No immediate lift as Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham lose at Sunderland
No immediate lift as Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham lose at Sunderland Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham reign began with defeat as a deflected Nordi Mukiele goal condemned Spurs to a 1-0 loss at the Stadium of Light, extending their winless Premier League run to fourteen matches and leaving them stranded in the relegation zone. De Zerbi set up his side in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison supporting Dominic Solanke in attack, and Spurs started with genuine purpose. Richarlison found Solanke in behind with a brilliant pass in the early exchanges, and his cutback almost found the onrushing Bergvall, but Sunderland scrambled clear.
A penalty appeal was reviewed and overturned by VAR midway through the half after Kolo Muani went down under a challenge from Alderete. It was the correct call, but another moment that typified Spurs’ misfortune. Antonin Kinsky, deputising for the injured Vicario, justified his selection with two important stops before the break—denying Granit Xhaka from a dangerous corner and producing an excellent low save to keep out Brian Brobbey.
Solanke went close on the stroke of half-time, only for Robin Roefs to produce an excellent save at the back post. Mukiele broke the deadlock just past the hour mark when his effort took a cruel deflection off Micky van de Ven, wrong-footing Kinsky. The goal knocked the wind from De Zerbi’s side, and matters deteriorated further when Cristian Romero was forced off with an injury—a blow with potentially significant implications ahead of the World Cup.
Despite finishing with more shots on target than Sunderland, Spurs never truly threatened Roefs in the closing stages. Solanke headed over, Gallagher could not find the finish, and the final whistle confirmed the worst. Tottenham remain in 18th, their survival hopes growing bleaker with every passing week.
The De Zerbi bounce has, for now, not materialised.