Saturday April 7, 2012 Day 32 Finished Stadium of Light

  1. Spurs regain third spot with draw

    Spurs regain third spot with draw

    Tottenham reclaimed third spot in the Premier League table after being held to a 0-0 draw by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Sunderland
    • Tottenham Hotspur
    • 90+4' There goes the final whistle! A 0-0 draw from this one. Both teams cancelled each other out.
    • 90+2' Vaughan booked for a late challenge on Lennon as Bale returns to the park.
    • 89' Bale limping towards the side of the park. Meanwhile, three minutes to be added to the match.
    • 88' Gardner makes a superb tackle to halt the run of Bale. Stunning tackle by the Sunderland man on the edge of his own box. Bale on the deck in need of some treatment.
    • 87' Larsson is going to deliver the free-kick inside the Spurs half, but the move breaks down and the visitors can break.
    • 86' Assou-Ekotto has been booked for bringing down Sessegon with a late challenge.
    • 85' Larsson has been booked for diving under pressure from Kaboul.
    • 84' Will there be one last chance for either side in this match? Lennon tries to set up Defoe, but he is crowded out by several home players.
    • 83' Bendtner nods over the bar from Larsson's corner. A goalkick to Spurs as the game inches towards a 0-0 draw.
    • 82' Van der Vaart departs to be replaced by Defoe for Spurs.
    • 81' Louis Saha scored five goals in his first four Premier League matches against Sunderland but has failed to net in the last six games against them.
    • 80' Redknapp speaks to Modric about something or other. Meanwhile, Defoe continues to wait for his chance to enter the action.
    • 79' Change for the home side as Bardsley departs to be replaced by Richardson.
    • 78' Bale is felled by Garnder as Spurs earn a free-kick just outside of the Sunderland box, but the delivery comes to nothing.
    • 77' Defoe is also going to arrive in the next few minutes as the London side chase three points.
    • 76' Saha replaces Adebayor for Spurs as the visitors attempt to grab the winner.
    • 75' Sunderland fans trying to inspire their side to bound forward for the winning goal as Gallas knocks the ball away from Bendtner.
    • 74' Change coming for the home side with Cattermole departing to be replaced by Vaughan.
    • 73' Parker makes a fine tackle to ensure Gardner can't get a shot away. Corner to Sunderland.
    • 72' Not sure that was going in the net. Van der Vaart appealed for a penalty, but would have been harsh to award the spot-kick. Ball seemed to play hand.
    • 71' Turner forced to knock the ball off the line from Van der Vaart's effort. Finally Spurs cut through Sunderland, but are denied.
    • 70' Cattermole looks like he has taken a bit of a sore one as he limps off the park. Not sure he will be able to continue.
    • 69' Bardsley throws a ball to the back post. McClean can't keep the ball in play. Out for a goalkick to Spurs. Story of the day really.
    • 68' Martin O'Neill continues to be more animated than his side as Harry Redknapp shakes his head on the opposite bench.
    • 67' Sunderland have scored three goals in each of their last two games. They have never scored 3+ goals for three successive Premier League games before. Don't like altering that stat today.
    • 66' Spurs collect in the middle of the home half. Again there are plenty of bodies in the way. Parker content to go back with the ball.
    • 65' Martin O'Neill telling his men to pull back. Seem to have spent most of the day defending. Sunderland on the ball at the halfway line.
    • 64' Going to be a change here with Aaron Lennon arriving for Spurs to take over from Sandro.
    • 63' Tottenham have failed to score in three of their last eight Premier League matches, having scored in each of previous 22 Premier League matches in a row.
    • 62' Sessegnon looking for one touch too many as Spurs again retreat to deal with the danger. Solid defending. We remain at 0-0.
    • 61' Sandro is booked for a late challenge on Kilgallon. Was a cynical challenge by the Spurs midfielder.
    • 60' Larsson whips a corner to the back post, but Sessegnon can't find the free header. Spurs clear the danger.
    • 59' Walker forced to throw his frame in the way of the ball to ensure McClean isn't left with a tap-in at the back post. Fine clearance.
    • 58' Bale nods over the bar from 12 yards out. Sloppy marking in the home area from Assou-Ekotto's cross. Was a free header.
    • 57' Bardsley doing well to ensure Bale can't wreak any havoc out wide. Solid defending by the Scotland man.
    • 56' Gallas forced to nick the ball away from Bendtner. Friedel then launches a long ball down the park seconds later.
    • 55' Modric brings the ball up the park for Spurs, but Adebayor is caught offside are darting forward too soon.
    • 54' Bale picks out Modric whose backheel towards Van der Vaart is walloped over the bar. Sunderland with so many bodies in the box.
    • 53' Friedel comes out to collect the ball. Tottenham continue to find it difficult to earn space in the Sunderland half.
