Robbie Keane scored his 100th goal for Tottenham Hotspur in a 2-0 home win over struggling Sunderland.
Lennon and Keane on target
Robbie Keane scored his 100th goal for Tottenham Hotspur in a 2-0 home win over struggling Sunderland.
Aaron Lennon opened the scoring for Spurs in the second minute as he fired home after making the most of a cross following some poor defending from the Black Cats.
Their second did not arrive until the 92nd minute when substitute Keane snatched a goal after his shot squirmed underneath Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon.
Sunderland were unlucky not to grab an equaliser in the second half as they came out looking like a revitalised side.
Kenwyne Jones hit the back of the net in the 50th minute but it was ruled offside before a goalmouth scramble in the 81st minute saw his header cleared off the line from Michael Dawson and skipper Dean Whitehead send the rebound wide.
Juande Ramos clearly had Tuesday's Carling Cup clash with Arsenal in mind and the likes of Ledley King were not in the squad, and Keane was on the bench and made to wait for his moment to record his ton.
Even so, the decision to give Jermain Defoe the captain's armband was surprising, particularly with Jermaine Jenas and Dawson kept in the starting line-up.
Unfamiliar
Despite their unfamiliar appearance, Spurs were ahead in the second minute.
Jamie O'Hara's perseverance created the chance. After battling for the ball on the left flank, Paul McShane's clearance struck Lee Young-pyo and fell kindly for the midfielder. O'Hara's cross missed Dimitar Berbatov and Danny Collins but Lennon prodded past Gordon.
It was then a case of Spurs attacking and Gordon doing everything possible to keep them at bay.
Jenas was inches from a second after being found beyond the Sunderland defence by Tom Huddlestone - but his finish just drifted wide of the post.
Berbatov struck the crossbar in the 27th minute after a flowing move started by O'Hara's impish flick on the touchline.
Defoe eventually played Lennon in down the right and Berbatov's finish from the cross was fractionally too high.
Defoe's chip from the edge of the area was superbly tipped wide by Gordon - and the Scotland goalkeeper saved with his feet when Huddlestone found Berbatov with a long ball and the Bulgaria striker lashed a shot on target.
Gordon's efforts kept Sunderland in the game and they started asserting pressure towards the end of the first half.
Daryl Murphy had an effort from long range but Radek Cerny, still preferred to Paul Robinson, was untroubled by the curler.
Jones had a clearer sight of goal when Dwight Yorke found him in the penalty area just before the break but Dawson was back to clear. Dawson also cleared off the line when McShane met Chopra's corner.
Missing Richardson
Sunderland were missing the creativity of Kieran Richardson, who picked up a hamstring injury in training, but it did not limit their threat going forward.
Murphy almost levelled three minutes into the second half when Dawson and Paul Stalteri ran into each other - but the finish curled wide.
Jones had the ball in the net in the 52nd minute when Murphy's free-kick broke to him but the effort was ruled out for offside.
The hosts went close through Defoe and Berbatov, while Huddlestone had a free-kick saved - but it was Sunderland who looked the more likely to score next. Yorke drilled wide from the edge of the area.
Spurs striker Keane came on for Defoe and also took the captain's armband, while Andy Cole came on for McShane.
Cerny had to save from Chopra's header and Jones was denied by a Dawson block with the rebound.
Cerny also denied Liam Miller, then Keane's shot wriggled under Gordon for his 100th Spurs goal.
| Tottenham Hotspur |
Team Statistics |
Sunderland |
| 2 |
Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 6 |
Shots on Target |
5 |
| 4 |
Shots off Target |
6 |
| 6 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
| 6 |
Corners |
7 |
| 15 |
Fouls |
13 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 72.4 |
Passing Success |
67.4 |
| 21 |
Tackles |
19 |
| 76.2 |
Tackles Success |
73.7 |
| 50.5 |
Possession |
49.5 |
| 42.9 |
Territorial Advantage |
57.1 |
|
