Title-chasing Tottenham had to settle for a point at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland climbed off the bottom of the table with a hard-fought draw.
Spurs remain nine points behind leaders Chelsea after they were held by Liverpool, but this game will go down as a missed chance to close the gap.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side dominated possession against the Black Cats, seeing 73% of the ball, but could not make the breakthrough.
Much of that was down to a determined defensive effort by the home side, but Victor Wanyama wasted Tottenham’s best chance when he headed Son Heung-min’s cross over the bar when unmarked at the back post.
Sunderland only managed three shots, Fabio Borini firing straight at Michel Vorm from their only clear sight of goal.
Tottenham had scored 16 goals in their previous five league games, but it was a lack of a cutting edge that cost them two points in the north east.
Spurs managed only one shot at goal in the first 45 minutes, a Wanyama shot from 25 yards that Vitor Mannone pushed away at full stretch.
They improved significantly after the break, with Kyle Walker and Dele Alli both seeing dangerous efforts deflected off target, but their only clear-cut chance saw Wanyama head wastefully over.
An injury to Danny Rose, who was forced off before the break by a knee problem, only added to Tottenham’s disappointment on a frustrating night.
Pochettino’s side are now unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions but this result represents a backwards step, despite a point that sees them climb to second place in the table.
Much has been made of Sunderland boss David Moyes signing several of his ex-Everton players during the January transfer window but it was a duo returning from the Africa Cup of Nations who made the biggest impression for the Black Cats here.
Along with Black Cats centre-back Lamine Kone, midfielder Didier Ndong has been away for most of January.
Both players added much-needed energy and industry on their return, with Gabon international Ndong leading the Sunderland resistance with an all-action display in midfield.
When Spurs got past him, they struggled to get past Kone too. The Ivory Coast defender made 15 clearances in total, more than any other player.
(BBC Sport)
