Sunderland 3 Tottenham Hotspur 1

05 April 2010 10:10
Sunderland 3 Tottenham Hotspur 1[LNB] IT WAS perhaps fitting Sunderland striker Darren Bent chose to use the Easter weekend as an act of redemption given it is a holy time in the Christian calendar.[LNB] Sunderland's contest with Tottenham was always going to be about Bent and how he would fair against his former employers. Fortunately, it was an afternoon where he did not disappoint, despite a committing a couple of cardinal sins in the shape of penalty misses.[LNB] Although Bent's manager, Steve Bruce, felt his £10m striker did not have to repent any sins or ask for salvation, the Tooting-born forward obviously felt differently.[LNB] Harry Redknapp's my wife could have scored that comment in response to a Bent miss while he was a Tottenham player, obviously still rankled.[LNB] Bent admitted he'd endured a restless night prior to the contest, but after his two-goal show at the Stadium of Light the Black Cats striker believes he has exorcised the demons of his White Hart Lane past and can now move on.[LNB] He said: After I scored that first goal, it was like that chapter of my life is behind me now.[LNB] To get the second one as well, was just unbelievable. I wouldn't say it was the sweetest moment of my career but it's definitely one of the most emotional situations I've ever had in my football career.[LNB] Bent's goal celebrations may have been somewhat over exuberant, but who could blame him given his unhappy spell in north London, and the fact he was struck by a missile straight after.[LNB] After netting the opening goal, the 26-year-old striker ran towards the opposition supporters; held his finger over his lips; beat the Sunderland badge on his chest and danced a jig of delight.[LNB] Timed at 34 seconds, it was the fastest goal scored in the top flight this term, beating Fraizer Campbell's effort against Bolton and Jermain Defoe's strike at Manchester United earlier this season both recorded at 41 seconds.[LNB] He repeated his earlier antics when netting his second from the spot in the 27th minute, to record his 22nd Premier League goal of the campaign, in a poignant afternoon.[LNB] It was more a case of they (Spurs fans) never really gave me a chance when I was down there, said Bent, who revealed he will still take penalty responsibilities.[LNB] Even my friends who are Spurs fans, they've still got things to say about my time there. I think it was all the emotions of them saying this and saying that and never really getting behind me. I think all of that just sort of poured out of me as soon as the ball hit the back of the net.[LNB] But if Bent has feelings of antipathy towards Spurs fans then the same cannot be said of his Black Cats' brethren.[LNB] I couldn't believe it, said the former Charlton goal machine.[LNB] The support the fans gave me was incredible. It is something that will live with me for a long, long time.[LNB] Even when I missed the (first) penalty, for them to keep singing my name and to respond when the Spurs fans were singing about me it was magical really.[LNB] They got behind me from the moment I got to the club and, to be fair, when I got to Spurs I didn't get that at all, until the moment I left.[LNB] It was surprising to me in some ways; because I wasn't used to it and for them to get behind me so much has been fantastic.[LNB] When you've got that, you just want to repay them so much and I've been trying to do that all season.[LNB] The Sunderland striker made it known if he does have any regrets over his fledgling career then it is not making the move to Wearside sooner.[LNB] It's been a dream move for me, admitted the five-cap England forward. I wanted to come to Sunderland in January last year. But I couldn't go because Defoe and (Roman) Pavluychenko got injured and I was left on my own.[LNB] But as soon as the end of the season came I was pushing for this move and pushing and pushing. When it finally happened, it felt like a dream and it's been fantastic all year.[LNB] It was an afternoon of mixed emotions for Bent. And after scoring two goals and missing two penalties the Black Cats boss withdrew his top scorer for tactical reasons.