Source: Daily_Mail
PREMIER LEAGUE LIVE: Sunderland 1 Tottenham 2 - follow the action
Follow Sportsmail's coverage of Saturday's final Barclays Premier League game where Sunderland host Tottenham. The Black Cats will be aiming to close within four points of fifth placed Spurs with a win at the Stadium of Light. Email all your thoughts on the action to me at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk[LNB] Sunderland 1-2 Tottenham (5.30pm)Sunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Mensah,Bramble, Onuoha (Zenden 86), Malbranque (Elmohamady 76), Henderson, Muntari, Richardson, Gyan,Sessegnon.Subs: Mignolet, Angeleri, Riveros, Colback, Ferdinand.[LNB]Goals: Gyan 11.[LNB]Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto, Pienaar (Lennon 78),Jenas, Sandro, Kranjcar, Defoe (Palacios 88), Pavlyuchenko.Subs: Cudicini, Crouch, Bassong, Khumalo, Woodgate.[LNB]Goals: Dawson 44, Kranjcar 57.[LNB]Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire) [LNB]19.35: The final thought for Kranjcar though. Two match winning goals in a week shows his professionalism after becoming the forgotten man at Tottenham.[LNB] If he earns a starting role at the San Siro next week he will be full value for it.[LNB]That's all from me, thank you for following our coverage today but make you check back tomorrow for our live coverage of Bolton v Everton, good night.[LNB]19.33: How does that effect the table? Spurs go into fourth just two points behind Manchester City, with a game in hand too. Sunderland sitting seventh are two points off Liverpool in six.[LNB]19.30: Bit worried for Sunderland though, Spurs were never put under any pressure in the second-half and that third consecutive defeat really damages their hopes for a place in Europe next season.[LNB]19.28: And another for Sandro, who had a shaky start but really grew into his holding role. Credit where it is due after all.[LNB]19.25: First an apology, at 18:28 I said Spurs would be lucky to even get a point but they were much improved in the second-half to grab a rare win at the Stadium of Light.[LNB]Full-time: Sunderland 1-2 Tottenham[LNB]90+3min: Every player is in Spurs' half but so far Dawson is heading everything clear that goes long from the home side.[LNB]90+1min: Four minutes added on.[LNB]90min: Sunderland fans streaming out the ground, do they not remember their late, late injury time equaliser against Arsenal?[LNB]88min: Zenden's free-kick hits the wall and is cleared.[LNB]Backs to the wall time for Spurs who bring on Palacios for Defoe.[LNB]87min: Free-kick for Sunderland 23 yards out after Jenas is harshly penalised for what I can only make out as jumping for a header. He is booked too, bizarre.[LNB]86min: Kitchen sink time for Sunderland, Bolo Zenden is on for Onuoha.[LNB]Remember me? Tottenham's Jonathan Woodgate (left) warms up on the touchline alongside Peter Crouch[LNB]84min: Time running out for Sunderland who haven't forced too many saves from Gomes. I still fancy there will be another goal though, Spurs look handy on the counter.[LNB]81min: Now Pavlyuchenko is booked after a show of dissent following an offside decision. Sunderland are starting to pile the pressure on though.[LNB]80min: Nearly some luck for Sunderland, Richardson's shot takes a slight deflection before lobbing Gomes and clipping the top of the crossbar and out.[LNB]78min: After a short delay involving the strict use of the digital numbers board, Aaron Lennon replaces Pienaar. [LNB]76min: Change for Sunderland with Ahmed Elmohamady on for Malbranque.[LNB]76min: Gomes earns his fourth booking of the season after being booked for time wasting on a free-kick. He sends the long boot upfield out of play prompting ironic cheers from the home crowd.[LNB]74min: Sunderland fans have cottoned onto Gomes after a short exchange of words and a pantomime villain is born. The referee tells the Brazilian to cool it.[LNB]71min: Gomes is one for theatrics. He plucks a ball out the air, being caught by Gyan's trailing arm in the process but he gives the Ghanaian a strong telling off in-between showing tremendous pain. Mildly amusing and Redknapp looks embarrassed.[LNB]70min: Good effort, Muntari 30 yards out hits a powerful low effort that goes wide but had Gomes diving across his goal.[LNB]67min: Needless from Richardson, his cross cannons off Corluka's arm but it's far too close to be a penalty and after the Croatian tells Richardson what he thinks of the appeal, the winger squares up to him with a push that earns him a booking. [LNB]65min: Well hit, but the Spurs wall holds shape and manages to jump high enough to head it away. [LNB]63min: Sunderland win a free-kick 23 yards out and Gyan looks hungry to take this.