Tottenham comfortable accounted for Sunderland 4-1 at White Hart Lane on Saturday.
Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs swiftly recovered from the midweek defeat to Leicester City by turning on the style in North London after going a goal down late in the first half.
Black Cats left-back Patrick van Aanholt netted his second goal for the week when he raced onto a lovely ball from Adam Johnson before firing beyond Hugo Lloris from an angle in the 40th minute.
Tottenham trailed for less than two minutes, however, as Christian Eriksen followed up Harry Kane's initial effort to see his fairly tame attempt deflected over the line from Lee Cattermole for the first of his two goals.
Moussa Dembele scored his first league goal since early November when lashing home on the turn after finding space following a nice save from Premier League debutant Jordan Pickford from Danny Rose's well-struck shot.
Tottenham grabbed a third when Eriksen helped himself to his second with a wicked deflection off Black Cats debutant Jan Kirchhoff before Harry Kane converted from the penalty spot after Kirchhoff had felled Rose in the area.
The win keeps Spurs fourth on the table as Sam Allardyce's Black Cats stayed second bottom with their first defeat in three games.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Tottenham: 4 (Christian Eriksen 42'/67', Moussa Dembele 59', Harry Kane (PEN) 79')
Sunderland: 1 (Patrick van Aanholt 40')
White Hart Lane, London - 35,854
TALKING POINTS
- A strong showing from Spurs. That's more like what we have seen all season. Are they primed for an assault on the top four? Or even a cheeky title tilt?
- Sunderland mixing their form of late. If they are going to continue conceding goals, they desperately need to up their scoring, seeing as they are copping more than two goals a game. Where does this required defensive solidity come from?
WHAT'S NEXT?
Tottenham face Leicester City in their 3rd round FA Cup replay on Wednesday before making the short trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Sunderland will be chasing a win when they host Bournemouth on Saturday.
TWITTER INSIGHT
Great response after Wednesday! Well done @ChrisEriksen8 on the double! Have a good weekend people! #COYS#EPLpic.twitter.com/2ndYOjqv2j
— Harry Kane (@HKane) January 16, 2016Happy to score twice and happy to win again! #coys#golazo #4-1
— Christian Eriksen (@ChrisEriksen8) January 16, 2016Big thanks to the away fans who have travelled over 2,000 miles this week! Looking forward to returning to the @StadiumOfLight next weekend
— Sam Allardyce (@OfficialBigSam) January 17, 2016Another proud moment for myself and my family making my premier league debut for the team I've always supported !! @SunderlandAFC#sendit
— Jordan Pickford (@JPickford1) January 16, 2016
QUOTES CORNER
Tottenham boss Pochettino on his side's title chances:
"I think it is early to start to speak about the title, we need to improve a lot and learn a lot, we are a young squad. It is important to keep working hard because in football the situation can turn quickly.
"Always for me, the end starts when you have 10, 9, 8 games left. That is the realistic time (to talk about winning trophies)."
Sunderland's Allardyce on the result:
"Our players put themselves in one fantastic position and then in the space of a minute conceded. It's one of the reasons we ended up losing.
"The scoreline, 4-1, looks more comfortable than it was. I'm disappointed we've lost 4-1. I could have accepted 2-1."
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
4 - Christian Eriksen has scored in all four of his Premier League appearances against Sunderland. Winnings.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 16, 20161:31 - Just 91 seconds separated the Sunderland opening goal and Spurs' equaliser in this match. Quickfire.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 16, 20163 - Mousa Dembélé has now scored three goals in the Premier League this season, equalling his best tally in a single PL campaign. Lead.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 16, 201611 - Harry Kane has now scored 11 goals in his last 13 Premier League appearances for @SpursOfficial. Lethal.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 16, 2016