Spurs Favourites For Saturday`s Sunderland Encounter

Gus Poyet`s Sunderland will be looking for their first win in four league games as they travel to Tottenham`s White Hart Lane tomorrow. Things haven`t been going exactly to plan for their hosts either, the Whites having fallen to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Alan Pardew`s Crystal Palace but they recovered sufficiently enough to hit Burnley for four in the FA Cup in the mid-week.

Sunderland`s last win came when Adam Johnson hit a last gasp winner against local rivals Newcastle United in the all-important Tyneside Derby, though this was followed up with a 3-1 loss at home to Hull and a goalless draw with Aston Villa. It was that man Johnson who put the Black Cats in front in the first minute against Hull, only for his side to crumble in the face of the Tigers.

The former England international converted a penalty in Sunderland`s 3-2 defeat at Manchester City on the first day of the year with Jack Rodwell also on the scoresheet for the North East side. Last time out, Poyet`s men fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool, the team`s fourth home loss of the campaign.

In spite of this, the side composed themselves enough to get the better of Championship strugglers Leeds United in the FA Cup. Patrick van Aarnholt grabbed the only goal of the match to see the Tynesiders progress. On-fire Johnson, whose goal tally amounts to five already this season, can be backed at 53/10 (888sport, unibet) to hit the back of the net at any time on Saturday.

Spurs took the lead against Palace through Harry Kane four minutes into the second half, though fell to a defeat after Benjamin Strombouli gave away a penalty duly converted by Dwight Gayle and Jason Puncheon added the winner ten minutes from time.

This result was all the more disappointing after the side had spanked London rivals Chelsea at home 5-3 on New Year`s Day in an end-to-end battle. Diego Costa hit the opener for the Whites` opposition before Kane and Danny Rose netted and Andros Townsend coolly put away a spot kick to make it 3-1 after the first 45. Kane scored the second of his brace to make it four, only for Eden Hazard to half the deficit less than ten minutes later, and Nacer Chadli made it five before John Terry`s late consolation goal.

In the FA Cup Spurs needed a replay to see off Burnley after the sides` match at Turf Moor ended 1-1 when Chadli broke the deadlock and Sam Vokes levelled up. Mauricio Pochettino`s men came from 2-0 down to grab victory 4-2 as Paulinho, Etienne Capoue, Vlad Chiriches and Danny Rose netted.

Perhaps the team`s two most in-form goal scorers, Kane and Chadli are 11/10 (bet365, Titanbet) and 14/5 (888sport, unibet) respectively to find the back of the net at any time tomorrow.

Indeed, Tottenham are the favourites to build upon their Burnley win, priced up at 8/13 with most bookmakers to put Sunderland to the sword. An away win can be picked up at 11/2 with betfair whilst a draw is 16/5 with a trio of turf accountants (bet365, betfair, boylesports).

The game finished a tie when these clubs last met in September. Chadli and Christian Eriksen put the ball past Vito Mannone for Spurs whilst Sunderland twice came from behind thanks to Johnson and a Harry Kane own-goal.

In team news, Jermaine Defoe is eligible to play against his former club fresh from signing for the Black Cats from MLS side Toronto. Meanwhile, 16th placed SUnderland will have to do without suspended defender Liam Bridcutt.

Pochettino is set to field his home eleven without either Erik Lamela (calf) or Ryan Mason (hamstring).

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16/01/2015     © Frixo 2026