to cut through Sunderland's compact five-man midfield and dictate the tempo. He flashed a deflected shot just over in the first half with Pickford beaten and set up Son after the break, but his best work was in the first phase of attack when Spurs countered quickly. Dier and Wanyama are solid but cannot do the same job, while Dele Alli's best work comes in the attacking midfield three, where he is free to try things.
Having played one half of club football this season, it was no surprise when Dembele was replaced by Lamela after 73 minutes and he will probably be rested for Wednesday's EFL Cup match against Gillingham. There is little doubt, however, that from now on he will play every league match for Spurs this season when available.
3. Pickford ensures flattering scoreline for visitors
Sunday's defeat leaves Sunderland in 19th place in the Premier League table with one point from five matches. It's not unfamiliar territory, of course, but these are worrying times for Moyes, whose side face Crystal Palace, West Brom and Stoke in their next three league matches -- all games that could define their fight for survival. Continue to lose and Sunderland could start the winter cut adrift.
Before the match, Moyes called on his players to provide more chances for Defoe but the striker was left isolated and it wasn't uncommon to see 10 Sunderland players behind the ball.
The scoreline flattered the visitors in the end and they had Pickford to thank that it wasn't a rout. At 22, Pickford is still developing and with England's No. 1, Joe Hart, in exile in Italy, don't bet against a senior call-up for the Under-21 international in the future.
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