    • 52' A few meaty challenges going in there as Gallas takes out Gardner with a late tackle.
    • 51' Tottenham’s last two Premier League away matches that were goalless at half time also ended 0-0 – at Anfield and Stamford Bridge.
    • 50' Larsson knocks a corner to the back post. Bendtner keeps the ball in play at the back post, but Spurs clear the danger with some ease.
    • 49' Mistake by Sandro in the middle of the park as he loses possession, but Bendtner takes a tumble seconds later.
    • 48' McClean cuts the ball across goal looking for Sessegnon, but he can't get the power on the shot as Friedel collects with some ease.
    • 47' Sunderland begin the second period sitting deep and waiting for the visiting side to come on to them. Not making for the greatest match in history.
    • 46' Tottenham get the second period off and running. Let us hope for a better 45 minutes.
    • 45+1' There goes the whistle for the break. Not much to write home about. 0-0 at half-time.
    • 44' One minute to be added to the first period.
    • 43' Gardner slips the ball into the path of Bendtner, who is offside. A free-kick to the visiting side in their own half.
    • 42' Kilgallon back to block the shot by Van der Vaart. Had to make that block.
    • 41' Spurs with loads of possession, but nothing to show for their efforts. Sunderland have proved a tough nut to crack.
    • 40' Turner sees a header deflect over the bar from Larsson's free-kick before Bendtner nods over seconds later. Spurs with the ball in their own half.
    • 39' Assou-Ekotto brings down Sessegnon and have a free-kick out wide. Chance to slide the ball into the visiting box.
    • 38' Gardner clatters Adebayor with a late tackle before Sunderland break moments later. Sessegnon just fails to win the ball in the visiting box.
    • 37' Bardsley tries to slip a ball into the path of Sessegnon, but easy pickings for Friedel as he comes from his goal to pick up.
    • 36' Assou-Ekotto nudges the ball back into the arms of Friedel from miles out.
    • 35' Sunderland have only conceded first half goals in four of their 17 Premier League matches under Martin O’Neill.
    • 34' Colback with a clear body check on Sandro. Foy again reluctant to get his yellow card out. Surely a booking is on the cards here.
    • 33' Gardner with a tame header into the hands of Friedel as the game struggles to gain any real momentum.
    • 32' Sandro atones for his own error by darting back to tackle Sessegnon. Vital challenge. Appeals for a handball against Parker in the home box. Referee says no.
    • 31' Gardner gets a head on Van der Vaart's free-kick as Spurs win a corner, but the corner comes to nothing. More disappointment in this match.
    • 30' Cattermole brings down Sandro with a silly late challenge. He is now arguing with the referee. Not sure the yellow card has come out.
    • 29' Gardner tries to prod the ball into the path of McClean, but Spurs do enough to deal with the threat as another attack collapses.
    • 28' This game really struggling to come to life. Sunderland playing a waiting game in front of the home fans. Almost like a chess match. No team willing to commit bodies forward without much thought.
    • 27' Adebayor takes a touch before going to ground, but is penalised with Turner keeping a close eye on his movements.
    • 26' Sunderland’s Stephane Sessegnon and Tottenham’s Emmanuel Adebayor both have five Premier League assists in 2012 – equal-most in the division with Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia.
    • 25' Parker sees a hopeful long ranger fly off a home shirt and behind for a corner to Spurs, but the home side clear Van der Vaart's delivery.
    • 24' Walker gets his head on the Larsson corner from the other side. Spurs quick to move up the park.
    • 23' Walker brings down McClean out wide. Sunderland earn a free-kick. Larsson's delivery is nodded behind for a corner. McClean's corner given similar treatment.
    • 22' Turner quick to close down Adebayor as he threatened to cut loose. Sunderland continue to play this waiting game.
    • 21' This game not really catching fire at the moment. Parker flattened by a Bendtner tackle. The former Arsenal man lucky to avoid a booking there.
    • 20' Martin O'Neill with only one win over Harry Redknapp in management. That came back in 1997 when Leicester City beat West Ham United.
    • 19' Sessegnon goes down under pressure from Gallas. Decent marking by Spurs. Lovely delivery by Bardsley from his right flank. Spurs have the goalkick.
    • 18' Van der Vaart overhits a corner. Ball flies straight out of play. A goalkick to the home side.
    • 17' Tottenham have failed to score in their last two Premier League away matches. It is over five years since they went three away matches without a goal - from August to September 2006.
    • 16' A fair amount of pushing in the box from Larsson's delivery, but Friedel finally gets his hands on the ball at the second attempt.
    • 15' Gallas over to make a superb block on McClean. Sunderland have the corner-kick.
    • 14' McClean guilty of fouling Walker out wide for that free-kick. He has to be careful of giving away such needless fouls.
