Sunderland v Spurs - opposing manager's view

Sunderland manager David Moyes has challenged his players to ignore the form book and take points off us at the Stadium of Light this evening (Tuesday, January 31).

The Black Cats are propping up the Premier League table going into tonight’s action, but remain only three points from safety.

They held Liverpool to a draw at home at the start of this month but, since then, have suffered three consecutive defeats in all competitions after a goalless home draw with Burnley.

On the other hand, we’ve won eight and drawn one of our last nine games, but Moyes wants his charges to be brave in their attempts to win tonight’s match.

“I think that against some of the bigger teams we’ve played quite well at times but it’s a challenge and maybe in some ways we see that as a free hit and a chance to go and get something from it,” he said.

“We have to try and win games which maybe people aren’t expecting us to win now. We’re in that position.

“Obviously (this game is) massively important and we know how tough it is. Tottenham are playing well, have looked a good team and whoever they play at the moment they’ve matched them very well, if not bettered them on a lot of occasions, so it will be a tough game.”

Asked how he sees us in the title picture, Moyes added: “I don’t think the Premier League is over by a long way. In this league you have to earn it, you have to keep winning and it can change very quickly for you. I think Tottenham are there or thereabouts, as they were last year and I don’t think they look any less a team than they did last year when they just missed out. I think they’ll still be close.”