01/12/2025

SPORTS MONDAY | DEC 1, 2025

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Regis hails Black Cats resilience after come-from-behind win

Ű BY DAMIAN SPELLMAN

scenario will evolve, and that was the case today.” Victory took Sunderland to 22 points from their opening 13 games and left them well on course to achieve top-flight safety long before the season reaches its final stages. However, asked if he had redrawn his ambitions for the campaign, Le Bris said: “No, not at all. Still our first target, we want to reach 40 points. “When it will be done – as soon as possible – maybe we will have another objective, but that remains the case.” For opposite number Andoni Iraola, there was disappointment and frustration in equal

measure, although much of the latter was aimed at referee Tim Robinson and VAR official John Brooks over the 30th-minute penalty awarded for Alex Scott’s challenge on Bertrand Traore. Iraola, who claimed one of his players had been fouled during the build-up, said: “When you call a penalty and the VAR is checking for five minutes – five minutes, eh? – that decision should not be okay. “We saw – 20 seconds, 30 seconds, but his five minutes checking, they are really expected to overturn it because when you are checking five minutes, they know it’s a mistake, but they don’t know if it’s a big enough mistake for the VAR to intervene or not.” – The Independent

“It’s crucial because in this league especially, you can’t control everything,” he said. “The scenario will go wrong at times and if you don’t have the foundations, the character, the connection with the team, a bad scenario and you give up. “It was the case today. It started poorly for us, but because of the foundations we have created together, it’s still possible to think that you can be back in the game, and it was the case. “It’s really important because the scenario in football is still unpredictable and when it goes wrong, you still have to stay in the game and create the next opportunity. “One goal and we don’t know how the

REGIS LE BRIS praised Sunderland’s resilience after seeing them fight back from two goals down to beat Bournemouth 3-2 and climb back into the Premier League’s top four. The Black Cats looked to be in deep trouble just 15 minutes in at the Stadium of Light, but dragged themselves back into the game before winning it with a second-half surge courtesy of substitute Brian Brobbey. Frenchman Le Bris spoke about the importance of resilience in his pre-match programme notes, and the message had clearly filtered through to his players.

Frank slam boo boys Spurs boss hits out at fans after goalkeeper jeered during defeat against Cottagers T OTTENHAM MANAGER Thomas Frank said the home supporters who booed goal keeper Guglielmo Vicario during the 2-1 defeat to Fulham “can’t be true fans”. the boos he faced afterwards and apologised for his mistake. “It’s part of football,” he said. “I’m a big man.” “We can’t be influenced by the situation in the stands. The fans have the right to do what they think. It’s on us to stay calm. Ű BY JAMIE BRAIDWOOD

Tottenham players at it again

A FURIOUS

Pedro Porro

against big, big teams, so we knew the challenge ahead of us. “I thought, in the first half, the game ebbed and flowed, we defend our moments. “They can create huge pressure and stress on a team from set-plays and the ball coming into the box. “We defended that really well and we had some opportunities as well. “In the second half, it is fair to say that the pressure came even more on us and we could not get a foothold in the game.” – The Independent angered by Bergvall applauding the Spurs supporters at full-time. The right back could be seen screaming Bergvall’s name as the 19 year-old started to walk around the pitch and show his appreciation to the remaining home sup porters. Porro did not appear to applaud the fans and instead went down the tunnel, removing his shirt as he did so. His frustration comes just weeks after Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence ignored manager Thomas Frank’s instructions to applaud the Spurs fans after their home defeat against Chelsea, with the pair later apologising. Frank said he did not see Porro’s reaction at full-time but added: “We are in a tough spell right now and for my players it is about being as calm as possible and doing everything we can to work through it.” – The Independent appeared with Tottenham teammate Lucas Bergvall before storming down the tunnel following Spurs’ 2-1 home defeat to Fulham in the Premier League. Tottenham were booed off after falling to their fourth Premier League defeat in six games, while some Spurs fans also directed their frustration at goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario after his error led to Fulham doubling their lead after just six minutes. Porro looked to be to row

“We have to focus on ourselves. We are lacking in a little bit of compo sure and calmness at the moment. Today is a bad defeat and tough to accept.” Tottenham have the second-worst home record in the Premier League this season, only ahead of winless Wolves, and they made a nightmare start against Fulham. “When you’re down 2-0 after six minutes, there is a mountain to climb,” Frank said. “When you’re in a bad spell, everything seems to go against you as well – the first was a deflected shot, the second is a mis take from Vic. “It is OK that (the fans) are frus trated, because we haven’t won at home for a long time. “We all badly want to win so I’m fine with them booing after the

KEITH ANDREWS revealed Igor Thiago has ambitions of playing for Brazil after the striker scored twice to help Brentford beat Burnley 3-1 in the Premier League. Thiago and Zian Flemming both converted penalties to kick off a frantic end to proceedings at the Gtech Community Stadium. The 24-year-old produced a brilliant finish to make it 2-1 before Dango Ouattara secured all three points with Brentford’s third in stoppage time. The result leaves the Bees in eighth, and Andrews believes that his Brazilian star is setting his sights on After Fulham’s Kenny Tete opened the scoring inside four minutes, Vicario was caught off his line as he dribbled into trouble and was pun ished by Harry Wilson from long range. The Italian goalkeepers addressed Vicario was jeered by some Spurs supporters when he touched the ball after his error led to Fulham doubling their lead inside six minutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It gave Spurs a mountain to climb and although Mohammed Kudus pulled a goal back after half time, in an improved second-half perform ance, Frank’s side fell to another defeat. Tottenham have not won a Premier League game at home since the opening weekend of the season while the past week has seen losses against Arsenal, PSG and now Fulham. There were loud boos at both half time and full-time and while Frank said supporters could voice their frus tration at the team, he drew the line at the booing of Vicario. “I didn’t like that our fans booed at him straight after and a few times when he touched the ball,” Frank told Sky Sports after the defeat. “They can’t be true Tottenham fans because everyone supports each other when you are on the pitch. “We do everything we can to per form. After, fair enough, boo, no prob lem. But not during. That’s unaccept able in my opinion.”

game, but during the game I hope it was one incident and it never happens again.” Tottenham have now lost four of their last six Premier League games but their dismal home form predates Frank’s tenure, with Spurs only winning three of their last 21 home League matches and suf fering 10 home

Spurs’s Guglielmo Vicario (left) in action

League defeats in 2025 under both Frank and former manager Ange Postecoglou. – The Independent Bees boss Andrews backs striker Thiago for Brazil call with Fulham’s Raul Jimenez during the EPL match yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

the international stage. “I think Thiago just needs to keep doing what he is doing, consistently do it well, and the goals will come,” he said. “I have just been told that he is the top-scoring Brazilian in all of the major divisions, so it is pretty impressive really, isn’t it? “So, I think if he maintains that, I know it is a big dream of his and one that we are supporting him with, obviously. Hopefully, that will happen for him.

“From my relationship with Thiago, his aspirations are to play for Brazil.” Thiago opened the scoring from the spot in the 81st minute after Ouattara was fouled by Axel Tuanzebe. But Burnley were soon level as Michael Kayode fouled Jaidon Anthony in the box and Flemming kept his cool with five minutes remaining. However, a minute later the ball fell to Thiago inside the penalty area and he lashed the ball into the top

left corner on the turn. Ouattara then wrapped up the win in stoppage time after being put through on goal. Burnley have now lost four Premier League fixtures in a row and are languishing in 19th place in the table. Scott Parker admitted his side are hurting after a difficult run of displays. “Frustration, hurting, we knew how difficult this fixture would be,” he said. “They have got some big results