Tottenham Hotspur vs. Sunderland

Robbie Keane put Spurs ahead when he bundled in Peter Crouch's knockdown and Tom Huddlestone wrapped up victory with a fierce 20-yarder on 70 minutes.

Despite the one-goal deficit, it was Sunderland who dictated the play for much of the first-half, with Andy Reid going closest when his thunderous volley hit the post.

The most vital came from Darren Bent's penalty after his foul on the striker. Referee Kevin Friend awarded a penalty but gave Gomes a yellow rather than red card, and the fact that the keeper saved Bent's penalty as well as making a string of other excellent saves can only have made the sense of injustice worse for the visitors.

Spurs, however, were ahead in the 12th minute with a goal that had Sunderland's defenders and bench appealing for an offside that never arrived, with replays suggesting Keane was just about level with the last man.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto had a big hand in the goal, his pinpoint cross nodded down expertly by Crouch and Keane bundled home from close range at the second attempt.

But soon Spurs were hanging on through a combination of good fortune and desperate defending. Unhappy fans jeered off their team at the break for their failing to build on their lead - they obvioulsy had a point as Sunderland were easing themselves into the match.

Referee Kevin Friend handed the hosts their first slice of fortune when he waved away Sunderland's penalty appeals when Bent went down under Gomes's challenge - replays suggested the striker got to the ball milliseconds before the Brazilian - and Reid then rattled the post with a beautiful dipping volley from 35 yards.

Moments later Vedran Corluka's back-header fell far too short and Gomes had to be at his best to deny the on-rushing Kieran Richardson inside the box.

Bent got his chance to level seven minutes after the break, although the penalty he earned looked dubious as he was going to ground before Gomes touched him.

Referee Kevin Friend only gave the Spurs stopper a yellow card when he was the last man, with Gomes parrying Bent's placed spot-kick, an effort that lacked conviction.

Barely believing their good fortune, Spurs finally broke out of their slumber and only a sensational Phil Bardsley block kept out Huddlestone's goal-bound drive with keeper Craig Gordon lying injured inside the area.

The defender could do little about the midfielder's goal, though, Jermain Defoe holding up the ball well and then laying in Huddlestone, whose 20-yard drive rocketed in off the bar.

In a scruffy finale, Spurs substitute Niko Krancjar saw a shot deflected past the post, while Gomes produced yet another fine save after Michael Turner got his head on Reid's cross at the other end.

But in the end Sunderland's failure to finish off all their good work proved pivotal and Tottenham move above Manchester City courtesy of the three points.