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Sunderland strike late to deny Spurs at home
Thomas Frank’s tenure at Tottenham Hotspur is increasingly under scrutiny after another underwhelming performance resulted in dropped Premier League points.
The atmosphere at the magnificent Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was soured by audible boos following Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Sunderland, reflecting widespread frustration that, while not solely directed at Frank, underscores a palpable sense of discontent.
Spurs exhibited functionality over flair in the first half, with Ben Davies’ goal – his eighth in 244 Premier League appearances for the club – seemingly setting the stage for victory.
However, the positive momentum ended there for Frank.
Sunderland, revitalized after the interval, capitalized on the growing anxiety within the stadium, culminating in Brian Brobbey’s emphatic equaliser in the 80th minute.
The Black Cats punished Spurs’ second-half retreat, exploiting the mounting pressure to deny them a much-needed home win.
The final whistle was met with a reaction mirroring the prevailing negative sentiment surrounding the club. The stadium atmosphere remains strained, and Frank’s challenge lies in injecting both style and substance to effect a positive change.
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‘Sometimes it just doesn’t go your way’ – Frank on frustrating draw
Frank’s Spurs, now winless in their last home fixture, have secured only two victories, alongside five losses and three draws, in their 10 league games at home.
The team’s performances have been characterized by dullness and a lack of inspiration.
This is the core issue for Frank in building a connection with Spurs fans, with many expressing their discontent openly. Overcoming this level of disapproval is a significant challenge.
In Frank’s defence, he inherited a squad from the sacked Ange Postecoglou that, despite winning the Europa League, struggled for Premier League consistency, finishing 17th with 22 defeats.
Frank’s initial mandate was to win over supporters who were skeptical about his transition from Brentford, but he has struggled to deliver consistent performances, a clear identity, and, crucially, exciting football and victories.
Injuries to key creative players such as Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison have hampered his efforts this season. Dominic Solanke has also been sidelined, and Mohammed Kudus was forced off after just 19 minutes in this match.
Furthermore, the sale of Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace for £35m, while sanctioned by Frank, may be regretted following Kudus’ injury.
The uninspiring nature of Spurs’ play under Frank is underscored by their six draws in 20 Premier League matches, equalling the number of stalemates in Postecoglou’s final 53 league games.
The change in management has had a limited impact on Spurs’ Premier League position. After 20 games last season, they were 12th with 24 points, compared to 13th with 27 points this season.
However, Frank’s supporters note that only Arsenal have a better away record than Spurs, and his 27 points from 20 games compares favorably to Postecoglou’s 38 from 38 last term.
Brobbey late strike earns Sunderland draw at Spurs
Frank ‘understands and shares’ Spurs fans’ frustrations
Ben Davies’ goal offered Spurs a glimmer of hope for a rare home victory against Sunderland.
The key question remains: how can Frank revitalize his relationship with Spurs fans?
The answer lies in securing wins with a style that captivates supporters, rather than leaving them bored and disillusioned.
Currently, this appears to be a daunting task, with many already convinced that Frank is not the right fit. While it may be premature to judge so early in his tenure, only a sustained run of victories, ideally achieved with flair, will sway opinions in north London.
While Spurs fans did not actively turn against their team or head coach during the game, a point acknowledged by Frank, the final whistle was met with clear expressions of dissatisfaction.
Frank told BBC Match Of The Day: “First and foremost throughout the game the fans were very good and backing us and that is all we are asking for. I am sure the fans will acknowledge the first half – and the players tried throughout the game, but sometimes it doesn’t go your way.”
He added: “There were a lot of positives in the performance. The first half was much more like we want to do. I liked our intensity with and without the ball. We created a lot of good situations, but we lacked the decisiveness to finish the game off.
“The second half was a little more back and forth but we were slightly on top, and still got into those attacking situations where we needed to kill the game off. The positive is the intensity. The negative is we didn’t score a second goal.
“When you are working very hard, sometimes you get into that momentum where everything clicks and goes your way. Sometimes you have to work very, very hard to get the margins on your side.
“That is all you can ask for and then we’re all a little disappointed that we couldn’t get the three points.”
Disappointment, worryingly for Frank, is increasingly becoming synonymous with Spurs and his tenure thus far.
Spurs suffered an early blow with the injury to Mohammed Kudus against Sunderland, adding to their list of key creative players sidelined.
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