Source: Daily_Mail
Sunderland 1 Tottenham 2: Niko Kranjcar's cracker fires Spurs into the top four
Niko Kranjcar stepped out of GarethBale's shadow to remind Harry Redknapp that he is worth more than aplace on the periphery of Tottenham's first team. [LNB]The Croatian midfielder, animpatient understudy to talented Welsh international Bale, struck thewinning goal for the second week in succession. [LNB]At the end of a week when Spurs lostout on moving to the new Olympic Stadium, a win which takes them intothe Premier League's top four was something of a consolation. [LNB] History repeating itself: Niko Kranjcar fires his second winner in as many games[LNB]But the manner of their second-halfperformance will also send them to the San Siro for Tuesday night'sChampions League last-16 first-leg confrontation against AC Milan ingood heart.[LNB] And if Bale, the hat-trick hero oftheir last match in the same stadium against Iinter last October,cannot make it, Redknapp will be comforted that, in the Croatian, hehas more than an able substitute. [LNB]The result, Spurs' first victory atthe Stadium of Light for a decade, means that Redknapp's team becamethe sixth side to reach the thousand points mark in the Premier League,after Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa. [LNB]It was also completely in keepingwith statistics which underline both Sunderland's frustration and theiropponent's battling qualities. [LNB] Towering: Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon (second right) fails to stop Michael Dawson's (third left) header[LNB]The Wearsiders have now thrown away no less than 20 points from winning positions. [LNB]Conversely, it mirrored the success that Spurs have enjoyed in turning losing situations into profitable ones. [LNB]Central defender William Gallasdemonstrated the kind of footwear fussiness normally associated withdebutantes at a coming-out party. [LNB]Unhappy with the boots he changedinto during the warm-up, he picked a bad time to try on yet anotherpair with the game barely 10 minutes old. [LNB]Nevertheless, the switch affordedhim a spectator's view of Sunderland's 11th-minute goal, scored whenpresumably he was satisfying himself that there was little risk ofblisters. [LNB] Clinical: Sunderland's Asamoah Gyan (second left) opens the scoring[LNB]But his absence should not take anything away from the superb technique displayed by Asamoah Gyan. [LNB][LNB]StatAttackTottenham have shared the scoring duties this season. In grabbing the opening goal at the Stadium of Light, Michael Dawson become the 14th different goalscorer (excluding own goals) for his side in all competitions this season.[LNB]The Ghanaian striker easilycontrolled a low cross from Kieran Richardson and, almost in the samemovement, swivelled brilliantly to hit a right-foot shot wide ofHeurelho Gomes.[LNB] Sunderland were bossing the game so much that it took the opposition 37 minutes before they threatened the home goal. [LNB]That is when Roman Pavlyuchenko fired powerfully just over the bar. [LNB]But Steve Bruce's team have shotthemselves in the foot so many times this season that it was almostpredictable they would contrive to allow Spurs back into the game. [LNB]They did that in the 44th minutewhen the unfortunate goalkeeper Craig Gordon matched the level ofembarrassment he suffered when conceding two late goals at Stoke lastSaturday. [LNB] Glove story: Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes celebrates victory[LNB] [LNB]Skipper Michael Dawson met Steven Pienaar's right-wing corner with a firm header that Gordon should have had covered. [LNB]But when Gallas ran across his line of sight, the ball shot through his legs into the net.[LNB] It was actually touch and go whether Gordon could make the line-up after missing Scotland's international against Northern Ireland on Wednesday. He must be wishing he had never bothered.[LNB] He was in another spot of bother in the 51st minute, another Dawson header from Pienaar's cross. [LNB]This time Gallas got a touch and, although Gordon's legs were again invitingly akimbo, the ball struck the inside of his leg and Phil Bardsley booted clear.[LNB]MatchFACTSSUNDERLAND (4-4-1-1): Gordon; Onuoha (Zenden 85min), Mensah, Bramble, Bardsley; Muntari, Sessegnon, Henderson, Malbranque (Elmohamady 76); Richardson; Gyan. Subs (not used): Mignolet, Angeleri, Riveros, Colback, Ferdinand. Booked: Muntari, Richardson [LNB]TOTTENHAM (4-4-2): Gomes; Corluka, Dawson, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto; Pienaar (Lennon 78), Sandro, Jenas, Kranjcar; Pavlyuchenko, Defoe (Palacios 87). Subs (not used): Cudicini, Crouch, Bassong, Khumalo, Woodgate. Booked: Dawson, Gomes, Pavlyuchenko, Jenas. [LNB]Referee: M Jones (Cheshire).[LNB] At least Gordon could not be blamed for failing to stop Kranjcar's delicious volley in the 57th minute, the midfielder finding the bottom left-hand corner with his first-time effort, after John Mensah's clearance fell to him. [LNB]Sunderland boss Bruce will be concerned about a drastic run of results which has seen his team's European ambitions severely damaged. [LNB]They have now lost four of their last six matches and conceded 13 goals.[LNB] But he could have no complaints at the way Spurs, hardly at the races as an attacking force in the first half, earned their victory by dominating the second. [LNB] All the action from today's Barclays Premier League matchesBruce blasts Capello after Italian claims Bent is better away from SunderlandSUNDERLAND FC
