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Attendance: 31,251
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Premier League
Sep 18, 2016 at 4.30pm UK
 
Sunderland

1-0

Kane (59')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Januzaj (90')

Live Commentary: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Sunderland - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Tottenham Hotspur's 1-0 victory over Sunderland in the Premier League.
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Tottenham Hotspur have earned a 1-0 victory over Sunderland in the Premier League thanks to a second-half goal from Harry Kane.

The forward was perfectly placed to find the bottom corner from close range after indecision inside the Sunderland penalty area but the afternoon ended on a sour note for the forward.

The 23-year-old was stretchered down the tunnel after twisting his ankle, while Sunderland ended the game with 10 men after Adnan Januzaj was sent off for a poor challenge on Ben Davies.

Read below to see how the action unfolded at White Hart Lane.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland.

It has been a busy day of action in the Premier League and we wrap things up with a clash between a team who are unbeaten in the Premier League and a side who are yet to win a game. Spurs will fancy their chances of overcoming the disappointment of losing in Europe in midweek but Sunderland must surely offer more than they did against Everton on Monday night. On paper, it looks a one-sided contest but anything can happen in the top flight...

Before we take a look at the team news, let me bring you up-to-date with the games that are currently taking place. Crystal Palace are well on their way to victory over a struggling Stoke City side at Selhurst Park while Southampton have just taken the lead against Swansea City thanks to a Charlie Austin goal. It's been quite the few days for the former Queens Park Rangers forward! To keep track of the closing stages, head over to our live scores page.

Anyway, back to this game and let's crack on with the ins and outs at White Hart Lane...

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR XI: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Dier, Vertonghen; Dembele, Wanyama, Sissoko, Alli; Son Heung-min, Kane

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUBSTITUTES: Janssen, Lamela, Vorm, Trippier, Eriksen, Winks, Davies

SUNDERLAND XI: Pickford; Manquillo, Kone, Djilobodji, Van Aanholt; Januzaj, Kirchhoff, Cattermole, Ndong, Pienaar; Defoe

SUNDERLAND SUBSTITUTES: Denayer, Khazri, Mika, Watmore, O'Shea, McNair, Gooch

First of all, let's take a look at the Spurs side with Pochettino making three alterations to his starting lineup. Moussa Sissoko has been handed his first start since joining the club from Newcastle United while Victor Wanyama also returns after dropping to the bench in midweek. There's also a reshuffle at the back with Eric Dier moving back into the centre of defence, Jan Vertonghen moving to left-back and Ben Davies being demoted to the bench.

As for Sunderland, there is a welcome return to the team for Lee Cattermole, who has missed the start of the season through injury. He is joined in the side by Didier Ndong, who is making his first start since joining the Black Cats from Lorient for £13.6m. It's going to be interesting to see how he matches up against the likes of Wanyama and Dembele on his first proper taste of the Premier League. As expected, Jermain Defoe starts in attack against his former club.

HEAD TO HEAD! There have been 116 previous meetings between these two sides, with Spurs winning 49 times in comparison to 37 victories for Sunderland. However, the North-East outfit have a dismal recent record both home and away against Spurs. In the last 12 matches, all that Sunderland have to show for their efforts is three draws...

While we are on the topic of past meetings, let's take a look back at what happened in this fixture last season. Sunderland appeared to have put themselves in the ideal position to pull off a shock at White Hart Lane but an opening goal from Patrick van Aanholt was as good as it got. Read the full match report here.

With the matches at Selhurst Park and St Mary's coming to a close, we can talk about the implications on the table with each possible result in North London. A Spurs win would see them overtake Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United and move into third place, while a Sunderland victory would see them move out of the relegation zone. A draw wouldn't really suit either side but at this stage of the campaign, I suppose Sunderland would jump at a point at White Hart Lane.

RESULT! Before we bring you confirmation of the results from the 2.15pm kickoffs, why not have a read of how Manchester United fell to a 3-1 defeat at Watford earlier this afternoon. It's was a pretty dramatic game! Read our on-the-whistle report by clicking here.

