Title-chasing Tottenham had to settle for a point at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland climbed off the bottom of the table with a hard-fought draw.

Spurs remain nine points behind leaders Chelsea after they were held by Liverpool, but this game will go down as a missed chance to close the gap.

Mauricio Pochettino's side dominated possession against the Black Cats, seeing 73% of the ball, but could not make the breakthrough.

Much of that was down to a determined defensive effort by the home side, but Victor Wanyama wasted Tottenham's best chance when he headed Son Heung-min's cross over the bar when unmarked at the back post.

Sunderland only managed three shots, Fabio Borini firing straight at Michel Vorm from their only clear sight of goal.

Tottenham had scored 16 goals in their previous five league games, but it was a lack of a cutting edge that cost them two points in the north east.

Spurs managed only one shot at goal in the first 45 minutes, a Wanyama shot from 25 yards that Vitor Mannone pushed away at full stretch.

Spurs draw 'disappoints' Pochettino They improved significantly after the break, with Kyle Walker and Dele Alli both seeing dangerous efforts deflected off target, but their only clear-cut chance saw Wanyama head wastefully over.

An injury to Danny Rose, who was forced off before the break by a knee problem, only added to Tottenham's disappointment on a frustrating night.

Pochettino's side are now unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions but this result represents a backwards step, despite a point that sees them climb to second place in the table.

Much has been made of Sunderland boss David Moyes signing several of his ex-Everton players during the January transfer window but it was a duo returning from the Africa Cup of Nations who made the biggest impression for the Black Cats here.

Along with Black Cats centre-back Lamine Kone, midfielder Didier Ndong has been away for most of January.

Both players added much-needed energy and industry on their return, with Gabon international Ndong leading the Sunderland resistance with an all-action display in midfield.

When Spurs got past him, they struggled to get past Kone too. The Ivory Coast defender made 15 clearances in total, more than any other player.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino: "We are disappointed because I think we missed two points.

"In the first half it was difficult for us to create chances, which was strange, but in the second half we played better and we had the chances to win the game.

"It was not a good night for us but it is a good thing for us to learn that we need to play from the beginning of the game with the same aggression and attitude we showed in the second half."

MOTD analysis

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy: "Tottenham are on a par with Chelsea in terms of their defence but I look at their bench and I don't see enough game changers there.

"Chelsea can bring Pedro on Liverpool can bring Sturridge on and I look at Tottenham's bench and I just wonder if they have enough."

Former England winger Trevor Sinclair: "It was shocking challenge by Jack Rodwell on Moussa Dembele.

"We don't want to see this in the game, especially from a player who has had injury problems himself.

"He just swipes at Dembele, it is a shocking challenge - he's nowhere near the ball. That could be a leg breaker. It warranted a red card for me."