On the anniversary of St Hotspur day - a Venables led Middlesbrough team humiliate Arsenal 3-0 at Scumbury and Tottenham come back from 2-0 down to deservedly win 3-2 in a great comeback at the Stadium of Light. The old magic is alive.

Despite conceding the two early goals and having to rely on heroics from Sully (that we are beginning to take for granted) from time to time , Spurs were well worth their win, especially in the second half, when Clemence moving inside allowed Tottenham to boss the midfield
I watched this match on the jumbotron at a freezing White Hart Lane. Spurs welcomed back Ledley King to the team that struggled to overcome Bradford, but were still without Campbell, Ferdinand, Freund, Iversen, Armstrong, Anderton, Taricco, Thatcher all out. Hoddle's third match and his third formation, with Spurs playing a conventional 4-4-2 that sometimes blended into a 3-5-2.

The game had barely got into its rhythm when Sunderland took the lead. A chipped pass into the box from the right could not be cut out by the central defenders and Carr was second to the ball as Kilbane stole into to slot home. Spurs first attack was one of those surging runs from Doherty from the halfway line, but despite getting into the box he was unable to find Rebrov with his final pass.

Things got worse when Kilbane smashed into Ledley King. Both players needed treatment, but it was King who eventually had to go off, but not before Sunderland were two up. A dodgy looking free kick was awarded against Leo on the edge of the box and although Sully did brilliantly to save Schwarz's free kick, he could do nothing as Quinn beat Doherty to the rebound and hit home from a tight angle.

New manager, but same old away day blues? Not for long as Sunderland failed to build on their lead and Spurs gradually came back into the match, without ever looking too dangerous. Sunderland managed a couple of long-range shots as the majority game was played in the middle of the bumpy pitch.

At halftime, things looked bad but not terminal - Sunderland have had a modest recent record at home and were not playing that well. All we needed was a goal to set us on our way. Hopes faded when Korsten appeared instead of Leo for the second half, in a tactical switch that allowed Clemence to partner Sherwood in the middle. This was the crucial moment of the match as Spurs never looked back.

The first goal was excellent - Korsten ran across the front of their area before getting the ball out to Carr on the right, who flicked it in to Davies inside the area. Digger controlled it perfectly on his thigh before hooking it goal wards for Clem to come steaming in and hammer into the top of the net for only his second league goal.

Buoyed by his goal, Clemence had a few more long-range efforts as him and Sherwood dictated the game in the middle of the park. Quinn managed a header and Sullivan produced a brilliant full stretch save to deny Arca at the other end but Spurs looked the more likely to score again, and even Korsten nearly scored when he got on to the end of a long pass from Sherwood and forced a great save from Sorensen.

The second goal came out of the blue - a Sunderland clearance hit Sherwood's wooden head and sent Doherty through the middle and as the ball bobbled on the crappy pitch, he scrambled a shot into the far corner for the second as he got into the area. Not pretty, but very effective.

Sullivan was brilliant to save at the feet of Phillips as the Spurs defence dozed immediately after the equaliser - the save of the match. As the time ticked away Davies rushed his cross when he found himself free in the area and Doherty missed the target from 6 yards with a free header from a free kick.

The winner started from a break down the left from Korsten who burst into the box and was challenged by a defender. The ball broke to Doherty who had his first shot blocked before getting the rebound, taking his time by going round to the left before slotting home from 6 yards. The away fans went mad, as did those back at WHL as Spurs had managed only their second away win of the season.

This one's for you St Hotspur!

Sullivan (8/10) –

Carr (6/10) –

Young (7/10) –

Perry (6/10) –

King (6/10) –

Davies (6/10) –

Clemence (6/10) –

Leo (5/10) –

Sherwood (6/10) –

Doherty (8/10) –

Rebrov (6/10) –

Gardner (7/10) –

Korsten (6/10) –