The South Korean’s crosses came close to creating several goals for Tottenham against Sunderland on Sunday, and it would be no surprise if Pochettino encourages that kind of play going forward.
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However, Sunderland made an unexpected late change, with Jason Denayer coming in for Patrick van Aanholt moments before kick-off, and the Belgium global was given a tough examination by Son Heung-min on his Premier League debut for the club. They will really miss Harry Kane.
The English global left White Hart Lane on crutches after a nasty looking fall in the closing stages of the 1-0 victory.
But that aside, it was one-way traffic as the Wearsiders hung on resolutely against wave after wave of Spurs attacks. It is likely that Kane will be side-lined for six to eight weeks. Son’s left-footed attempt was deflected behind, while the brilliant Pickford clawed out Sissoko’s troublesome cross right under the bar. The Son may again shine over White Hart Lane.
Kane ended last season as the Premier League’s top scorer with 25 goals, the first Englishman to achieve the feat since Sunderland’s Kevin Phillips in 1999-2000.
Although the goal had clearly been coming, Sunderland suddenly sparked into a little more life. Ex-Spur Jermaine Defoe had remained completely isolated with the Black Cats forced deeper and deeper inside their own half by Spurs’ dominance.
– Sunderland haven’t won any of their last 24 Premier League matches contested in either August or September (D9 L15).
Lloris said he was anxious about the injury but maintained that their medical team was doing its best to get the best possible result.
Sunderland (0-1-4) refused to change their game plan after falling behind as Spurs continued to control the match. “Credit to the players, that’s what we are at the moment – we have to be resilient in games and looking to get things”, he said.
“This is the story of the season and that’s why we need all the players committed to the club”.
“We all agreed after the Monaco game – especially the first half – that we need to bring more energy and maybe more passion”, said Lloris. “We need to carry it on”. But from the image on the TV it was tough.
“Now he feels pain so we will see”. Goal scoring exploits in Dutch football can often be misleading when translated to England, and those troubles are easily seen when one views Janssen’s early season struggles and the chances he’s missed already. “We were hanging in there”. “Of course we have a lot of players at Tottenham but it’s the same case at some other teams”.
Spurs now go 5 Premier League games unbeaten at the start of a season for the first time in 12 years, but player health is of most interest.
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“I was disappointed with him, but I was also disappointed with the referee, because it was a free kick on the edge of the box and he doesn’t give it, and Adnan shouldn’t have spoke back to the referee”, he said.
