Whether or not Roberto De Zerbi required a brief example of the self-destructive tendencies that have plunged Tottenham into relegation peril he got one.
First the goal scored by Sunderland. It started with Nordi Mukiele collecting the ball on the right, advancing on an angled run towards goal, meeting with very little resistance and opting to have a swing from distance with his left foot.
Mukiele’s effort clipped Micky van de Ven to leave goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky marooned in mid dive to his left as the ball spun and looped into the other side of the goal.
Then, the next Sunderland attack ended with Kinsky involved in a high-speed collision with Cristian Romero which forced the Spurs captain off injured and he was in floods of tears as he trudged down the tunnel.
The goalkeeper soldiered on with a bandaged head, a heroic effort considering the ignominy of his previous appearance, and yet unable to do anything about the result. Spurs seldom looked likely to fight their way back into it once behind. Just one of their plentiful worrying traits.
Another defeat and with six to play, De Zerbi’s team are now cut adrift in the relegation zone, two points behind West Ham. Now winless in 14 Premier League games, a dismal run stretching back to December.
Spurs captain Cristian Romero was reduced to tears as his side fell to yet another defeat
It meant new Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi lost his first match in charge as he tried to save them from relegation
In case they were unsure, the Sunderland choir serenaded them through the last knockings of 11 minutes of added time. “You’re going down, you’re going down,” they sang. So much for another fresh start.
If there was a positive to take it was that Kinsky had coped well with his test of character. He was solid in the first half from composed early touches on the ball to a strong save to block a shot by Brian Brobbey just before half time.
Spurs went straight back to the goalkeeper from kick-off, which might have been designed to soothe any nerves on his first appearance since the debacle at Atletico Madrid, when he was replaced after only 17 minutes having made two costly mistakes with the ball at his feet and his team trailing 3-0.
Here, his first touches were to control the ball and launch it long towards Richarlison on the left. The long diagonal towards Richarlison on the left wing had been a feature towards the end of the second season under Ange Postecoglou.
Although, this is not what most had in mind when De Zerbi claimed he wanted to bring back the thrill of Ange Ball.
Spurs made a fluent opening and the game’s first saves were made at the other end by Robin Roefs, back after a month out, to deny Pedro Porro and Richarlison, but Sunderland soon assumed control of the first half.
The home team could be forgiven if they had put their feet up. Safe in mid-table having completed a double over Newcastle there is little left for them to achieve in their first season back in the Premier League, but they dominated the first half.
Granit Xhaka and Noah Sidiki controlled the ebb and flow of possession (strength and experience?) against a Spurs midfield with Archie Gray and Conor Gallagher deep and Lucas Bergvall advanced in the No 10 role.
It was Nordi Mukiele who scored for Sunderland, with the Black Cats winning the match 1-0
The visitors were awarded a penalty in the first-half, but the decision was overturned by VAR
The result leaves Spurs firmly in the relegation zone of the Premier League with six games left to play
This was the most interesting part of De Zerbi’s first team selection, featuring five changes from the last team picked by interim boss Igor Tudor, against Nottingham Forest.
This back four is the first choice back four with Destiny Udogie fit again, and with all of the natural wingers injured De Zerbi went with three established forwards. Balancing the two ends of the team has been the problem all season.
When they erred towards protecting the defence and they lost cohesion going forward. When they packed in the technical quality, they often lack physical presence in the centre of the pitch and are vulnerable at the back.
As they were at times here. De Zerbi had substitutes ready to come on when his team conceded in the 61st minute and made three changes before the restart, with Joao Palhinha and Pape Matar Sarr sent on to bolster the midfield.
Brobbey posed a threat throughout. The Spurs starting centre halves were booked for fouls on him before half time, and Sunderland’s Dutch centre forward picked up a yellow card in comical fashion as he held off Porro while protecting the ball.
Porro flung himself onto the floor like a child claiming he had taken an arm in the face. It wasn’t the only wrong decision of the day by referee Rob Jones.
He also awarded Spurs a penalty midway through the first half for a foul by Luke O’Nien on Randal Kolo Muani which was overturned after a VAR intervention. O’Nien was rash to slide in but clearly took the ball as Kolo Muani jostled with Omar Alderete.
Spurs were bright again at the start of the second half. Richarlison flickered and the contest more even until they were rocked by the cruel misfortune of the deflected goal, quickly followed by the collision between Kinsky and Romero.
Kevin Danso came on for his captain but Sunderland managed the game out well to move onto 46 points. Spurs wallow on 30 and next for De Zerbi, a reunion with Brighton on Saturday.
