Kranjkar nets Spurs win

12 February 2011 19:30
NIKO KRANJKAR scored the winner for the second week running as Tottenham Hotspur won at Sunderland for the first time in almost ten years.[LNB] NIKO KRANJKAR scored the winner for the second week running as Tottenham Hotspur won at Sunderland for the first time in almost ten years.[LNB] Asamoah Gyan's first half goal was cancelled out on the stroke of half-time by Michael Dawson, and Kranjkar's volleyed effort gave Spurs the victory that had eluded them since September 2001.[LNB] Sunderland took the lead on 11 minutes through Gyan, who collected Kieran Richardson's cross, turned on a sixpence and fired home from the edge of the six-yard box.[LNB] However, a half which saw some clever fluid interplay in the midfield ended on a sour note for Sunderland a minute before half-time when Steven Pienaar's corner was headed through Craig Gordon's legs by Dawson to make it 1-1.[LNB] The second half, at times, was a breathless affair, both sides spurning chances to take the lead. Firstly, Phil Bardsley cleared off the line on 52 minutes from William Gallas' hooked effort, while at the other end, Steed Malbranque shot straight at Heurelho Gomes from Gyan's decent work on the left flank a minute later.[LNB] But it was Tottenham who took the lead on 57 minutes when John Mensah's defensive header from Sandro's cross was volleyed home with aplomb by Kranjkar, who had netted the winner seven days previous against Bolton Wanderers.[LNB] In reply, Sunderland went close through Muntari on 70 minutes and Richardson's 79th minute shot hit the top of the crossbar but a breakthrough would not come, and Spurs held on for victory.[LNB] Sunderland have now not won at home since beating Blackburn Rovers 3-0 on New Year's Day.[LNB] SUNDERLAND (4-5-1): Gordon; Onuoha (Zenden 86), Mensah, Bramble, Bardsley; Malbranque (Elmohamady 76), Henderson, Muntari, Sessegnon, Richardson; Gyan. Subs not used: Mignolet (gk), Angeleri, Riveros, Ferdinand, Colback.[LNB] TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-4-2): Gomes; Corluka, Dawson, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto; Kranjkar, Jenas, Pienaar (Lennon 78), Sandro; Pavlyuchenko, Defoe (Palacios 87). Subs not used: Bassong, Crouch, Cudicini, Khumalo, Woodgate.[LNB] Referee: Mike Jones.[LNB] Att: 40,986[LNB]  [LNB]

Source: Northern_Echo