Thomas Frank wants support from booing Tottenham fans after Sunderland snatch late draw

Thomas Frank says he wants support from Tottenham fans who were booing after Sunderland snatch a late draw on Sunday afternoon.

Ben Davies had put Spurs ahead on the half-hour after the Black Cats failed to clear a corner. The home fans applauded their side off at half time.

Brian Brobbey equalised for Sunderland with a powerful finish on 80 minutes, leading to groans, moans and boos by majority inside the stadium, while the away end went wild.

Both teams remain mid-table, with Sunderland in 8th and three points ahead of 13th place Tottenham.

Thomas Frank booed when walking down the tunnel after Tottenham’s 1-1 draw against Sunderland.#COYS #THFC pic.twitter.com/eYD1H8trjR

— Chris Cowlin (@ChrisCowlin) January 4, 2026

Thomas Frank spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Tottenham’s draw against Sunderland: “There were a lot of positives in the performance. The first half was much more like we want to do. I liked our intensity with and without the ball, we created a lot of good situations but we lacked the decisiveness to finish the game off.

“The second half was a little more back and forth but we were slightly on top, and still got into those attacking situations where we needed to kill the game off. The positive is the intensity, the negative is we didn’t score a second goal.

“When you are working very hard sometimes you get into that momentum where everything clicks and goes your way. Sometimes you have to work very, very hard to get the margins on your side.”

On fans’ frustration: “First and foremost throughout the game the fans were very good and backing us and that is all we are asking for. I am sure the fans will acknowledge the first half and they [the players] tried throughout the game but sometimes it doesn’t go your way.”

Frank speaking at his post-match press conference:

“Pleased with the first half. I think we showed a lot of good intentions, a lot of good play. I think we came in some very good offensive situations where we lacked the cutting-edge quality.

“I think the big headline is we didn’t score the 2-0 goal. We didn’t kill the game off. Two-nil, then we are out of sight.

“We gave nothing away throughout the game. We have one where they do a top bit of play and then it’s 1-1. So for me it was the 2-0 goal we lacked.

“I think first half was very good, I think we were totally dominant. Second half, not as dominant, but we still get into some very good situations, have some good counter-attack situations where we need to get more out of it.

“You can’t rely on in the Premier League just to win 1-0.”

“We created good situations that we should’ve got more out of”

Thomas Frank reflects on Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Sunderland and is disappointed that his side failed to add to their lead during spells where the hosts ‘dominated’ ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/WrGxqfgDS5

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 4, 2026

Regis Le Bris spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Sunderland’s draw against Tottenham: “The first half we were a bit flat, without energy. That could be understandable after the Manchester City game, which was really tough and demanding.

“We were probably a bit lucky as we conceded only one goal in the first half. We showed good character to survive and then switch on in the second half and we deserved this result.

“At the end the players believed it was possible and that was the most important, you can think about quality and tactics but it is about belief as well.

“At the moment we go game-by-game and we have reached 30 points and that is good for us and gives us confidence.

“We go again in three days.”

“The flow of the game wasn’t what I expected”

Regis Le Bris looks back on how more ‘energy’ changed the momentum of Sunderland’s performance against Spurs and praises the second half performance of his side 💪 pic.twitter.com/8YgQPJkkMM

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 4, 2026

Le Bris speaking at his post-match press conference:

“We had a lack of energy and just 1-0 down it was possible to switch on.

“We were a bit lucky because in a Premier League game, when you don’t play at your best, you should be punished.

“It wasn’t the case, so we were still alive. We said, just switch on, do simple things well, because I think tactically we were OK.

“It was just a question of being more composed with the ball and the ability to win the first contact because they went direct as expected against our man-for-man press. We didn’t win the first contact, the second ball, so the balance of the game was like that. We had the character and the quality to switch on and I think it’s positive.”

Here’s how Twitter users reacted as Thomas Frank says he wants support from booing Tottenham fans after Sunderland snatch late draw…

@fifferh: Considering there is a video almost shot for shot identical to this with Ange walking down the tunnel it makes you wonder if the manager is the problem or are these fans fucking deluded.

@ninetytwoclub: And again our below average players escape criticism and the manager gets all the abuse . That team need upgrading ASAP and we win games like this which we were in control of for long periods with ease

@GJHeidler: This genuinely upsets me, because he’s such a good guy. But you can’t look back. People make choices and they either work out or they don’t. It probably hurts him even more seeing us do so well. If it doesn’t work out over there, hopefully he goes to Europe, away from the PL

@Jordan_Neale: Thomas frank aint the problem. How many more managers are we going to go through with the same things going on, Things take time to fix. Back a manager for once, see how it goes and give some more time.

@SimonM59: This booing nonsense is harsh and unfair. TF has struggled with strange selections and not knowing his best team but he’s picking up on crap recruiting and unbalanced squad tolerated for far too long. He needs serious financial support this window as promised by the Board.

@coysliam: absolutely shocking. If we had one decent forward player today he wouldove coached a convincing victory but instead we have Richy Tel Odobert and Muani

@HarryScarfe22: I would like to see anybody do better with that forward line. We have all our good players out injured. There is one common denominator, ENIC. That doesn’t mean Frank is blameless but we certainly don’t improve by sacking him. This isn’t a quick fix.

@nathwicks85: Disagree I’m afraid Harry, that forward line should be more than enough vs a promoted team. Not everything can be blamed on ENIC. They employed Frank but they don’t pick the team or choose the tactics, that’s on Frank, he’s paid to do a job and he is dramatically failing.

@deanog211: The forward line worked fine the first half. It’s his lack of willingness to kill the game off. He stopped the press and any attacking intent second half. That’s on him now who is in the forward line

@Gawoo1012: Not a single spurs player looks improved under Frank. They look confused & disinterested. When he said that Bergval coming on for Odebert was a “like for like” substitution, I fear that he is utterly lost at sea. Job is too big for him. Players don’t respect him

@Nickyh_yiddo: Afraid u don’t really get it mate, players aren’t what we used to have with Kane and son but another manager gets so much more of what we got! He is the main blame, and needs to go but he won’t! Worst manager in many many years

@thfckaydee: A large portion of the fanbase and the board decided that Ange Postecoglou was not learning or adaptable enough to compete despite injuries. Why should we excuse Frank for still playing passive, boring football after 30 games? We hired him as a tactician but he’s not learning!