We rate the players in the premier laegue encounter between Tottenham Hotspurs and Sunderland at White Hart Lane.

By Abhishek Mehrotra

Tottenham

Gomes - 9

Was quite heroic in defence, especially in the first half when ridiculous back-passes from Corluka and King could have cost Tottenham. Went down well to save from Darren Bent's low penalty.

Ledley King - 4 (off 61')

Is it just us or does the Spurs defender seem a shadow of his former dominant self? Looked all at sea against the marauding Black Cats in the first half before limping off in the second.

Jonathan Woodgate - 6

Contrary to King, Woodgate's form seems to be on the way up. The veteran suffered concussion against Stoke but showed no after effects in a solid showing.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto - 6

It was his cross that enabled Peter Crouch to head the ball in Robbie Keane's path. His quality going forward is unquestioned but his defending at left back is not entirely convincing.

Vedran Corluka -4

The Croat would count himself a very very lucky man. He was saved the blushes by his goalkeeper, who will no doubt have given him an earful.

Wilson Palacios - 5

Tom Huddlestone - 7

A sweet, sweet strike from outside the box will surely be a contender for goal of the month. Was a real threat after his goal.

Jermaine Jenas - 5

Had a glorious chance to put Crouch clear in the first half. Decided to take on the entire Sunderland defence on his own instead. And of course, he failed. Was also not his usual incisive self in midfield either.

Robbie Keane - 7 (off 63')

Took the only chance to come Spurs' way in the first half with aplomb.

Jermain Defoe - 7

Was having an unusually quiet game until he held up the ball brilliantly before teeing the ball up for the Huddlestone thunderbolt.

Peter Crouch - 6

Crouch showed the benefits of resembling an earbud. Climbed high above Paulo Da Silva to launch the ball in Robbie Keane's direction who duly scored.

Substitutes

Michael Dawson - 5

Came on for the injured Ledley King. Looked rusty, but did enough to keep Sunderland out.

Niko Kranjcar - 6

The tempo of the game went up immediately after his introduction. Displayed some neat tricks and made clever passes but was wasteful with two clear scoring chances that fell his way.

Sunderland

Craig Gordon - 5 (off 67')

Tried heroically to save from Robbie Keane. Other than that was not really involved until a horrendous kick in the face forced him to leave the field.

Michael Turner - 7

Was solid all day long, keeping the dangerous Spurs strikers at bay.

Paulo Da Silva - 4

Was tasked with keeping tabs on Peter Crouch. A difficult assignment which Da Silva failed to carry out. A major blemish on an otherwise decent performance.

George McCartney - 4

Should have closed Huddlestone down quicker. Was having a decent game until then but that goal knocked the stuffing out of him and his team.

Phillip Bardsley - 7 (off 78')

Exploded into life in the second half after silently ticking over in the first. Will be aghast that the Black Cats did not win the game despite their dominance.

Jordan Henderson - 5

Had a quiet game.

Andy Reid - 7

Unlucky to be denied when his wondrous strike bounched back off the crossbar. Was absolutely outstanding in orchestrating Sunderland's forward movement.

Kieran Richardson - 7

He is growing in stature with every match. Had another good outing complete with scintillating forward runs and industrious defending. Would surely have scored if not for Gomes' brilliance.

Steed Malbranque - 6 (off 77')

The Spurs' old boy was quite heavily involved, floating in cross after cross for Bent and Campbell. Unfortunate his efforts did not pay off.

Frazier Campbell - 5

Was all set to score when Reid's shot came to him off the crossbar. Instead Bent swooped in and scooped the ball over the net. Was not involved a lot otherwise.

Darren Bent - 4

Was having a great day until that weak penalty. A sad return to his former club.

Substitutes

Marton Fulop - 5

Did a decent enough job in place of the injured Craig Gordon. Could have done absolutely nothing with Huddlestone's thunderbolt.

David Healy - 4

Tried hard but could not match Malbranque's quick thinking. That's the reason Bruce does not give him regular starts.

Anton Ferdinand - 5

Did not have much to do.