Spurs’ first genuine chance of the De Zerbi era took just five minutes to manifest, but it bore the same frustrations associated with his tormented predecessor, as Randal Kolo Muani’s layoff to Richarlison inside the box saw the Brazilian all too tamely try a first-time effort into the far corner.
After a less-than-encouraging start, Sunderland grew into the match from there, with former Arsenal man Granit Xhaka driving the Black Cats’ best chances, including an attempted Olimpico goal from the Swiss midfielder himself, which Antonin Kinsky sharply tipped over the bar.
Overall, the Czech stopper looked like an entirely different person to the one that crumbled so horrifically against Atletico Madrid just a month ago.
Most notably, he made two crucial saves to thwart Brian Brobbey at close range, despite Spurs’ defenders failing to pick him up at the end of a Xhaka free kick on both occasions.
Yet, it would still be Spurs with the greater sense of resentment at half-time, having also seen a penalty rescinded by VAR after a combination of Omar Alderete and Luke O'Nien apparently brought down Muani inside the box.
While Spurs had shown greater chemistry on the attack, there was still a sense that set pieces could be their undoing as the second half began.
But in a similar way to the first half, Spurs emerged the stronger, and O’Nien had to intervene at the last second to prevent Richarlison from finishing at the near post on a breakaway.
The Brazilian also missed a decent chance at the hour mark, when again underhitting towards the far corner from a narrow angle.
In typical Spurs style, that was met with the ultimate punishment almost instantly, with Nordi Mukiele firing Sunderland ahead.
He was a rampant figure on the right flank, and went for glory after drifting into the centre, with the ball deflecting wickedly off Micky van de Ven – a freak goal that only the doomed tend to concede.
That might have sparked some kind of response, but having begun the weekend as one of just three teams yet to lose a league game in which they’d scored first this season, Sunderland were in no mood to miss out on their first home points in four attempts, and Destiny Udogie twice had to be sharp to prevent a second Black Cats goal, firstly throwing Brobbey off balance as he looked to receive a cross, before a goalline clearance on 88’.
Despite being granted 11 minutes of injury time to snatch a point or more, Spurs were unable to find a way through – though Pedro Porro saw a promising shot only just tipped over in the seventh minute of added time – and the final whistle brought that all-familiar sinking feeling to the Lilywhites once again.
Overall, there was a different feel to Spurs before half-time, but the overriding sentiment is that there is insufficient time for them to make the necessary improvements to avoid a first relegation in 49 years.
Next weekend’s clash with Brighton now looks far bigger than either of their European finals played over the past seven years, while Sunderland’s hopes of a European finish have received a significant boost.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Granit Xhaka (Sunderland)
