Sunderland boss delighted with second-half display against Tottenham Hotspur
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce says that he is delighted with the second-half performance that rescued a point for his side in their English Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur.
The sides met for the first time this season at White Hart Lane on Tuesday, 9 November. Spurs midfielder Rafael van der Vaart put his side ahead with his fifth EPL goal of the season in the 64th minute.
However, Asamoah Gyan was able to take advantage of a defensive error by Younes Kaboul and William Gallas to restore parity just three minutes later and score his fifth goal for Sunderland after his summer move from French side Rennes.
Bruce, who was having to cope without injured top scorer Darren Bent, revealed that he was pleased with his side’s improved display in the second period after Spurs dominated proceedings in the opening 45 minutes.
'We looked a real threat'
He told reporters that: “Spurs were terrific in the first half, with Modric and Tom Huddlestone zipping it around, but we pressed them higher up the pitch in the second half and looked a real threat.
"There's a lot said about tactics and things but when you play away from home you've got to play like you mean it. We were better when we went (with two strikers) in the second half and I thought we could have (won the game).
"There is much more to come from Gyan — a lot of players needed a bit of a break after the World Cup. When I can play him with Darren Bent, we'll be a real threat."
Gyan, who has been nominated for the FIFA Ballon d’Or award after excelling for Ghana at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, revealed that it was Bruce’s stern half-time talk that inspired the side to play well in the second period.
“The manager wasn't happy, we had to come back strongly and get into the game and we did that. I think we could have won in the end. We came back well in the second half and it's an important point for us.”
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