Makeshift striker Gary Doherty rounded off an unlikely Tottenham fightback to give his side victory as Sunderland's European hopes suffered another major dent.

The Wearsiders raced into a 2-0 lead within 12 minutes of the kick-off with Spurs completely overwhelmed.

But a second-half recovery, inspired by the impressive Tim Sherwood, saw the visitors strike three times without reply to snatch just their second Premiership win of the season away from home.

Midfielder Stephen Clemence started the ball rolling with a neat finish on 52 minutes but it was Doherty who levelled 15 minutes from time and then cashed in on some dreadful defending 13 minutes later to claim all three points.

Sunderland striker Niall Quinn returned to the starting line-up after finally shaking off a troublesome back injury but midfielder Gavin McCann was ruled out with a knee injury.

Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle kept faith with the bulk of the side which gave him his first win in midweek against Bradford although Steffen Iversen, who was concussed in that game, made way for Ledley King.

The Wearsiders could hardly have got off to a better start as they ripped into the heart of the Tottenham defence and put themselves firmly in the driving seat in 12 electrifying minutes.

Kilbane started the ball rolling with less than three minutes gone when he got on the end of Patrice Carteron's teasing right-wing cross to slam his shot past Neil Sullivan.

Tottenham were reeling and their problems increased markedly just 12 minutes later when goalkeeper Neil Sullivan was unfortunate to see his superb save from Stefan Schwarz's blistering free-kick count for nothing as Quinn announced his return with a simple tap-in.

The Wearsiders were simply irresistible in the early stages and Spurs found themselves chasing shadows, with hard-working skipper Sherwood in particular fighting a losing battle against the red and white hordes in the centre of the park.

Their plight worsened on 20 minutes when defender King, who had earlier been involved in a sickening clash of heads with Kilbane, was forced to leave the field to be replaced by Anthony Gardner.

Sunderland created chance after chance with the visitors' defence rocking, but although Kevin Phillips and Quinn went close Spurs managed to hold out until the break.

However, the chances of them clawing their way back into the game looked as remote as ever with Doherty, playing as an emergency striker, and Ukrainian Sergei Rebrov left to feed off scraps.

The half-time rocket their display so far deserved had the desired effect within minutes of the restart as they gradually built up a head of steam and then made it count.

Steve Carr found space on the right to curl the ball in to Simon Davies, who cleverly helped it on to Clemence to smash a close-range shot past Thomas Sorensen.

The Dane had enjoyed a quiet afternoon up until that point but he was to become increasingly busy as Spurs sensed the chance of a recovery.

He did well to keep out a 25-yard drive from Clemence which bounced wickedly in front of him but he was grateful to see Doherty head inches wide on 67 minutes after he turned up at the far post unattended.

In the meantime Phillips had headed wide from close range and Julio Arca had seen a shot brilliantly turned away by Sullivan, but the sting in the tail was still to be delivered.

Sherwood reacted instinctively on 75 minutes to a flying ball and headed it straight into the path of Doherty, who outpaced Emerson Thome before scuffing his shot past Sorensen to make it 2-2.

Phillips had a glorious opportunity to rescue the victory eight minutes from time when he found himself in front of goal with just Sullivan to beat, but the keeper got in a vital touch as the striker tried to round him and the chance had gone.

But there was even worse to come at the death as substitute Willem Korsten found space on the left and although Thome and Jody Craddock looked to have him covered they somehow contrived to feed the ball to Doherty, who sidefooted into the empty net.

Teams

Sunderland: Sorensen, Carteron, Gray, Craddock, Arca, Thome, Kilbane, Schwarz, Phillips, Quinn (Williams 67), Hutchison.

Subs Not Used: Macho, Thirlwell, Butler, Varga.

Booked: Arca.

Goals: Kilbane 3, Quinn 12.

Tottenham: Sullivan, Carr, Perry, Young, King (Gardner 19), Davies (Piercy 85), Leonhardsen (Korsten 46), Sherwood, Clemence, Rebrov, Doherty.

Subs Not Used: Walker, Thelwell.

Booked: Doherty, Young.

Goals: Clemence 53, Doherty 75, 88.

Att: 48,029

Ref: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).