bbcsportsTottenham 1-2 Sunderland Djibril Cisse scored on his Sunderland debut to condemn Spurs to their second straight Premier League defeat.
Spurs, who dropped Dimitar Berbatov, were lucky not to trail at half-time after Steed Malbranque hit the post.
Gareth Bale powered a header over for Spurs soon after the re-start but they fell behind when Kieran Richardson rifled home after 55 minutes.
Spurs twice went close before Jermain Jenas levelled but Cisse's late header left Tottenham without a point.
The build-up to the game was dominated by tales of two strikers.
On Thursday Sunderland signed former Liverpool striker Cisse on a year-long loan from Marseille, while Berbatov continues to be linked with a move to Manchester United.
Spurs boss Juande Ramos said he axed Berbatov because the forward was lacking "focus" and the continuing uncertainty surrounding the mercurial striker seemed to affect the rest of the team.
With the Bulgarian absent Spurs started with Bale on the left of a five-man midfield and David Bentley in the middle of the park, while Darren Bent roamed up front on his own.
But despite enjoying the lion's share of territory and possession from the opening whistle they struggled to create chances.
All they managed in the first half were an off-target shot from Bentley and a couple of well-delivered corners from the England midfielder.
Sunderland failed to create much themselves in a low-key opening 45 minutes, although they came desperately close to breaking the deadlock when Malbranque rattled a low 25-yard drive against the posts with keeper Heurelho Gomes beaten.
Spurs were bright immediately after the re-start and Bale will feel he could have done better after powering a header a foot over from a corner when he found himself unmarked on the six-yard box.
But Sunderland were not going to lie down and they took the lead when Richardson pounced after the ball was half-cleared.
The ex-Manchester United player rifled a 25-yard drive just inside the far post to put the Black Cats into the lead, earning himself a booking for taking his shirt off as he celebrated.
Spurs immediately brought on Tom Huddlestone and Giovanni - they had been warming up before the goal - and twice went close to an equaliser through Jonathan Woodgate and the otherwise anonymous Bent.
Jenas then headed just wide as he beat Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon to a bouncing ball before, with 17 minutes left, he side-footed home the rebound after Luka Modric twice saw shots blocked.
Having levelled the scores it seemed Spurs would surely push on but once again they went off the boil and Cisse made them pay.
When the ball was swung over from the left the France international rose unmarked to power a header past Gomes and secure Sunderland's first Premier League win of the season.
:Jimmie O':