[LNB] Bent, obviously, wanted to remain on the pitch to net a hattrick but understands his manager's reasons, despite fearing the worse.[LNB] He said: After I missed the second penalty and they went and scored straight away, I thought Oh no, here we go again'. I obviously came off and thought flipping heck, there's nothing I can do to influence it now'. So when Bolo's goal went in, it was just relief. It was probably the goal of the season.[LNB] Bent stabbed home from close range to open the scoring after Heurelho Gomes had parried Campbell's header from Kieran Richardson's corner.[LNB] Bent added his second from the penalty spot after Kyle Walker had handled Steed Malbranque's shot.[LNB] Sunderland were awarded a second penalty when Luka Modric left a trailing leg for Campbell to fall over. Unfortunately, Bent changed sides and Gomez read his former colleague to save his second penalty just before half time.[LNB] The drama continued after the break when referee Lee Mason disallowed what looked like a perfectly good goal by Anton Ferdinand. The official deemed Campbell impeded Gomez in the build up.[LNB] Spurs pulled a goal back when Peter Crouch used Michael Turner as a springboard to head in Niko Kranjcar's cross, before the Black Cats won their third spot kick when Wilson Palacios felled a flying David Meyler. Once again Gomez guessed right, pushing Bent's penalty on to the post before gathering safely.[LNB] But just as Spurs pushed for an equaliser, sub Zenden applied the piece de resistance.[LNB] The lively Jordan Henderson displayed composure and vision to pick out the Dutchman at the back post, a minute before the end, and he netted a superb volley into the top corner.[LNB] Unfortunately, for Bent, it seems only the intervention of a miracle will see him find a place in Fabio Cappello's World Cup squad this summer.[LNB] Black Cats' apostles believe he can walk on water he may have to because 22 Premier League goals does not seem to be enough.[LNB] Match facts Goals:[LNB] 1-0: Bent (1, nets from close range after Gomez parries Campbell header)[LNB] 2-0: Bent (29, penalty hard and low to goalkeeper's right)[LNB] 2-1: Crouch (72, climbs on Turner's shoulder to head past Gordon)[LNB] 3-1: Zenden (89, left foot volley into the top corner from Henderson's excellent cross)[LNB] Bookings: Catternole (35),[LNB] Malbranque (69)[LNB] Referee: Lee Mason (Lancershire) Brave to award three penalties but wrong to rule out Ferdinand's goal and missed Crouch's foul on Turner for Spurs' goal 4[LNB] Attendance: 43,184[LNB] Entertainment: [LNB] SUNDERLAND (4-4-2):[LNB] 8 Gordon: Continued his recent good form with yet another convincing display[LNB] 6 Ferdinand: Sound defensively and had a perfectly good goal chalked off[LNB] 7 Da Silva: Solid and dependable and dealt with anything the Spurs strikers asked of him[LNB] 7 Turner: Consistent throughout and Crouch, literally, climbed all over him to score[LNB] 6 Richardson: Performed well in a position he's not best suited for[LNB] 7 Henderson: Showed superb vision, awareness and composure to pick out Zenden for the Black Cats' third goal[LNB] 6 Cattermole: Yet another pointless booking for the midfielder[LNB] 7 Meyler: Composed and his industry won a penalty[LNB] 7 Malbranque: Tireless running and probing and his performance deserved a goal 8[LNB] CAMPBELL: Arguably his best game for the club[LNB] 8 Bent: Scored two and missed two penalties in an eventful afternoon[LNB] Subs:[LNB] Jones (for Bent 78) Zenden (for Malbranque 78) Bardsley (for Campbell 89) (not used): Carson (gk), Liddle, Kilgallon, Benjani[LNB] TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-4-2):[LNB] GOMES 8; Kyle Walker 5, Kaboul 4, Bassong 4, Assou-Ekotto 3 (Defoe 5, 45); Bentley 3 (Kranjcar 5, 45), Palacios 5, Modric 5, Bale 5; Gudjohnsen 4, Pavlyuchenko 5 (Crouch 71). Subs (not used): Alnwick (gk), Rose, Livermore, Dervite[LNB] MAN OF THE MATCH[LNB] FRAIZER Campbell Justified his inclusion ahead of Kenwyne Jones with an excellent display of invention and industry.[LNB]

Source: Northern_Echo