Story highlights
Matthew Etherington scores both goals as Stoke defeat Tottenham 2-1
Tottenham have Younes Kaboul sent off as their winning run comes to an end
Sunderland recover from 1-0 behind to defeat Blackburn 2-1 with a late goal
It marked a winning start for new Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill
Matthew Etherington scored both goals as Stoke ended Tottenham’s winning English Premier League run with a 2-1 victory on Sunday.
Tottenham went to the Britannia Stadium on the back of a an 11-game unbeaten run, with their last six all victories, but they began the match slowly and Stoke deservedly took a 13th-minute lead when Peter Crouch did well to get the ball back from an acute angle, for Etherington to rifle home.
And the same player, who played for Tottenham earlier in his career, doubled his and Stoke’s tally two minutes before half-time, when Ryan Shotton’s long throw was flicked on by Walters for Etherington to score at the back post.
Rooney double helps Manchester United rebound
But Tottenham ralied in the second half and pulled a goal back when Emmanuel Adebayor scored from the penalty spot after Glenn Whelan had tripped Luka Modric in the area.
Tottenham piled forward searching for an equalizer and they looked to have genuine claims for another penalty when Ryan Shawcross appeared to handle on the line.
The same attack saw Adebayor have a goal ruled out for offside when replays showed he was in an onside position when the ball was played forward.
And Tottenham’s hopes of victory disappeared eight minutes from time when French defender Younes Kaboul was sent off for a second bookable offence.
The result leaves Tottenham still in third place, seven points behind leaders Manchester City who visit fifth-placed Chelsea on Monday.
Stoke’s third successive victory sees them move up to eighth position in the table.
Meanwhile, Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill began his reign in charge of the club with a dramatic 2-1 victory over fellow-strugglers Blackburn Rovers.
Rovers took a 17th minute lead when Simon Vukcevic headed home after goalkeeper Keiren Westwood could only parry Christopher Samba’s strike.
And the scoreline stayed the same until four minutes from time when David Vaughan fired home an equalizer for the home side.
Then, with the 90 minutes up, Swedish international Sebastian Larsson curled home a superb free- kick to lift Sunderland out of the bottom three in the table.
