Michael Carrick's first goal for Tottenham finally killed off Sunderland's determined challenge at White Hart Lane and condemned the relegation-bound visitors to a ninth straight defeat.

Tottenham should have had the game wrapped up long before Teemu Tainio picked out Carrick with a sublime ball over his shoulder for the England midfielder to slide his shot from an acute angle inside the far post.

Sunderland patently lack the quality required to stay in the Barclays Premiership - they have now accrued five points from a possible 48 - but Tottenham made life hard for themselves.

After Spurs had wasted three excellent chances in the first 15 minutes Michael Dawson conceded a free-kick near his own box and Dean Whitehead curled home the set-piece to give Sunderland the lead.

Spurs equalised before the interval after Robbie Keane picked out Mido and then moved into the lead just after half-time when the Irish international profited from a defensive mix-up.

But Sunderland hit back almost immediately through Anthony Le Tallec and it was only after Black Cats keeper Ben Alnwick had brilliantly saved Keane's penalty that Spurs finally secured the win with Carrick's cool strike 10 minutes from time.

The Black Cats have now conceded 33 goals in 16 matches this season and it is little surprise. Their defending was shambolic at times and Alnwick looked shaky as Tottenham laid siege, forcing three corners in the opening nine minutes and dominating the first half.

It was almost constant Tottenham pressure and when Tainio turned in space on the edge of the Sunderland box he fired a vicious 20-yard drive which forced Alnwick into an acrobatic save.

But after somehow soaking up all that pressure Sunderland produced the perfect sucker punch. Dawson was penalised for climbing on Jon Stead and Whitehead curled his free-kick past the stranded Paul Robinson and into the top corner.

Sunderland captain Gary Breen was booked for a clattering late challenge on Keane. Referee Peter Walton stepped in to calm the situation and awarded Spurs a free-kick 25 yards out but Jenas curled it straight at Alnwick.

Tottenham finally worked their breakthrough with a neat build-up - and justified Jol's decision to start with Keane and Mido and keep Jermain Defoe on the bench again.

Paul Stalteri picked out Keane with a neat through-ball and the Irish international slid his cross along the six-yard line to Mido who stole in to score at the far post.

Edgar Davids almost snatched a half-time lead with a header which whistled just over the bar, while Mido curled a left-foot effort wide.

Tottenham explored a more direct route to goal after the break and it paid swift dividends. Mido rose above Gary Breen to flick on a long ball for Keane, whose presence in the box forced Alnwick and the retreating Danny Collins into a dreadful mix-up.

As Collins stumbled under pressure the ball rolled into the empty net and the Spurs striker wheeled away to perform his tumble-turn celebrations.

Sunderland brought on Le Tallec and within six minutes he had stamped his mark on the game with an opportunist equaliser.

Gray latched onto a speculative ball forward and his touch set up the Frenchman who slotted a first-time shot into the far corner.

Tainio came within inches of recovering the lead for Tottenham immediately but his effort rattled the post and rebounded clear.

Tottenham were preparing for Jermain Defoe's introduction when Keane clipped the ball into the Sunderland box and Breen was penalised for hand-ball.

The Sunderland bench were furious as referee Walton pointed to the spot - but Alnwick produced a stunning save at full-stretch to block Keane's penalty.

Keane was replaced immediately as Defoe came on as planned - but it was two Tottenham midfielders who cut open the Sunderland defence brilliantly as Tottenham regained the lead.

Tainio played a wonderful ball over his shoulder and Carrick cut into the box from the right flank and from an acute angle slid his shot inside the far post.

Teams:

Tottenham Robinson, Stalteri, Dawson, King, Lee, Jenas (Lennon 63), Carrick, Davids, Tainio, Mido, Keane (Defoe 74).

Subs Not Used: Cerny, Pamarot, Reid.

Goals: Mido 37, Keane 51, Carrick 77.

Sunderland Alnwick, Collins, Breen, Caldwell, Nosworthy, Whitehead, Bassila, Woods (Lawrence 63), Hoyte, Stead (Le Tallec 54), Brown (Gray 33).

Subs Not Used: Davis, Welsh.

Booked: Breen, Nosworthy.

Goals: Whitehead 16, Le Tallec 60.

Att: 36,244

Ref: P Walton (Northamptonshire).