Spurs boss hails Carrick

Tottenham boss Martin Jol hailed the performance of Michael Carrick after the England midfielder scored the winner as Spurs condemned Sunderland to a ninth straight defeat.

Tottenham’s 3-2 victory over Sunderland propelled them above north London rivals Arsenal and into the top four of the Premiership.

They made hard work of it in the face of a battling Sunderland side – but Carrick’s winner 10 minutes from time was sublime.

Teemu Tainio picked him out with a superb ball over his shoulder and the England midfielder cut in from the right flank and slotted his shot through a busy six-yard area and inside the far post from an acute angle.

It was Carrick’s first Tottenham goal in his 51st appearance but Jol said: “You don’t see Claude Makelele score a lot of goals – but there is more in Michael.

“His goal was unbelievable. His first touch was directly to goal and his second touch everybody thought he would pull it back and he saw a little hole. He saw the possibility to score.

“He mastered the midfield today.”

Spurs are back up into the top four after making their best start in six years - but Jol insists his men cannot yet be considered a genuine Champions League contenders.

“We have to be realistic. If you look at the league you still see teams (like Arsenal) with games in hand. Last week you look at the table and all the top sides were above us. Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool – they are all great teams.

“We have to look at teams like Bolton. But we will never say no and if we can get the points on the board and stay there in the top four it will be terrific.

“I still think there are a couple of months to go before we can get the right balance to kill off teams like Sunderland.

“But everyone can see the team getting better and better. We are building a new and exciting squad but we have to work hard to keep improving our game.”

Spurs wasted three excellent chances in the first 15 minutes before Michael Dawson conceded a free-kick near his own box and Dean Whitehead curled in the free-kick to earn Sunderland the lead.

Tottenham levelled before the interval after Robbie Keane had picked out Mido and then moved into the lead just after half-time when the Irish international profited from a defensive mix-up.

But Sunderland hit back almost immediately through Anthony Le Tallec and it was only after Black Cats keeper Ben Alnwick had brilliantly saved Keane’s penalty that Spurs finally secured the win with Carrick’s cool strike.

Jol said: “I don’t think we made it hard on ourselves. Their first goal was their first shot on goal – it was an unbelievable free-kick and that can happen - and their second goal was probably from their third shot.

“So all credit to them. It was a great game for the crowd – maybe not for me.

“If you play at home and score three goals you want an easy win but we knew before the game that teams like Sunderland would fight for their lives.”

Jol once again decided to keep Jermain Defoe on the bench and start with Mido and Keane together up front.