Ryan Mason snatches Spurs winner to send Sunderland bottom

Ryan Mason applied a fine finish to a terrific Tottenham move late on to end their way for a Premier League win, and consign hosts Sunderland to propping up the table.

Black Cats boss Dick Advocaat sacrificed English holding midfield duo Lee Cattermole and Jack Rodwell in favour of a more attacking approach. Danny Graham also made way from the XI that started Sunderland’s 2-2 draw at Villa Park last time out.

Jordi Gomez made a surprise return from injury, while there was a full debut for Sweden international Ola Toivonen and a second Stadium of Light bow for Fabio Borini in a forward-heavy formation.

Visiting coach Mauricio Pochettino happily handed South Korean summer signing Son Heung-Min the nod in support of Harry Kane. Injuries to Nabil Bentaleb and Mousa Dembele, following the goalless draw with Everton, meant Dele Alli made his first Spurs start on Wearside.

Strong Tottenham pressure in the early stages saw Patrick van Aanholt lucky to escape punishment for obstructing Kyle Walker in the box. Kane wasted the visitors’ best opening, lashing over on 15 minutes.

Clear-cut chances were at a premium with Jermain Defoe first trying his luck from long-range before hitting the post on the break when fed by Jeremain Lens, and later holding off Toby Alderweireld to get a third first-half effort away.

Debutant Son miscued inside the area on the stroke of half-time with the script seemingly written for a debut strike. Reality wasn’t so kind, however, and he was withdrawn in favour of the returning Andros Townsend after an hour.

Eric Dier put in a superb interception to deny Lens, with the converted defensive midfielder putting out fires through alertness to Sunderland’s obvious counter-attacking policy. Toivonen fluffed his lines for the hosts in the second-half, with Lens failing get away from Jan Vertonghen moments later.