A late Christian Eriksen goal gave Spurs a 2-1 victory over Sunderland and ensured Jermain Defoe was on the losing side on his return to White Hart Lane.

A deflected Jan Vertonghen strike put the hosts in the ascendency in the third minute, but the hosts were unable to build on that early lead and were pegged back in the 31st minute.

Former Tottenham striker Defoe, making his Sunderland debut after joining from Toronto, won the free-kick from which Sebastian Larsson equalised.

Harry Kane struck a post before Eriksen sealed the points when he dispatched a pass from Andros Townsend.

However Spurs, who are now fifth in the Premier League table, needed a fine late save from Hugo Lloris to deny substitute Danny Graham to make sure of the win.

Vertonghen then thought he’d scored a third when he raced away to convert when goalkeeper Costel Pantillimon was caught upfield after coming up for a corner, but the defender was flagged offside even though he received the ball in his own half.