Tottenham Hotspur have moved back to third on the Premier League table with a 1-0 victory over Sunderland at White Hart Lane this afternoon.
Roman Pavlyuchenko's first league goal of the season was the difference in the end as Spurs returned to the winners list following last Sunday's loss to Stoke City to replace Chelsea, who they meet during the week, in third position.
The goal came about just after the hour-mark when Rafael van der Vaart released Pavlyuchenko who calmly slotted past Keiren Westwood from the edge of the area to get off the mark for the campaign.
Sunderland were desperately unlucky not to take the lead in the 34th minute when a sliding Kieran Richardson was unable to get a touch on Seb Larsson's low cross from the right.
Just over ten minutes later, Scott Parker sent in a dangerous cross from the left which was directed at Pavlyuchenko, who entered the fray during the first half for Aaron Lennon, but Westwood made a courageous play to deny the Russian from close range.
After 67 minutes. Westwood made another vital save when Emmanuel Adebayor attempted chip over him with the rebound falling for Luka Modric who missed an open goal but it mattered little as Harry Redknapp's men produced the required result whilst Martin O'Neill's Black Cats remained 16th on the table.
TRIBAL ASKS: Can Tottenham stay on the backs of the two Manchester clubs to force a title challenge or will they fall away as the season progresses?
Tottenham: 1 (Roman Pavlyuchenko 61') Sunderland: 0
Whitwe Hart Lane, London - 36,021
Yellow cards:TOT - Benoit Assou-Ekotto 49' SUN - Kieran Richardson 50', David Vaughan 66'
