Moyes draws comfort from vital point

SUNDERLAND TOTTENHAM 0 0

Sunderland manager David Moyes was given some respite at the end of a frustrating January as Tottenham wasted the chance to maintain their pursuit of Premier League leaders Chelsea.

The bottom-of-the-table Black Cats gave as good as they got before the break, and then battled manfully in containing an out-ofsorts Spurs to claim a 0-0 draw and another point in their quest for survival.

0 David Moyes: Respite.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino will certainly feel two points were left at the Stadium of Light and opposite number Moyes knows only wins will get his side out of trouble – but the Scot was given cause for hope by a spirited display.

Moyes, who had earlier seen a final deadline day bid to land Leicester striker Leonardo Ulloa fail, went into the game knowing his team would have to exceed its recent standards to emerge with any reward.

They did just that during an opening 45 minutes which saw Spurs enjoy plenty of possession, but do relatively little with it as Harry Kane on his return from a groin injury and Dele Alli were largely becalmed.

Spurs full-back Kyle Walker saw a 63rd-minute strike fly over the top and Eric Dier headed just wide at the death – but Tottenham were simply unable to make the pressure tell.