Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Sunderland

Christian Eriksen's winner was his first goal since Boxing Day

• Spurs climb to fifth with late victory

• Defoe wins free-kick for Larsson equaliser

• Former Spurs striker fails to score on debut

• Eriksen scores for first time since 26 December

Christian Eriksen's late goal kept up Tottenham's Champions League push as Sunderland debutant Jermain Defoe was beaten on his White Hart Lane return.

Jan Vertonghen's deflected shot gave Spurs an early advantage.

But former Tottenham striker Defoe, who signed for Sunderland from Toronto FC on Friday, won the free-kick from which Sebastian Larsson equalised.

Harry Kane hit the post for Spurs before Eriksen struck with two minutes to go from Andros Townsend's pass.

Substitute Danny Graham almost snatched an equaliser for the visitors, but Hugo Lloris made an excellent save to push away his shot.

There was then confusion as Black Cats keeper Costel Pantilimon came up for the resulting corner and was caught upfield as Vertonghen raced away to score at the other end - but the Belgian was ruled offside despite receiving the ball in his own half.

Defoe, who left Tottenham for Major League Soccer side Toronto in February, was unable to keep up a record of scoring on his debut for every club he has represented.

The 32-year-old, playing his first match since October, lasted 75 minutes before he was replaced by Graham, but may need time to build up his match fitness.

He had a penalty appeal rejected seconds after Vertonghen's opener, but did not manage to fashion a clear chance against Spurs, for whom he hit 117 goals in two spells.

Spurs led from their first attack, when Santiago Vergini's weak clearance from an Eriksen chip fell to Vertonghen, who side-stepped Larsson to score via a deflection off John O'Shea.

Eriksen was denied by two Pantilimon saves as Tottenham sought a second goal, before Steven Fletcher missed a glorious chance to equalise for Sunderland, scuffing Billy Jones's low right-wing cross past the far post when unmarked six yards out.

But the visitors did draw level from a free-kick awarded when Vertonghen hacked down Defoe 25 yards from goal, with Larsson flighting a beautiful dipping effort over the wall and into the corner of the net.

Kane nearly restored Tottenham's lead with the last attack of the first half, driving a shot against the base of the post from just outside the penalty area.

But the match looked to be heading towards a draw before it opened up in the last 15 minutes, with Graham stubbing at a great chance to put the visitors in front after Lloris had beaten out Adam Johnson's 25-yard drive.

Eriksen struck with time running out, however, guiding Townsend's pass in off the post from 20 yards out, and leaving Sunderland only a point above the bottom three.

Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino: "We played much better than Sunderland, and in the second half, I thought we were better. Christian Eriksen is a very good player, and this is a very good victory.

"Hugo Lloris is one of the best keepers in the world, and he showed that late on. But I thought the officials got confused about the late disallowed goal for Jan Vertonghen, because it was a goal."

Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet: "It's painful. I thought we were good enough to take something from the game. I think we need to learn. We lost the game today because of a couple of incidents, but I think we can take positives.

We created a great chance in the first half for Steven Fletcher, Danny Graham has forced a great save at the end and I think we should have had a penalty for a foul on Jermain Defoe. I'm sure Jermain going to give me plenty of positives."

Jan Vertonghen claimed Tottenham's opener, which was deflected in off John O'Shea

Referee Chris Foy booked Vertonghen for the foul on Defoe that led to Sunderland's equaliser

Seb Larsson's free-kick equaliser was his third goal of the season

Jermain Defoe was making his first Premier League appearance since leaving Tottenham in February

Harry Kane hit the post for Tottenham before half-time