Tottenham missed the opportunity to claim their first home win of 2026 as a late Brian Brobbey strike salvaged a point for Sunderland. Spurs had been in control for much of the contest after Ben Davies put them ahead on the half-hour, holding the lead for 50 minutes before succumbing to mounting pressure and conceding 10 minutes from the end.
The draw leaves Tottenham stuck in the bottom half of the table and, although they are now unbeaten in three games, there is little encouragement to be found for Thomas Frank as he faces a demanding January schedule. Here are five key talking points from the stalemate at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Bergvall’s costly slip
As Spurs pushed for a late winner in stoppage time, one moment perfectly captured their frustrations. Lucas Bergvall attempted a long throw into the box but appeared to lose his grip, slipping and fumbling the ball.
Referee Stuart Attwell showed no leniency, penalising him for a foul throw and handing Sunderland a huge let-off. It was emblematic of Tottenham’s season, with fortune rarely falling their way, and avoidable errors continuing to undermine them.
Johnson sale already hurting
Just 15 minutes into life after Brennan Johnson, Spurs were already feeling his absence. With Kudus suffering an adductor issue and forced off, Randal Kolo Muani was pushed out of position on the right wing. This was the kind of match Johnson would have thrived in, making his Crystal Palace debut at Newcastle on the same afternoon.
Kudus’ injury only underlined how rushed Johnson’s departure may have been, especially with no immediate replacement lined up and a £35 million fee that appeared non-negotiable. Dane Scarlett’s late introduction in search of a winner further highlighted Spurs’ lack of attacking depth.
Romero’s worrying display
Cristian Romero endured a poor second half, falling short of the standards expected from a captain. A sloppy backward pass nearly gifted Sunderland a chance before he became embroiled in a heated physical battle with Brobbey.
Over the final 20 minutes, the Sunderland striker clearly had the upper hand, losing Romero for the equaliser. Romero’s confrontational approach arguably fuelled Brobbey’s response, with the former Ajax forward celebrating emphatically in front of the home crowd after scoring.
Davies shows his value
Despite being out of contract in the summer, Ben Davies once again demonstrated why he remains an important asset. His experience is vital both on and off the pitch, and he continues to provide a dependable option at left-back with Destiny Udogie sidelined.
The 32-year-old scored his first Spurs goal since December 2023, converting Micky van de Ven’s effort to open the scoring. With Udogie struggling for fitness, keeping Davies available is crucial, particularly with Djed Spence heavily used this season. Interest from Nice and talk of a future move to Los Angeles can wait—offloading him now would make little sense.
Odobert injury concern
Wilson Odobert caught the eye before suffering a worrying blow to the head in the second half. Challenging for a header, he was struck by the elbow of former Spurs academy player Romaine Mundle. Medical staff carried out checks on his jaw and vision before substituting him for Bergvall.
He didn’t appear seriously injured, but similar initial assessments proved misleading for Kolo Muani against Manchester United, who later required treatment for a fractured jaw.