One player who really needs a goal in the Spurs side is Harry Kane. Since England's friendlies before Euro 2016, he has only netted once, which came against Stoke City last weekend. It was far from the confident finish that we usually expect off him either and his lack of belief was evident when he fluffed a late opportunity against AS Monaco in the Champions League. You'd think that it is only a matter of time before he puts some kind of scoring streak together but the longer this poor spell continues, the pressure will continue to intensify.

Sunderland will be relying heavily on Defoe to get them a goal or two this afternoon and the signs are positive that he will hit the back of the net. He holds the remarkable record of scoring in each of his last six away appearances for the Black Cats with his last match without a goal on opposition territory coming against West Ham United on February 27. He also netted 11 times in away fixtures during the last campaign which is phenomenal when representing a team at the bottom of the standings.

PREDICTION! While we have an inkling that Sunderland will give as good as they get this afternoon, we cannot back against Spurs. With Kane off form, they may have to rely on goals from other areas of the pitch but we think they will run out 3-1 winners.

REPORTS! Want something to read before this match gets underway? Of course you do. Click here to see how Crystal Palace thrashed Stoke City at Selhurst Park. If you keep an eye on our homepage, you will also find the report for Southampton's narrow win over Swansea City.

The two teams have made their way out at White Hart Lane. This game will be getting started very shortly.

There's been a late change to the Sunderland team. Jason Denayer has been drafted in for Patrick van Aanholt. No reason has been given just yet...

Sunderland get this game underway...

Both teams have started at quite a pace. Most of Spurs' work is coming down the left while Sunderland have already got Januzaj on the ball. His battle with Vertonghen should be eventful.

SHOT! Spurs are attempting to push Sunderland back into their own final third and so far, it's working. They are looking very eager, none more so than Sissoko who has just lashed a low effort marginally wide of the far post.

While Spurs are dominating this match in the early stages, they look very casual at the back. Under no pressure whatsoever, Lloris nearly kicked the ball out of play. That can't have impressed his manager.

CHANCE! When luck is against you, that's the kind of chance that doesn't go in. A cross from Son to the near post is met by Kane but despite making great contact on the half-volley, Pickford somehow manages to keep the ball out from four yards.

SHOT! This hasn't been a great start from Sunderland. They are inviting pressure from the home side and they are obliging. On this occasion, a well-struck shot from Dembele is saved by Pickford down to his left.

CHANCE! I'm really not sure how Spurs haven't scored yet. After Pickford blocked a close-range effort from Kane, Alderweireld met the resulting corner and sent it straight into the hands of the goalkeeper.

CHANCE! Some excellent work from Kane ends with the striker firing the ball to the edge of the area where Son is waiting. However, the South Korean's first-time effort went miles over the crossbar. It was a tough chance but he should have done better.

CHANCE! Out of nothing, Sunderland almost take the lead! A long ball from Pickford finds Defoe and after holding off the defender, he forces Lloris into a block at his near post. That should sharpen Spurs' work at the back.

CHANCE! A comedy of errors in and around the Sunderland penalty area ends with Wanyama getting the chance to get a volley on goal from the edge of the box but he completely scuffs his effort. I really have no idea how this game is still goalless.

We have gone five minutes without a shot on goal. Standards are slipping at White Hart Lane. They are second best by a mile but Moyes will be delighted that his team have reached the half-hour mark without conceding a goal.

Things have slowed down where Spurs are concerned. Sunderland have done well to nullify the pace in which Spurs were attacking. Kirchoff and Cattermole are proving extremely effective. Sissoko has also picked up a knock but he should be fine to continue.

WOODWORK! After a lull in play, Son gets things moving again with a direct run in from the left and he comes agonisingly close to giving Spurs the lead with a fierce strike that hits the outside of the post and goes wide.

