Tottenham’s shaky home form followed them into the new year as they were pegged back by Sunderland in a 1–1 draw in north London, leaving Spurs with another result that felt like a missed opportunity rather than a step forward.
The hosts started brightly and played with far more bite than in their previous outing, moving the ball quicker and getting early shots away. Mathys Tel tested goalkeeper Robin Roefs inside the opening minute, Pedro Porro even tried his luck with a bold long-range lob, and Richarlison was inches away from making contact with a dangerous delivery—only for a crucial last-ditch intervention to keep Sunderland alive.
That momentum came with a cost, though. Mohammed Kudus was forced off with an injury inside the first 20 minutes, a blow that disrupted Spurs’ rhythm and left them short of natural attacking options for long spells. Randal Kolo Muani was introduced, but Spurs’ early edge dulled slightly.
Still, Tottenham found the breakthrough on 30 minutes—and it came from a set-piece routine. A corner was worked to Cristian Romero, who teed up Micky van de Ven. His effort was heading on target, and Ben Davies reacted quickest in the six-yard area to divert it over the line. It was a rare personal moment for the long-serving defender, and it gave Spurs a lead that their first-half control largely merited.
Sunderland’s response before the break was limited but not absent. Trai Hume drove over from distance, hinting that the visitors were growing into the contest. The bigger shift arrived after half-time.
Sunderland played with more bravery in the second period, pushing their midfield higher and finding ways to release runners rather than simply absorbing pressure. Tottenham, meanwhile, had moments to put the game to bed but couldn’t land the decisive second goal. As the match wore on, the visitors began to look the more likely to score, especially from wide areas and second balls around the box.
The warning signs were there. Brobbey latched onto a loose moment in the Spurs back line and hit the side-netting, Simon Adingra bent one wide, and Enzo Le Fée came within inches of an equaliser when his header struck the post.
On 80 minutes, Sunderland finally got their reward—and it was emphatic. Le Fée combined neatly with Brian Brobbey in a quick one-two, opening a pocket of space at the edge of the area. Brobbey took one stride and thundered a finish into the top corner, a strike that silenced the stadium and underlined Sunderland’s second-half improvement.
Both sides had a chance to win it late. Hume’s long-range effort required a sharp save from Guglielmo Vicario, while Spurs almost snatched it in stoppage time when substitute Joao Palhinha glanced a header just wide. But neither could find the final touch, and the points were shared.
The numbers reflected a fairly even contest, with Tottenham registering more attempts and shots on target, but Sunderland edging possession and forcing Spurs to defend more than they would have wanted in the closing stages.
For Tottenham, the draw keeps them in the bottom half and adds to the sense of frustration around their home performances—especially after leading for so long. For Sunderland, it’s another sign of how hard they’ve become to beat: four consecutive draws and an unbeaten run that continues to grow, with the Black Cats sitting in the top eight and continuing to pick up points on the road.
Next up, Spurs face a tricky trip to Bournemouth, while Sunderland head to Brentford looking to turn these draws into a statement win.
