Spurs did everything but win this game. They dominated possession, scored two goals and could have had four more.

Yet, after conceding an own goal in the dying minutes, all they had to show for their efforts was a 2-2 against a team which had just one shot on target.

“That’s the Premier League,” said delighted Black Cats manager Gus Poyet.

“If you stay in the game and you believe in what you do and you have a good group of people playing together, you’re going to always have a chance.”

His side nearly threw that chance away when they allowed Spurs to take the lead after just three minutes. Keeper Vito Mannone was equal to Emmanuel Adebayor’s powerful effort from outside the area but Nacer Chadli was the first to the rebound and tucked home the opener.

The visitors could have quickly been three ahead but Mannone kept his side in the match, saving well from both Adebayor again and Danny Rose.

Then, against the run of play and with barely five minutes on the clock, Sunderland were level after Adam Johnson danced through the Spurs’ defence and curled a shot past Hugo Lloris into the far corner.

Despite dominating and seeing a Mousa Dembele effort hitting the post, Spurs had to wait to the start of the second half to go back in front.

Chadli’s cross was only half cleared by Patrick van Aanholt and this time Christian Eriksen was the first to react.

Again Spurs dominated and again they hit the woodwork — this time from an Erik Lamela — and again Sunderland fought back. Substitute Will Buckley swung a free kick across the box and Harry Kane pushed it into his own net.

“We were disappointed,” said a rueful Mauricio Pochettino. “Our performance was good, we created the chances but we didn’t kill the game and this gave the opportunity to Sunderland. This is football.”