[LNB]60min: Stick with this Sunderland fans. The Black Cats have by no means let their heads drop and Sessegnon I feel has one or two tricks left up his sleeve yet.[LNB] Cracker: Kranjcar's stunning volley put Spurs in front[LNB]57min: GOAL! Sunderland 1-2 TOTTENHAM[LNB]It's been a cracking start to this second half and this is brilliant from Niko Kranjcar.[LNB]Sandro's cross is cleared by Sunderland but only as far as the Croatian who hits a first time volley into the bottom corner from 20 yards. Cannot blame Gordon for that, super goal.[LNB]55min: Note to Spurs fans. AC Milan are 4-0 up at home to Parma, two goals from Robinho as well.[LNB]53min: Now the Black Cats go might close! Gyan skims through the Spurs defence on the left before cutting back for Richardson who lays off to Malbarnque.[LNB]The Frenchman's first time shot has power but is straight at Gomes who can only parry before Spurs clear their lines.[LNB]52min: Huge pressure from Spurs. Pienaar's cross cashes mayhem in the Sunderland box but Gallas' slight flick is deflected by Gordon before Bardsley scrambles it off the line.[LNB]49min: Some insight from our friends at OptaJoe:[LNB]17 - Before today Sunderland had dropped the most points from winning positions while Spurs had recouped the most when losing. Turnaround?[LNB]47min: Stephane Sessegnon has Vedran Corluka and Dawson in knots out on the left before his cross hits the latter going out for a corner.[LNB]Jordan Henderson's corner hits a new low for set-pieces today by going by over everyone's head and out for a goal kick. [LNB]Second-half: No changes for this period as Sunderland get us going again.[LNB]18.32: Having said that one reason could be Gordon. Spurs with just one shot on target and it went through his legs.[LNB]He really should have stopped it too and judging by his performance at Stoke last week he is massively out of form.[LNB]18.28: I do not know how Spurs are level. They have been very poor and very much there for the taking. I will be amazed if Redknapp's side take even a draw out of this.[LNB]Half-time: Sunderland 1-1 Tottenham[LNB]45+1min: One minute added on but you expect better from Kieran Richardson who thumps his free-kick at the wall before Muntari sends the rebound into orbit.[LNB]45min: Dawson is again involved as he clips a full flow Onuoha 20 yards out, the referee is left with little option but to book him.[LNB] Equaliser: Dawson (left blue) rose highest to header home Pienaar's corner for Spurs[LNB]44min: GOAL! Sunderland 1-1 TOTTENHAM[LNB]Where has this come from? Michael Dawson is unmarked as he heads Pienaar's corner towards goal and it goes through Gordon's legs as Gallas makes a sneaky run across the keeper. Not a great moment for the Scot in truth.[LNB]42min: Deary me, Spurs play some possession football but after being forced back Michael Dawson just gives up and thumps the ball long and out for a throw in. It may as well have been a kick to touch, again too much Six Nations action for him.[LNB]39min: You just don't expect this in the Premier League, Spurs have had so many good opportunities from set-plays, but the latest - an Assou-Ekotto free-kick sails over everyone's head and out for a goal kick. So wasteful.[LNB]37min: Probably Spurs best effort. Kranjcar surrounded by three defenders picks Pavlyuchenko out with a back heel but the Russian on his weaker foot and off balance just fires over the bar.[LNB]34min: Different taker, different style, same outcome.[LNB]Kranjcar elects for power along the ground but it's easily cleared before Gordon can act, Harry Redknapp looks absolutely furious on the touch line.[LNB] At arm's reach: Spurs' Sandro (right) attempts to tackle Sunderland's Richardson[LNB]33min: Again 30 yards out Spurs win a free-kick after Sulley Muntari is booked for hauling down Pavlyuchenko.[LNB]32min...or maybe not. Jenas' has a lazy run up before blasting a weak kick miles over. He has been watching far too much Six Nations action.[LNB]31min: Stop-start stuff, Spurs win successive free-kicks with the latter 30 yards out central to goal. Time for Gordan to get his gloves dirty.[LNB]28min: Brilliant play from the home side, Spurs are chasing shadows in midfield and after Phil Bardsley avoids a challenge he storms through the centre before blasting just over the bar.[LNB]25min: One-nil down but it's the Spurs fans who are loudest singing a rendition of 'When the Spurs go marching in'.[LNB]This game has fallen a bit flat in the last few minutes.[LNB]22min: Not like his finish against Bolton, Kranjcar takes a touch in the box but his next is a shot that drags wide of the near post.