Tottenham won their sixth league game out of eight as they came from a goal down to beat Sunderland and move up to third in the Premier League.

Gareth Bale headed wide and Emmanuel Adebayor's two-yard shot hit the bar, before John O'Shea side-footed in from close range for the Black Cats.

Sunderland's Carlos Cuellar headed into his own net for Tottenham's leveller.

Analysis

Image of Steve Bower Steve Bower BBC Match of the Day commentator

"Tottenham now have 19 points from 24 and their win at the Stadium of Light has halted the recent resurgence of Sunderland. Two quick goals in the second half turned the game in Tottenham's favour, with Aaron Lennon's finish proving the winner"

Spurs winger Aaron Lennon sealed the comeback when he burst through on goal and coolly slotted home.

Jermain Defoe and Adebayor should have given the scoreline a more emphatic look but the Spurs strikers were denied by keeper Simon Mignolet.

Spurs winger Gareth Bale was again booked for diving and, although there did appear to be contact when he was challenged by Craig Gardner, he will miss his side's next game following a fifth yellow card of the campaign.

The Welshman later insisted he had been unfairly singled out.

Sunderland beat Manchester City on Boxing Day but, despite taking the lead, could not cause another upset.

Both teams went into the match in good form and the early stages involved them battling for some sort of superiority.

Bale frustrated by diving bookings

However, the defences of each club were proving disciplined until a mistake by Black Cats midfielder James McClean after 25 minutes sparked a spell of Spurs pressure.

McClean lost possession on the halfway line and Lennon slid a pass to release Adebayor, whose shot was saved with his foot by the on-rushing Mignolet.

Almost immediately, right-winger Lennon skipped past a defender and sent in an inviting cross which an unmarked Bale steered wide from 10 yards.

Soon after, Cuellar mistimed a clearance from a Defoe shot and, even though Adebayor beat Mignolet, his poked shot came back off the crossbar.

The visitors failed to capitalise and were punished when they failed to deal with a set-piece.

A Sebastian Larsson free-kick to the near post fell for Black Cats striker Steven Fletcher and, after his shot was well saved by keeper Hugo Lloris, the loose ball was slotted in by O'Shea.

Bale booking 'tremendously unfair'

But Tottenham have an impressive away record this season and racked up a sixth win on the road with a second-half fightback.

The visitors were gifted an equaliser when Cuellar headed Kyle Walker's near-post corner into his own goal and quickly conceded a second.

A Lennon pass came back off Sunderland defender Matthew Kilgallon to the Spurs winger, who flicked the ball past O'Shea before producing a smart finish.

The closest the home side came to a leveller was when Spurs keeper Lloris parried an Adam Johnson strike but it was the visitors who looked the more likely to score.

Defoe chose to control and shoot from a Bale cross rather than go for a first-time shot, allowing Mignolet to scamper across and block his strike.

Can't fault players 'commitment' - O'Neill

Mignolet also came out of his goal to save an Adebayor shot late on as Spurs advanced their chances of a top-four spot.

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas: "It was extremely good. Apart from the Everton fixture we have had an excellent December and to finish the year with a win like this is very good for us. I am very happy for the team. We have played a tremendous amount of games in December and it's good to get this result.

"Sunderland are difficult, but to be fair we dominated most of the game. Sunderland had a go but we had the most amount of possession and the most amount of shots. In the end we got the win that we wanted."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Sunderland

  • 22 Mignolet
  • 12 Kilgallon (Campbell - 62' )
  • 16 O'Shea (Bramble - 68' )
  • 24 Cuellar Booked
  • 07 Larsson (Wickham - 80' )
  • 08 Gardner
  • 14 Colback
  • 21 Johnson
  • 23 McClean
  • 28 Sessegnon
  • 26 Fletcher

Substitutes

  • 20 Westwood
  • 19 Bramble
  • 15 Vaughan
  • 09 Campbell
  • 10 Wickham
  • 11 McFadden
  • 17 Ji Dong-Won

Tottenham Hotspur

  • 25 Lloris
  • 16 Naughton
  • 20 Dawson Booked
  • 28 Walker
  • 33 Caulker
  • 07 Lennon (Parker - 83' )
  • 11 Bale Booked (Sigurdsson - 90' )
  • 30 Sandro
  • 10 Adebayor
  • 18 Defoe (Dempsey - 75' )
  • 19 Dembele Booked

Substitutes

  • 24 Friedel
  • 05 Vertonghen
  • 02 Dempsey
  • 06 Huddlestone
  • 08 Parker
  • 22 Sigurdsson
  • 29 Livermore
Ref: Atkinson
Att: 41,168

Match Stats

Shots

9 18

On target

6 14

Corners

3 8

Fouls

9 15

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:17 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +4:56

Adam Johnson delivers the ball.

90:00 +3:53

Kyle Walker challenges Adam Johnson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by James McClean, clearance by Michael Dawson.

90:00 +4:25

Carlos Cuellar has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the target.

90:00 +3:53

Kyle Walker gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam Johnson. James McClean crosses the ball in from the free kick, Emmanuel Adebayor makes a clearance.

