Premier League Preview: Sunderland Vs Tottenham

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Premier League match time is set to return to The Stadium of Light when Sunderland host Tottenham on Saturday, February 12, in a second-leg game in match week 27.

The 1st leg, hosted by Tottenham, at White Hart Lane, on November 9, ended in a 1-1 draw. Van der Vaart put the hosts ahead on 64 minutes, and 3 minutes later, Gyan brought the game back to level terms for Sunderland.

Post-match talk centred around Van der Vaart's perceived handling of the ball prior to scoring his objective for Tottenham. Spurs' fans could possibly well have retaliated that Sunderland captain Cattermole had been let off for a comparable offence the previous week, and what goes round, comes round.

It was an ordinary game, specifically for Spurs, whose manager Redknapp had been tom-tomming his side's title pretensions. Their 18 million pound signing Bentley was particularly disappointing. Gareth Bale was a further player from whom considerably was expected oin the day, Onuoha had the measure of the Welshman. Gallas was another Spurs player who had a mediocre day. In truth, Sunderland were dominant in the final 10 minutes, and Spurs hung on to salvage a point.

Some of Redknapp's decisions had been questionable. For instance, he took off Pavlyuchenko, one of his few players to have had a superior game, following the very first half. In comparison, Crouch has been a non-performer for the most part, but makes it even more starting elevens.

For Sunderland, Gyan underlined his importance to the team soon after having been ignored in his starting elevens by Steve Bruce.

Head to head, Tottenham have established a 12-5 lead over Sunderland in the final 20 league games among the sides.

In their final 10 league games, the Black cats have won and lost four each and every, even though drawing the remaining two. Tottenham have won five of their final 10, when drawing four and losing just the one. In 13 home games this season Sunderland have registered 6 wins, 5 draws and two losses of 12 away games, Tottenham have won five, drawn three and lost 4.

In match week 26, Sunderland lost three-two away at Stoke Tottenham beat Bolton 2-1 at property.

On present form, Sunderland will require house benefit and much more to cope with Tottenham's attack.

Sunderland's beginning eleven aganst Stoke comprised: Gordon, Onuoha, Mensah, Ferdinand, Bramble, Bardsley, Henderson, Muntari, Sessegnon, Richardson and Gyan. Malbranque and Zenden played as substitutes.

Tottenham had the following men in their starting eleven against Bolton: Gomes, Corluka, Gallas, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Jenas, Van der Vaart, Crouch and Defoe. Pienaar, Kranjcar and Pavlyuchenko featured as substitutes.