[LNB]21min: Some Spurs possession, not much else though. Craig Gordon hasn't had a thing to do yet.[LNB]18min: Another free-kick for Sunderland on the left after Pienaar is penalised for a push. Spurs midfield non-existent as Sunderland keep coming back at them.[LNB]16min: Sandro just keeps giving me more ammo. Admittedly he does well to latch onto a pass but as he enters the penalty box he slips and his attempted shot sails miles over.[LNB]14min: I fear for Spurs this afternoon, not for the first time on this ground they are simply not up for it. This could be another Fulham for Spurs and that is if their lucky.[LNB] In the mix: Gyan hit a superb strike to put Sunderland ahead[LNB]11min: GOAL! SUNDERLAND 1-0 Tottenham[LNB]William Gallas walks off the pitch to change his boots and the Black Cats capitalise expertly. Asamoah Gyan controls a ball superbly in the box to swivel and rifle past Heurelho Gomes from close range.[LNB]10min: Pienaar heads it clear but only as far as ex-Spurs midfielder Steed Malbranque whose first time effort crashes off his own player and out for a goal kick.[LNB]9min: Dangerous free-kick for Sunderland out on the left side of the penalty box after Sandro is harshly penalised for a foul. Looked to have got the ball in truth.[LNB]6min: Penalty shout for Sunderland. A free-kick lofted into the box sees Niko Kranjcar make contact with his foot on Nedum Onuoha's stomach but he goes down far too easily holding his face, suggesting he was more than looking for a spot-kick.[LNB]4min: Unlucky. Benoit Assou-Ekotto picks Defoe out with a long ball down the left and the striker's cross into the box is put over by Jermaine Jenas, who was put just under too much pressure to get his first time shot on target.[LNB]2min: Good opening from Spurs, they are putting pressure on the home side and Roman Pavlyuchenko is unlucky to just miss out on feeding Jermain Defoe in after winning the ball just outside the box.[LNB]Kick-off: Spurs in their light blue kit get us underway.[LNB]17.28: To underline Spurs' squad problems, look at that bench. Three centre-backs named with just Lennon and Crouch as attacking options.[LNB]17.26: It's a near sell-out at the Stadium of Light and both teams make their way out a noisy ground.[LNB]17.23: Big chance for Sunderland to bounce back from two consecutive defeats here.[LNB]Spurs are often very poor in the north-east and are shot to bits concerning injuries.[LNB]The key man for me is Sandro. He has been car-crash in most of the matches I have seen him so far and if Sunderland get amongst him, Spurs are in danger of being over run in midfield.[LNB]17.20: Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp makes four changes for this afternoon's Barclays Premier League trip to Sunderland as AC Milan beckoned[LNB]The injured Rafael van der Vaart makes way, as does Wilson Palacios, Aaron Lennon and Peter Crouch, who are all named on the bench ahead of Tuesday's Champions League date at the San Siro.[LNB]Niko Kranjcar, Steven Pienaar, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Sandro are drafted in as Spurs attempted to leapfrog fourth-placed Chelsea.[LNB]Sunderland manager Steve Bruce leaves out defender Anton Ferdinand and replaces him with midfielder Steed Malbranque with the Black Cats looking to avoid a third successive league defeat for the first time in his reign.[LNB]17.17: Team news:[LNB]Sunderland v TottenhamSunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Mensah, Bramble, Onuoha, Malbranque, Henderson, Muntari, Richardson, Gyan, Sessegnon. Subs: Mignolet, Zenden, Angeleri, Riveros, Colback, Elmohamady, Ferdinand.Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto, Pienaar, Jenas, Sandro, Kranjcar, Defoe, Pavlyuchenko. Subs: Cudicini, Lennon, Palacios, Crouch, Bassong, Khumalo, Woodgate.Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)[LNB]17.15: With Liverpool slipping up earlier today a real opportunity presents itself for these two sides.[LNB]Sunderland can take control of what is likely to be a Europa League spot at the end of the season with a win at home, while Spurs can keep a healthy gap to those below them as well as go three points clear of Chelsea by stealing their fourth and final Champions league spot. Team news coming up.[LNB] Threat: Asamoah Gyan scored to secure a 1-1 draw for Sunderland at White Hart Lane earlier in the season[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Steve Bruce, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Peter Crouch, Harry Redknapp, Aaron Lennon, Wilson Palacios, Niko Kranjcar, Jermaine Jenas, Jermain Defoe, William Gallas, Craig Gordon, Michael Dawson, Robinho Places: Liverpool, Europe