90:00 +3:38

Centre by Titus Bramble, Kyle Walker makes a clearance.

90:00 +2:24

Adam Johnson takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Hugo Lloris makes a save. Unfair challenge on Hugo Lloris by Steven Fletcher results in a free kick. Hugo Lloris restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +2:12

Connor Wickham takes a shot. Blocked by Michael Dawson.

90:00 +0:28

The ball is crossed by Jack Colback. Titus Bramble concedes a free kick for a foul on Gylfi Sigurdsson. Hugo Lloris takes the direct free kick.

89:10

Simon Mignolet takes the direct free kick.

89:10 Substitution

Substitution Gylfi Sigurdsson on for Gareth Bale.

89:10

Foul by Emmanuel Adebayor on Jack Colback, free kick awarded.

86:23

The ball is delivered by Adam Johnson, clearance by Kyle Naughton.

85:34

Gareth Bale takes a shot. Comfortable save by Simon Mignolet.

85:09

The ball is crossed by Gareth Bale.

83:57

Stephane Sessegnon gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Raniere Sandro. Direct free kick taken by Hugo Lloris.

83:46

Fraizer Campbell takes a shot. Blocked by Steven Caulker.

83:25

The ball is swung over by Craig Gardner, Raniere Sandro manages to make a clearance.

82:05 Substitution

Substitution Scott Parker joins the action as a substitute, replacing Aaron Lennon.

81:13

Emmanuel Adebayor takes a shot. Save by Simon Mignolet.

81:13

Emmanuel Adebayor takes a shot. Save made by Simon Mignolet.

80:07

Simon Mignolet restarts play with the free kick.

80:07 Booking

Booking Gareth Bale booked for unsporting behaviour.

80:40

The ball is swung over by Adam Johnson, Hugo Lloris makes a save.

80:07

Simon Mignolet takes the direct free kick.

80:07 Booking

Booking Gareth Bale goes into the referee's book.

79:20 Substitution

Substitution Connor Wickham comes on in place of Sebastian Larsson.

78:31

Corner taken right-footed by Sebastian Larsson, Gareth Bale makes a clearance.

77:57

Adam Johnson delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right by-line, save by Hugo Lloris.

77:57 Booking

Booking The referee shows Mousa Dembele a yellow card.

77:45

Mousa Dembele gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Craig Gardner.

76:37

Outswinging corner taken by Kyle Walker from the right by-line, Steven Caulker takes a shot. Comfortable save by Simon Mignolet.

76:30

Aaron Lennon sends in a cross, Titus Bramble makes a clearance.

76:04

Mousa Dembele takes a shot. Titus Bramble gets a block in.

74:46 Substitution

Substitution Jermain Defoe goes off and Clint Dempsey comes on.

74:09

Centre by Raniere Sandro, Titus Bramble makes a clearance.

72:02

The ball is delivered by Craig Gardner, Hugo Lloris makes a comfortable save.

71:15

Michael Dawson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stephane Sessegnon. Sebastian Larsson crosses the ball in from the free kick, Hugo Lloris makes a save.

68:20

Free kick crossed right-footed by Sebastian Larsson, save made by Hugo Lloris.

68:20 Booking

Booking Michael Dawson goes into the referee's book.

68:14

Unfair challenge on Stephane Sessegnon by Michael Dawson results in a free kick.

67:27 Substitution

Substitution Titus Bramble comes on in place of John O'Shea.

64:34

Gareth Bale challenges Craig Gardner unfairly and gives away a free kick. Simon Mignolet takes the free kick.

63:24

Emmanuel Adebayor gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Carlos Cuellar. Free kick taken by John O'Shea.

62:59

The assistant referee flags for offside against John O'Shea. Hugo Lloris takes the indirect free kick.

62:21

Foul by Steven Caulker on Steven Fletcher, free kick awarded. Sebastian Larsson crosses the ball in from the free kick, Emmanuel Adebayor makes a clearance.

61:36 Substitution

Substitution Fraizer Campbell is brought on as a substitute for Matthew Kilgallon.

61:14

Stephane Sessegnon has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.

59:32

Jermain Defoe takes a shot. Save made by Simon Mignolet.

55:48

Outswinging corner taken by Kyle Walker from the left by-line, save by Simon Mignolet.

55:35

Gareth Bale produces a drilled left-footed shot from 30 yards. Jack Colback gets a block in.

53:36

The assistant referee flags for offside against Stephane Sessegnon. Steven Caulker takes the indirect free kick.

53:18

Stephane Sessegnon sends in a cross, clearance made by Michael Dawson.

53:04

Adam Johnson takes a shot. Save made by Hugo Lloris.

52:23

Stephane Sessegnon gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kyle Walker. Kyle Walker takes the free kick.

50:57 Goal scored

Goal - Aaron Lennon - Sunderland 1 - 2 Tottenham Goal scored by Aaron Lennon from inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Sunderland 1-2 Tottenham.

50:12

The ball is crossed by Aaron Lennon, John O'Shea makes a clearance.

49:56

Gareth Bale sends in a cross, Matthew Kilgallon manages to make a clearance.

49:32

James McClean challenges Kyle Walker unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Michael Dawson.