    • 13' Adebayor rises in the box to head a free-kick goalwards. Appeals for a handball against Bardsley. Seemed to hit his hand, but ref waves play on.
    • 12' Bardsley bounds up the line alongside Bale to block a cross. Sunderland mindful of the damage Bale can do on the run.
    • 11' Modric spins 25 yards from goal. Gets enough power on the shot, but not the direction as Mignolet dives to make a comfortable stop for the home side.
    • 10' Harry Redknapp has called for Tottenham to win five of their last seven Ptremier League matches of the season. They have never achieved this feat in the Premier League era and not in the top flight since 1989-90 when they won six of their final seven league matches of the season to finish third in the division – the last time they were in the top three.
    • 9' Bardsley flies into a crunching late tackle on Bale. Spurs awarded the free-kick. Referee Chris Foy quick to blow his whistle.
    • 8' McClean tries to pick out Bendtner in the middle, but overhits the cross by some distance. Delivery has to be better than that.
    • 7' Gardner decides to try his luck from distance, but well wide of goal. Martin O'Neill looks on by taking a slug of a water bottle.
    • 6' Modric tries to dart through the middle for the visiting side. Appeals for the handball against Modric, but no damage done as Sunderland clear the danger.
    • 5' Captain Lee Cattermole starts for Sunderland despite a recent injury. The club have a better record without him this season, winning seven of their 11 Premier League matches without him (63%) compared with four of the 20 Premier League matches he has featured in (20%).
    • 4' First effort of the day falls to Assou-Ekotto who thumps a shot narrowly wide from distance. Plenty of venom. Just wide of goal.
    • 3' A touch of the Swansea approach as they keep the ball and knock the ball back to Friedel. Sunderland with nine men behind the ball. Happy to let Spurs play in front of them.
    • 2' Looks an ideal day for football. Pitch is in glorious condition. Spurs keeping the ball well early on.
    • 1' We are off and running in this one. Arsenal one goal better off than Spurs on goal difference in third place before the start of the match.
    • 12.42 Teams on their way out. Sunderland in traditional red and whilte. Tottenham in changed purple-ish strip.
    • 12.40 MATCH ODDS: Sunderland 23/10, Spurs 6/5, Draw 12/5.
    • 12.35 Sunderland have 30 points from 17 Premier League matches under Martin O’Neill. If the Premier League started when he took charge, they would be in third place in the table, behind only Manchester United (40) and Manchester City (33).
    • 12.30 Matt Kilgallon is set to partner Michael Turner at the back for the home side with Jack Colback likely to continue on the left side of defence.
    • 12.25 Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp: "I never felt we played badly, we were just unlucky. We’re playing well and we had a good week with Chelsea, Bolton and Swansea. I've been at clubs where the players look like their confidence has gone, but this lot have been fantastic, knocking the ball around in training and I just felt we were playing well and needed a little luck. I never had any doubts."
    • 12.20 Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill: "I'm aware that players like Connor (Wickham) and Ji (Dong-won) will be disappointed not to have had more time on the pitch. And now that we've passed the 40-point mark there's maybe the opportunity to use the squad more. But we still want to finish this season very strongly and they will have to merit their inclusion. It would be nice during the course of the next seven matches if some of the younger lads get more of a chance to set them up for the summer."
    • 12.15 Tottenham have no new injury concerns. Ledley King (knee) had a test on Friday to see if he is fit enough to play but misseds out while Aaron Lennon (hamstring) is again on the bench after coming off as a substitute against Swansea last week. Long-term absentees Michael Dawson (ankle), Heurelho Gomes (knee), David Bentley (knee) and Tom Huddlestone (ankle) are out.
    • 12.10 Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill names an unchanged side. Defender Wayne Bridge starts on the bench after being ineligible for last weekend's game against Manchester City under the terms of his loan agreement. The fixture is too soon for defender John O'Shea (calf), while Lee Cattermole makes it after passing a late fitness test on an ongoing knee problem.
    • 12.05 TEAMS: Tottenham: Friedel; Walker, Gallas, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto; Parker, Modric, Sandro; Van der Vaart, Adebayor, Bale..subs: Cudicini, Nelsen, Kranjcar, Lennon, Livermore, Defoe, Saha////Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, Colback, Kilgallon, Turner, Larsson, McClean, Cattermole, Gardner, Sessegnon, Bendtner..subs: Bridge, Richardson, Vaughan, Dong-won, Meyler, Kyrgiakos, Westwood
    • 12.00 Good afternoon and welcome to LIVE coverage of Sunderland against Tottenham from the Stadium of Light.

