Sunderland sink Spurs, Palace edge Newcastle

Published on

Tottenham’s Premier League plight deepened with a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland on Sunday in Roberto De Zerbi’s first match in charge as Crystal Palace came from behind to beat Newcastle.

Spurs brought in the former Brighton and Marseille boss at the end of last month in a last-ditch bid to save themselves from a catastrophic relegation.

But the Italian failed to inspire his team in a tricky baptism at Sunderland and they remain mired in the drop zone.

Tottenham, playing under their third manager this season, are without a Premier League win since December as they contemplate the nightmare of a first relegation from the English top flight since 1977.

Sunderland won courtesy of a huge slice of luck on the hour, when Nordi Mukiele’s shot took a massive deflection off Micky van de Ven and looped into the goal.

Spurs pushed hard for an equaliser late on but to no avail.

De Zerbi said his men were suffering from a crisis of confidence, arguing that a win would change everything.

“I can be a big brother, father, they don’t need a coach,” he told the BBC. “They don’t need to improve football.

AFRICA PICKS: Football tips and predictions

“They can play better and they will play better once we reach a different level of confidence.”

Tottenham, who recently parted ways with interim boss Igor Tudor, are two points behind 17th-placed West Ham and have six games left to save themselves.

They are the ninth-wealthiest club in the world, according to Deloitte’s latest rankings, underlining the extraordinary nature of their predicament.

Tottenham’s relegation rivals Nottingham Forest held Aston Villa to a 1-1 draw at the City Ground and remain one point above West Ham.

Unai Emery’s fourth-placed Villa, chasing a Champions League spot next season, took the lead courtesy of a Murillo own goal but the home side levelled through a Neco Williams’ screamer.

Jean-Philippe Mateta scored twice, including a stoppage-time penalty, as Crystal Palace came from behind to beat Newcastle 2-1 at Selhurst Park.

Newcastle opened the scoring after striker William Osula forced his shot past the Magpies defense, before a late brace from Mateta sealed the result.

– AFP

Photo: REUTERS/Scott Heppell

Post by

Dylan Johnson