It’s about a month ago when Michael Chopra signed and there’s little that has caused as much controversy and consternation amongst supporters recently as this. Keane however obviously saw something in him; today we got to see a bit of it. We shouldn’t have doubted Keane, we shouldn’t doubt Chopra.
After a summer of rumour and gossip like none I’ve known before it was time for the talking to stop and for action to begin. Chopra himself was the topic of discussion before the game as he was surprisingly left out in favour of Stokes who partnered Murphy up front. Halfords injury meant Whitehead moving to right back giving a place to Yorke alongside Etuhu, who had been impressive pre-season. Other debuts were given to Richardson, McShane and of course Craig Gordon.
There was a completely different feel to this game compared to the first game against Charlton 2 years ago. 10 thousand on the gate and a more attractive opposition helped but there was a real sense of optimism and confidence that this wasn’t going to be a hard slog and we really did stand a good chance of getting something. A lot of this comes from Keane himself but spending £27 million also helps, regardless of how you feel on the merits of those individual players.
The game was scrappy from the off. Sunderland’s players were obviously a bit nervy and still getting to know each other. Spurs seemed to be weighed down by expectations that this was the year they had to get into the ‘big four’. The game was fast paced with not much time on the ball and there was a lot of wasted possession. Spurs’ glamour players are all up front to be fair. They have decent midfielders but none that would get into the better sides in the league I don’t think. We matched them comfortably, although Yorke seemed off the pace and gave a lot of the ball away. I’d like to think this wasn’t his legs going but he was a yard behind and a second slower than those around him. Etuhu on the other hand fitted in fine. Patrolling the space in front of back four he’s basically a modern day Kevin Ball – if the ball comes near it he wins it and gives it. If it’s not near him he launches into a tackle, wins it and gives it.
The ball rarely made it up to either sides front 2 or when it did it wasn’t with enough quality to give them a chance. Either that or the centre halves covered it easily. Berbatov was primarily marked by Nosworthy and it’s fair to say he never got a kick. Nyron continued his form on from last year, still doing the odd extravagant thing, and occasionally playing a glorious 60 yard pass across field. You still get the feeling he’s about to drop a massive clanger but that’s never really happened so it’s probably a little unfair on him. Alongside him McShane was doing equally as well, winning everything that came his way, he reads the game well and Keane got as much change out of him as Berbatov did out of Nosworthy. The one time Berbatov did get away from him was a cross field ball into the box, Gordon came out to get it, missed it and after Berbatov mis-controlled it he pathetically fell over going past Whitehead in a desperate attempt for a penalty. A yellow card should have followed, but none did
At the other end Stokes did plenty of running but never really looked like he was going to do it, Edwards wasn’t on his game today and Richardson had plenty of the ball but couldn’t get a great deal of good crosses in. The one good chance that came Murphys way was saved well low down by Robinson, and that was the best chance of the half. The only chance really. All Gordon had to do in his goal was get behind a couple of weak long range efforts and watch as the odd cross sailed over the bar.
Half time and we were holding our own at least. It was encouraging, and if you cut through all the rubbish spoken about the Premier League being so hard by the pundits you’ll see that past the ‘top four’ there’s plenty of average teams in the league. That fact that Spurs are meant to be better than this and we were matching them was breeding confidence and I’m sure it bred confidence in the dressing room.
Second half we seemed to have an extra impetus. Bent came on to add to their firepower, followed by Defoe, but it didn’t help them much. Miller came on for Yorke and that gave us extra assuredness in the middle but we still never looked like scoring. We had plenty of the ball up front, Stokes in particular, but he wasted most of it. He’s a talented footballer but he lacks visions and awareness. He’s only young and will get better. Before long he was off and Chopra was on to a, thankfully, great reception. Collins also came on allowing Wallace to move further forward, but all eyes were on Chopra for lots of reasons but could he really make the difference?
At the other end Gordon continued to have a comfortable day thanks to his defence. Berbatov was eventually withdrawn which was as much an acknowledgment of Nosworthys fine defending as it was a recognition that he hadn’t played well – or wasn’t allowed to.
Both sides were eager for the winner, and we certainly weren’t hanging on for the draw. The only time we looked under threat was on the break but such was the pace of McShane and Nosworthy, Spurs never got a decent chance. A late Tom Huddlestone shot, comfortably saved by Gordon, was as near as they got to scoring.
As time went on Spurs were becoming ragged and we pressed forward more, sensing a victory we pushed on. A through ball found Etuhu unmarked in the box but the ball just hit him and deflected towards the goal but still required a good save from Robinson. If only that fell to Chopra….
3 minutes of injury time and I still felt we could win it; Spurs were all over the place, a few balls in almost broke kindly but not quite. Then with possibly 10 seconds left of normal time we had one more chance of an attack, I still thought we could score. Whitehead fed the ball up to Wallace who was on the right, he got to the by-line, cut back and instead of passing the ball back to Edwards to cross, turned again onto his right and swung a cross over. Etuhu challenged Kaboul for it but both missed. The ball fell to Chopra 12 yards out completely unmarked. Time seemed to stand still for a second but long enough to recognise who had the ball and what this would mean. Chopra controlled it and curled the ball into the bottom left corner of the net, the only vacant space in the goal. 1-0 and the winner. He went mental, the crowd went mental, a new king was born.
It was all slightly unbelievable really. My mind swung back to Derby earlier this year, a similar time for a winner and possibly an equally important goal? Certainly to get a victory so early lays a few ghosts to rest and sets us up nicely.
There was no time for Spurs to respond, the game was over and the obvious headlines already written. ‘We are top of the league’ was the chant. I’m not sure when we’ll be there next but I think Keane believes himself it’ll be a lot quicker than most fans do.
Man of the match – Nyron Nosworthy. He never put a foot wrong all game. A colossus at the back.
Report by marcopaul