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Kevin Phillips had briefly given the visitors hope when he equalised Gus Poyet's opening goal but further strikes from Gary Doherty, Simon Davies and Terry Sheringham left them rock bottom of the table.
Sunderland's main problem this season has been their inability to score with only nine goals to their name away from home yet they should have made it into double figures in the 13th minute with their first attack of the match.
Sean Thornton's cross somehow made it through to Michael Proctor eight yards out but the youngster wastefully headed wide.
A minute later Spurs were ahead when Poyet reacted quickest to poke home Darren Anderton's cross from close range.
That should have been the signal for Spurs to run riot but Poyet wasted two glorious opportunities, first shooting wide when clean through and then seeing his header tipped over the bar by Thomas Sorensen.
Those missed looked costly when Phillips beat Kasey Keller to a cross to level the scores and with Robbie Keane limping off Spurs struggled to regain the initiative.
However, it was Keane's replacement, Doherty, who made it 2-1 on the stroke of half time when he rose high to head Anderton's corner past Sorensen.
Tottenham continued to struggle in the second half but were still too good for Sunderland.
Sorensen saved well from Anderton and then smothered Doherty's shot when clean through before Davies made sure of the points when he raced onto Poyet's clever back heel to beat Sorensen with a cool finish.
Substitute Paul Thirlwell went close to pulling one back with 17 minutes to go when he volleyed against the bar from the edge of the area but Sheringham had the final say when he scored his 300th domestic goal as he headed past Sorensen from another Anderton corner.