48:49

Steven Fletcher is penalised for a handball. Kyle Naughton restarts play with the free kick.

47:37

Assist by Kyle Walker.

47:37 Goal scored

Goal - Carlos Cuellar - Sunderland 1 - 1 Tottenham Headed own goal by Carlos Cuellar. Sunderland 1-1 Tottenham.

47:21

Kyle Walker takes the inswinging corner, Carlos Cuellar makes a clearance.

46:32

Gareth Bale crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, clearance made by Carlos Cuellar.

46:32 Booking

Booking Carlos Cuellar goes into the referee's book.

46:27

Carlos Cuellar concedes a free kick for a foul on Aaron Lennon.

46:05

A cross is delivered by Adam Johnson, clearance made by Raniere Sandro.

45:53

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Adam Johnson played to the near post, clearance by Gareth Bale.

45:40

The ball is sent over by Stephane Sessegnon, Steven Caulker manages to make a clearance.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:00 +2:12 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +1:52

Mousa Dembele fouled by Jack Colback, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Mousa Dembele.

45:00 +0:46

Jermain Defoe concedes a free kick for a foul on Carlos Cuellar. Direct free kick taken by Simon Mignolet.

39:31

Assist by Steven Fletcher.

39:31 Goal scored

Goal - John O'Shea - Sunderland 1 - 0 Tottenham John O'Shea grabs a goal from inside the six-yard box high into the middle of the goal. Sunderland 1-0 Tottenham.

38:37

Foul by Kyle Walker on Stephane Sessegnon, free kick awarded. Sebastian Larsson crosses the ball, Steven Fletcher takes a shot. Save made by Hugo Lloris.

36:36

Foul by Michael Dawson on Stephane Sessegnon, free kick awarded. Adam Johnson delivers the ball, Headed effort on goal by Carlos Cuellar from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

35:08

Shot from 12 yards from Jermain Defoe. Blocked by Matthew Kilgallon.

34:16

Kyle Walker delivers the ball.

32:55

Shot by Kyle Walker from outside the box goes over the net.

32:21

Outswinging corner taken by Gareth Bale.

32:09

A cross is delivered by Gareth Bale, blocked by Adam Johnson.

30:56

Jermain Defoe takes a shot. Carlos Cuellar makes a clearance.

29:52

Effort from just outside the area by Jermain Defoe goes over the bar.

29:31

Emmanuel Adebayor takes a shot.

28:16

The ball is crossed by Aaron Lennon, Header from deep inside the area by Gareth Bale goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

27:46

The referee penalises Sebastian Larsson for handball. Mousa Dembele takes the free kick.

26:18

A cross is delivered by Jermain Defoe, clearance made by Matthew Kilgallon. Corner from the left by-line taken by Gareth Bale, save by Simon Mignolet.

24:37

Corner taken right-footed by Kyle Walker, save by Simon Mignolet.

25:07

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Gareth Bale from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Craig Gardner.

24:56

Emmanuel Adebayor takes a shot. Save made by Simon Mignolet.

24:37

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Kyle Walker, Simon Mignolet makes a save.

24:07

Raniere Sandro takes a shot. Matthew Kilgallon gets a block in. Mousa Dembele takes a shot. Blocked by Craig Gardner.

23:43

Kyle Walker takes the outswinging corner, Matthew Kilgallon makes a clearance.

23:31

Aaron Lennon crosses the ball, Carlos Cuellar manages to make a clearance.

22:44

Stephane Sessegnon crosses the ball, save made by Hugo Lloris.

22:02

Sebastian Larsson fouled by Raniere Sandro, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Craig Gardner.

20:04

Raniere Sandro takes a shot. Simon Mignolet makes a save.

17:55

Centre by James McClean.

17:55

Jack Colback delivers the ball.

17:11

The referee blows for offside. Simon Mignolet takes the free kick.

14:52

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Craig Gardner by Mousa Dembele. Direct free kick taken by Simon Mignolet.

14:02

James McClean delivers the ball, save made by Hugo Lloris.

13:33

A cross is delivered by Stephane Sessegnon, comfortable save by Hugo Lloris.

13:19

Craig Gardner delivers the ball, Raniere Sandro makes a clearance.

12:20

A cross is delivered by Gareth Bale, Craig Gardner gets a block in.

11:54

Free kick awarded for a foul by Craig Gardner on Gareth Bale. Mousa Dembele takes the free kick.

11:30

The ball is swung over by Steven Fletcher, Michael Dawson makes a clearance.

11:21

Adam Johnson produces a cross, Kyle Walker makes a clearance.

10:52

Foul by Steven Caulker on Steven Fletcher, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Sebastian Larsson.

6:43

Jack Colback concedes a free kick for a foul on Raniere Sandro. Free kick taken by Kyle Naughton.

3:59

Mousa Dembele gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam Johnson. Shot on goal comes in from Craig Gardner from the free kick, Hugo Lloris makes a comfortable save.

3:08

Emmanuel Adebayor takes a shot. Save by Simon Mignolet.

1:48

Handball by James McClean. Kyle Walker takes the direct free kick.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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