  • Summary

    • 71' Turner forced to knock the ball off the line from Van der Vaart's effort. Finally Spurs cut through Sunderland, but are denied.
    • 59' Walker forced to throw his frame in the way of the ball to ensure McClean isn't left with a tap-in at the back post. Fine clearance.
    • 58' Bale nods over the bar from 12 yards out. Sloppy marking in the home area from Assou-Ekotto's cross. Was a free header.
    • 4' First effort of the day falls to Assou-Ekotto who thumps a shot narrowly wide from distance. Plenty of venom. Just wide of goal.
    • 12.05 TEAMS: Tottenham: Friedel; Walker, Gallas, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto; Parker, Modric, Sandro; Van der Vaart, Adebayor, Bale..subs: Cudicini, Nelsen, Kranjcar, Lennon, Livermore, Defoe, Saha////Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, Colback, Kilgallon, Turner, Larsson, McClean, Cattermole, Gardner, Sessegnon, Bendtner..subs: Bridge, Richardson, Vaughan, Dong-won, Meyler, Kyrgiakos, Westwood

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.7 7
      Defenders
      Substitution Out80′ 6.4 7
      6.3 7
      6.1 7
      5.9 7
      Midfielders
      6.1 7
      Substitution Out76′ 5.3 7
      Yellow Card 6.8 7
      6.4 6
      Strikers
      7.1 6
      6 5
      Subs
      Substitution In80′ 7 6
      Substitution In76′ Yellow Card 6.5 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.1 6
      Defenders
      5.5 7
      5.2 7
      5 7
      Yellow Card 6.2 7
      Midfielders
      5.3 7
      Yellow Card Substitution Out65′ 4.7 6
      5.6 6
      Strikers
      Substitution Out83′ 6.4 5
      6.9 6
      Substitution Out78′ 6.5 5
      Subs
      Substitution In78′ 4.7 6
      Substitution In83′ 5.5 6
      Substitution In65′ 5.3 6

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