Tottenham Hotspur 2, Sunderland 0

Nov 9 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

As Bruce muttered after the final whistle, the best players in the world have always suffered the odd penalty miss.

Sunderland must hope he does not dwell on this disappointment, just as they must not allow their collective confidence to be damaged by this defeat because they are starting to look a really good side.

Deprived of their first-choice central midfield pairing with Lee Cattermole injured and Lorik Cana suspended, as well as talismanic targetman Kenwyne Jones, Sunderland played so well in the first half that Tottenham were booed off by their own supporters at half-time even though they were leading 1-0.

That goal came at the end of their only meaningful attack of the half, Robbie Keane bundling the ball in from close range after Peter Crouch had nodded Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s cross into his path. There was a suspicion of offside, but television replays showed he was level with the last defender when the ball came towards him.

It was a rare foray into Sunderland’s half for Spurs. The Black Cats swarmed all over them in midfield, Andy Reid, Jordan Henderson and Kieran Richardson picking off possession with ease while the trickery of Steed Malbranque often left Tottenham defenders chasing shadows.

The only problem was, whenever Sunderland got near goal they missed the target or were denied by Gomes.

The Brazilian might have conceded another spot-kick when he was beaten to the ball by Bent in the first-half, but he did superbly to block at the feet of Richardson as he sprinted on to Vedran Corluka’s weak header.

Henderson also missed a great chance when he scuffed a shot wide from Bent’s low cross, while Reid hit the post with a delightful dipping shot from 30 yards after Richardson had scooped another decent offering wide. The game swung on Bent’s penalty miss.

Had the Wearsiders equalised then it was feasible they would have gone on to win the game. Instead, with Gomes the hero, Tottenham went up the other end and added a second when Tom Huddlestone drove in from 20 yards via the underside of the crossbar after clever play by Jermain Defoe. And still Sunderland threatened without managing to get the ball in the back of the net, Bent getting in front of Jonathan Woodgate but his glancing header flew straight into the arms of Gomes.

The Spurs stopper also did well to get his hands up to pluck Malbranque’s effort out of the air after it came through a crowd of bodies, although his best save came late on when he got down to Michael Turner’s header and tipped it round the post in a moment of Gordon Banks-esque brilliance. Bruce’s mood was not helped by the fact he thought Gomes should have been sent off for bringing down Bent for the penalty.

He will go on holiday this week hoping his luck changes after the international break. With Arsenal the next visitors to Wearside, they need it to.