Tottenham Hotspur stumbled again, this time against Sunderland, and the situation has become even more critical. Roberto De Zerbi's first game ends in defeat as Spurs slip closer to relegation.
2025/2026 Premier League
1-0
Match Report
Roberto De Zerbi's first game in charge of relegation-threatened Tottenham ended in a sombre 1-0 defeat at Sunderland.
The enigmatic Italian was parachuted into the Spurs hot seat with seven games to go, needing to rescue the Londoners from suffering a humiliating fate - a very different assignment to the last time he managed in the Premier League at Brighton.
The Seagulls, incidentally, will be the visitors next week when their former boss takes charge of his first home game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and he will do so from a position in the drop zone.
Tottenham remain winless in their last 14 Premier League outings, a stretch spanning 105 days, and are now two points from safety after falling foul of a Nordi Mukiele deflected strike in the second half at the Stadium of Light.
Spurs showed promise in certain aspects, De Zerbi's imprint visible in their endeavour, but Robin Roefs was only threatened once by Dominic Solanke. The striker fluffed his effort and with it Spurs' chance of a foothold in a game they failed to properly impact.
Before the finish Destiny Udogie turned Chemsdine Talbi's attempt off the line, while captain Cristian Romero was forced off in tears with an undisclosed injury. His emotional state mirrored that of Spurs' general circumstance and now the unthinkable is a very real prospect indeed.
Sunderland, meanwhile, rise into the top half of the table as their remarkable return to the Premier League continues. The fortunes of the two sides could not have been more contrasting on yet another forgettable afternoon for the plight of Tottenham Hotspur.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
5' Match Event for Sunderland vs Tottenham
7' Match Event for Sunderland vs Tottenham
9' Match Event for Sunderland vs Tottenham
18' Highlight from Sunderland vs Tottenham
23' Match Event for Sunderland vs Tottenham
32' Match Event for Sunderland vs Tottenham
33' Match Event for Sunderland vs Tottenham
45' Match Event for Sunderland vs Tottenham
50' Highlight from Sunderland vs Tottenham
53' Match Event for Sunderland vs Tottenham
60' Highlight from Sunderland vs Tottenham
61' GOAL! Sunderland 1-0 Tottenham (Nordi Mukiele)
63' Highlight from Sunderland vs Tottenham
70' Match Event for Sunderland vs Tottenham
87' Highlight from Sunderland vs Tottenham
101' Match Event for Sunderland vs Tottenham
Line-ups
Sunderland XI: Xhaka, Omar Alderete, Mandava, Luke O'Nien, Mukiele, Enzo Le Fée, Brian Brobbey, Robin Roefs, Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Chris Rigg
Subs: Lutsharel Geertruida, Wilson Isidor, Cirkin, Trai Hume, Melker Ellborg, Eliezer Mayenda, Harrison Jones, Chemsdine Talbi, Jenson Jones
Tottenham XI: Solanke, Richarlison, Cristian Romero, Muani, Gallagher, Porro, Udojie, Van de Ven, Kinsky, Gray, Bergvall
Subs: Palhinha, Danso, Bissouma, Austin, Spence, Pape Sarr, Dragusin, Xavi Simons, Tel