Harry Redknapp and the Spurs fans were looking for a positive reaction from the team following the defeat at the Emirates but, in the event, all they witnessed was another poor performance. It can't be often that the home team is booed off at half-time while in the lead but that’s exactly what happened against Sunderland. To say that the final 2 - 0 scoreline flattered Spurs is something of an understatement, as the manager recognized:

"We found it difficult to break them down and sometimes it's like that. They are difficult to play against with five in midfield and they pass the ball well. They started the better team and our opener came against the run of play. We weren't passing the ball the way we normally do in training every day. But you're not going to be able to play fantastic flowing football every week and you're going to have games like this - every team does."

The players did eventually rouse themselves, with about half an hour still to go. Not coincidentally, this improvement coincided with Keane being replaced by Kranjcar. The Irishman obviously has a clause in his contract that guarantees him an hour of football per fixture. How else to explain the manager's tactic of withdrawing him each week almost as soon as the clock shows sixty minutes played. Redknapp first tried to accommodate Keane behind Defoe and Crouch in a 4-3-3 formation For the second half, he was moved to the left hand side of midfield in a conventional 4-4-2, but was no more effective in that role. Keane looked more annoyed than usual to be taken off, but a scrambled opening goal was certainly not enough to warrant persisting with him.

Kranjcar's introduction was like flicking on a light switch, with the team suddenly displaying some enthusiasm for the task at hand. Redknapp praised the Croatian's contribution, and the player surely made a strong case for a place in the starting line-up. A midfield of Kranjcar, Modric, Lennon and Palacios is a mouthwatering prospect, but realistically not one that the fans are likely to enjoy any time soon. Huddlestone's call up to the England squad will no doubt help solidify his place in Harry’s plans, although - a well-taken goal aside - it was difficult to see what it was about his performance against Sunderland that caught Fabio Capello’s eye. Jenas flattered to deceive yet again, and even Palacios was not up to his usual standard.

Thankfully one player was on top form, namely Heurelho Gomes, who made a series of good saves, most notably from Darren Bent's spot-kick. The award of a penalty was a poor decision in the first instance, with the former Spurs striker, in footballing parlance, "going down easily", rather than making a genuine attempt to beat the keeper. The question must be asked - in the same circumstances, would Harry's missus have taken a dive?