Echoing through the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the familiar sounds of disappointment resonated as Thomas Frank’s side continued their troubling home record into yet another year.

A promising new beginning for 2026 in N17 was quickly dashed by Sunderland’s resilient comeback, stirring frustration in a tense second half.

Despite the setback of losing Mohammed Kudus to injury, Spurs managed to take the lead by halftime. Frank lamented their missed opportunities to secure a second goal while dominant, ultimately failing to fend off their opponents from Wearside.

With another two points slipping away, Spurs find themselves stagnant in 13th place. Although just four points shy of fifth, their inability to capitalize on opportunities hampers any upward momentum in the standings.

Matt Barlow from Daily Mail Sport was on the scene in north London to capture the unfolding drama…

An unexpected scoring savior

Ben Davies scored his first goal for more than two years on his first start of the season. Davies came in to supply solidity behind Mathys Tel on the left and hit Richarlison with long passes with his left foot. 

Thomas Frank’s Tottenham were held to a 1-1 draw against Sunderland on Sunday afternoon

Ben Davies was the unlikely goal hero and offered Tottenham another dimension in attack

There were early signs that his inclusion might free Pedro Porro to get forward on the opposite flank and maximise Porro’s excellent delivery, but it was a surprise when the Welshman emerged with fist raised in triumph, scorer of the opening goal.

It came from a corner poorly defended by Sunderland. Cristian Romero had time to bring it down on his chest and pick out Micky van de Ven, whose low shot was diverted into the net by Davies.

Only his eighth Premier League goal in 11-and-a-half years at Spurs, and the 10th of this Premier League campaign from a set piece for Frank’s team. Both Davies and Tel faded as the game went one, however, as might have been expected.

Sunderland were most effective from that side of the pitch as they fought back.

Hindsight a beautiful thing… 

If there was one player Frank did not want to see limp off injured after selling Johnson to Crystal Palace it would have been Kudus.

The summer arrival of Kudus for £55million from West Ham effectively ended Johnson’s Spurs career, and it made sense for him to move on, but this game was just 18 minutes old when Kudus sank onto the turf.

The medics came on and prodded at the thigh muscle of his left leg before they walked him off.

‘Hopefully the decisions make more sense further down the line,’ said Frank. ‘Now was the opportunity to sell a player, something the club hasn’t been that good at in the past.

‘Sometimes that window can be small. Sometimes it can look like perfect timing. Sometimes not perfect. Sometimes you can’t delay them.’ 

Mohammed Kudus was forced off in a devastating injury blow for Frank and Tottenham

Rare chance for Tel 

This was a rare chance for Tel for to make his case on a first start since October. Playing off the left with Wilson Odobert at number 10 role behind Richarlison, Tel had plenty of early touches, forced a save and curled a shot narrowly wide.

But after the Kudus injury, it left Spurs playing with a trio of forwards with only two Premier League goals between them this season, in support of the centre forward Richarilson.

Perhaps it should be no surprise they were not clinical enough to convert the second despite several promising opportunities on the break. Tel and Odobert both became less influential when Sunderland came out in physical mood for the second half.

Frank’s dearth of attacking alternatives were laid bare at the end when he sent on the lesser spotted Dane Scarlett, 21, and finished the game with centre half Romero roaming up front, once again.

Regis Le Draw

Sunderland were passive in the first half. They barely had a touch in the Spurs penalty box, before something fired them up in the second half. 

They fought their way into the game, unafraid to leave some physical contact on various opponents and Rodrigo Bentancur was drawn into a running squabble with Lutsharel Geertruida, which flared up again after the final whistle.

Brian Brobbey levelled for the Black Cats as Sunderland continued their fine start to the season

It made for a better contest. Spurs resisted and flickered on the break, but the visitors summoned an unstoppable wave of momentum.

Guglielmo Vicario saved from Eliezer Mayenda and was grateful to Davies for a clearance after the ‘keeper misjudged a cross. Brobbey slammed a shot into the side netting after a carelessness by Romero and Enzo Le Fee headed against the post.

Ultimately, Spurs could not cling on for their third clean sheet in eight days. Sunderland were worth the equaliser, fired by Brobbey from a sweet pass by Le Fee in the 80th minute.

A goal to secure their fourth successive draw and keep them above Newcastle in eighth. On 30 points they are probably close to safety. ‘We need 10 more,’ said Le Bris. ‘Time to move on and ride the wave.’