Source: Northern_Echo
Rallying call by Bramble
TITUS BRAMBLE insists Sunderland must put their disappointing defeat to Stoke City behind them as they prepare to welcome high-flying Tottenham to the Stadium of Light on Saturday.[LNB] After going ahead twice at the Britannia Stadium through Asamoah Gyan and Kieran Richardson, the Black Cats conceded a 90th minute winner from Robert Huth.[LNB] The Potters' second and third goals came from setpieces and Bramble admits his side weren't good enough and gifted both strikes to the hosts.[LNB] Now Bramble and Co are preparing for a difficult test against Harry Redknapp's side and the defender knows the London club will pose a different threat to the one Stoke offered.[LNB] We are disappointed because we led twice and then conceded two inside ten minutes including one in injury- time when we felt we dominated the game, said Bramble.[LNB] They are a big physical side who thrive on set pieces.[LNB] We played in to their hands because we kept giving away silly free-kicks, silly corners, silly throw-ins. They are a big physical side. Everyone says play to your strengths' and playing that way is to their strengths. They are getting results from it.[LNB] We had the Chelsea game on the Tuesday so we didn't have that long to prepare for the Stoke game.[LNB] It was a case of watching videos and preparing our mind. Tottenham is a different kettle of fish because they like to play football. For the neutral it will be a much more attractive game because we like to play football and so do they.[LNB] In the return fixture last November, Steve Bruce's men earned a hard-fought draw at White Hart Lane, after surviving a barrage of Spurs attacks in the first half.[LNB] Bramble warns his side risk being punished by Spurs' attacking line if they sit back again, but the 29-year-old believes the Wearsiders are now more than capable of competing with Redknapp's side.[LNB] You have all different types of players at Spurs,[LNB] Bramble said. Crouch is 6ft 7in. He is a handful who is great on the ball and in the air. Jermain Defoe is a goalscorer. Anything in the box he will hit the target. Van der Vaart has been a great signing by Harry (Redknapp).[LNB] You don't know what to expect from him.[LNB] This club is going forward and a couple of years ago I think Sunderland might have gone in to a game like this and thought we would get beaten. We go in to every game now and think that we can get three points.[LNB]
