Writer: safc123 
Date:Sunday December 9 2012
Time: 11:26AM
Martin O'Neill took heart from Sunderland's 3-1 defeat by Chelsea yesterday, even though his side slipped into the bottom three as a result.
Rafa Benitez's side flew out the traps and were ahead when Fernando Torres poked home a near-post volley.
The Spaniard bagged his second from the penalty spot before Juan Mata killed the game off shortly after the break.
Sunderland did create plenty more chances and Adam Johnson's fine, swerving, top-corner effort no more than the Lads deserved for their efforts.
Speaking afterwards to safc.com, O'Neill praised his side's endeavour:
"I thought we should have got something out of the game.
"It was a fantastic effort by the team and I think that effort was appreciated by the crowd,' stated O'Neill.
"[Adam] Johnson`s goal gave us renewed hope and the fans got behind us," the Ulsterman continued.
"The players are very disappointed; there`s still plenty of fight in the dressing room.'
It gets no easier for O'Neill's side who travel to Manchester United next Saturday.
PDC: 'Environment worse here than Swindon' (Monday May 20 2013)
Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Sunderland (Monday May 20 2013)
Stats: Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland (Sunday May 19 2013)
Team News: Tottenham Hotspur (A) (Sunday May 19 2013)
Tottenham Hotspur Preview (A) - May 19 (Saturday May 18 2013)
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| 1. | andyj1973 | 30 |
| 2. | Toasted Mackem | 1 |
| Latest Results | ||||
| Spurs | 1 | - | 0 | Sunderland |
| Sunderland | 1 | - | 1 | Southampton |
| Sunderland | 1 | - | 1 | Stoke |
| Aston Villa | 6 | - | 1 | Sunderland |
| Sunderland | 1 | - | 0 | Everton |
| Newcastle | 0 | - | 3 | Sunderland |
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 14. Southampton | 38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | -11 | 41 |
| 15. Aston Villa | 38 | 10 | 11 | 17 | -22 | 41 |
| 16. Newcastle | 38 | 11 | 8 | 19 | -23 | 41 |
| 17. Sunderland | 38 | 9 | 12 | 17 | -13 | 39 |
| 18. Wigan | 38 | 9 | 9 | 20 | -26 | 36 |
| 19. Reading | 38 | 6 | 10 | 22 | -30 | 28 |
| 20. Q.P.R. | 38 | 4 | 13 | 21 | -30 | 25 |
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