Spurs looked to have closed the gap on third-placed Liverpool to just one point through Robbie Keane's first-half effort, but reckoned without a determined late rally from the Black Cats.
Sunderland were left searching for their first home win of the season, but there was no lack of effort or commitment from Mick McCarthy's side to end the torment and frustration for the fans.
The supporters have certainly not given up completely with the attendance of just under 35,000 for a live televised match, superb given the circumstances.
Sunderland were without suspended trio Stephen Wright, Steve Caldwell and Dean Whitehead, while George McCartney, who made his first appearance of the season in last weeks 2-0 defeat at West Ham, picked up an injury in training on Friday.
Anthony Le Tallec was relegated to the substitutes bench with Nyron Nosworthy, Justin Hoyte, Danny Collins, Tommy Miller and Jonathan Stead restored to the starting line-up.
Spurs made three changes, Michael Dawson, Young-Pyo Lee and Edgar Davids coming in for Anthony Gardner, Stephen Kelly and Teemu Tainio respectively while Mido back from African Nations Cup duty with Egypt, was on the bench.
Sunderland were in control however, until they fell behind to Keane's eighth Premiership goal of the season in the 30th minute but were again guilty of failing to find a cutting edge to their attacking play.
Stead, still searching for his first goal of the season, just failed to pick out Kevin Kyle who was constantly caught offside and pulled up for fouls when the Black Cats threatened.
Miller surged from midfield but his shot lacked power to trouble Paul Robinson, Julio Arca headed over and Stead cut in from the left only to shoot hopelessly wide.
Spurs gradually got their act together with Keane shooting straight at Kelvin Davis who saved well from Aaron Lennon.
Keane should have put Spurs ahead in the 35th minute, but a quickly taken Lennon free-kick failed to hit the target with only Davis to beat.
But the Republic of Ireland international made no mistake three minutes later when he was well positioned at the far post to run home a low cross from Jermain Defoe that Davis was unable to cut out.
Sunderland brought on 20-year-old Grant Leadbitter at the start of the second half for an ineffective Christian Bassila and within two minutes of the restart had Kyle booked for raising his boot as Robinson tried to clear.
The Black Cats should have drawn level in the 62nd minute but for a dreadful miss by Liam Lawrence. Stead crossed from the left, but Lawrence completely mistimed his casual flick from a few yards out with the goal at his mercy.
Danny Murphy made his Spurs debut in the 63rd minute, replacing Davids, only to be booked four minutes later for a foul on Nosworthy.
Mido came on for Keane in the 69th minute and Sunderland brought on Murphy for Lawrence in an attempt to force an equaliser. And it nearly came on 82 minutes when a chance was set up for Kyle who blazed wide.
But with fans streaming out of the ground resigned to an 11th defeat from 14 matches at the Stadium Of Light, up popped Murphy. He muscled and bustled past Paul Stalteri and from a tight angle fired across Robinson into the bottom corner of the net.
There was still time for ex-Newcastle United midfielder Jermaine Jenas to blaze over the bar, but another home defeat would have been an injustice for the home players and supporters alike.