SHOT! This is better from Spurs but they still can't breach Sunderland's defences. Dembele is the next to try his luck but after moving the ball onto his right foot, his shot was deflected just over Pickford's crossbar.

CHANCE! So close for Sunderland! Januzaj dances into the penalty area and squares the ball for Pienaar. He is odds-on to score against his former club but his shot from six yards is cleared off the line by Walker!

There will be one minute of added-on time.

HALF TIME: Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Sunderland

The half-time whistle goes at White Hart Lane and despite there being over 20 shots in that opening period, we remain goalless. Spurs have dominated for large parts but Sunderland look dangerous on the break and could easily be leading this football match. We should have a cracker of a second half coming up...

Sunderland get the game restarted.

Not much to report from the opening four minutes of the second half. Spurs have had lots of possession but aside from from poorly-taken corner, they have done little with the ball.

SHOT! Kone has taken a risk here. A long ball was arrowed in towards Alli and as the Spurs midfielder attempted to control the ball, Kone had his arms all around him. Nothing from referee Mike Dean, however. Moments later, Son got a shot in but it was deflected over the crossbar.

CHANCE! Spurs are starting to build some momentum again but far too often, they are making the wrong decisions in the final third. That applies here as Son fires the ball into the side-netting when Kane and Alli were available in the middle.

GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Sunderland (Kane)

Spurs finally have the breakthrough! A floated cross towards the back post from Walker wasn't dealt with by the Sunderland defence and after Djilobodji missed his kick, Kane had the simple task of slotting the ball into the bottom corner from inside the six-yard box.

BOOKING! It has taken 62 minutes but Cattermole is finally cautioned in what is the least surprising thing to happen in this game. He was booked for a barge on Dembele.

SUBSTITUTION! Moyes makes his first Sunderland change and Watmore is introduced to the action in place of Pienaar.

It's almost getting too easy for Spurs and it leads to them making a mistake in their own half. The ball is soon sprayed out to Watmore but after breaking into the penalty area, his pass across goal misses everyone. Defoe needed to be further forward there.

Spurs have plenty of options on the bench so it shouldn't be long before they use one of them. Walker appears to be limping with a hamstring problem but he has told his manager that he is fine to continue.

SHOT! Alli has had a good game for Spurs this afternoon but he still can't get on the scoresheet. A strong run through the centre ends with a low shot that is tipped away for a corner.

CHANCE! From the resulting corner, the ball falls perfectly for Dier but he drives a half-volley just wide of the far post.

SUBSTITUTION! Dembele has gone down feeling his hamstring so Pochettino has opted to throw on Lamela in his place.

SUBSTITUTION! Dier has now suffered a muscle injury too. He is quickly replaced by Davies before he can do any more damage.

CHANCE! What a chance for Lamela. Kane does superbly to win the ball off the defender and the tackle leads to Lamela having the opportunity to curl the ball into the far corner. However, he bides his time for too long and his shot is eventually deflected wide.

SAVE! This is an outstanding save from Pickford. Lamela thinks he's found the far corner with a similar effort to the one moments ago but the England Under-21 international somehow gets a finger-tip to the ball to divert it wide.

SUBSTITUTION! This could be a major blow for Spurs. Kane badly twists his ankle in a challenge with a Sunderland defender and he is withdrawn by Pochettino for Janssen. That could be at least a month on the sidelines for Kane. He's having to be stretchered around to the tunnel.

RED CARD! Sunderland are reduced to 10 men after an abysmal challenge from Januzaj on Davies. It's a shocker. There will be six minutes of added-on time.

SUBSTITUTION! Sunderland make their final change with McNair replacing Denayer. He has gone into attack. Two minutes to go.

FULL TIME: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Sunderland

The full-time whistle goes at White Hart Lane and Spurs have comfortably held on to secure a 1-0 win over Sunderland thanks to Kane's goal in the second half. However, it wasn't all good news for the North London side after Kane was later stretchered off with an ankle injury.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again later for Real Madrid's trip to Espanyol. Goodbye for now.

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