This victory over Tottenham, inspired by goals from strike partners Kevin Phillips and Tore Andre Flo, may prove Sunderland's most important of the season if their newly-discovered robustness earns them a place in next season's Premiership.

Sunderland are now unbeaten in four games, though this was the first three points earned since Wilkinson's appointment as Peter Reid's successor last month.

What is significant is that this came against Spurs, a side with European pretensions and the early-season pace-setters.

A further cause of satisfaction for Wilkinson and assistant Steve Cotterill was a Premiership debut of immense poise by Michael Proctor, a 22-year-old striker who played at right wing.

Proctor came through the youth ranks at Sunderland but spent last season on loan at York, where he ended up top scorer, and more recently at Bradford.

There is little chance of a return to loan status on this evidence - his skill and pace bemused Ben Thatcher on a number of occasions and he could find himself playing the same sort of role Sylvain Wiltord does for Arsenal.

Tottenham were generally disappointing. Although Teddy Sheringham stood out but his team-mates too often failed to capitalise on his creativity.

It was Sheringham who carved out the first chance. His volleyed pass found Gus Poyet in space on the left, he slid the ball across the edge of the penalty area to Robbie Keane - whom Sunderland had tried in vain to sign several times in the summer - but he scuffed his effort.

Flo shot wide after a neat turn before the Stadium of Light was then denied what would have been an own goal to beat all own goals. Chasing back towards his own goal, under pressure from Kevin Phillips, Chris Perry attempted to clear the ball out of play but succeeded only in lobbing his own goalkeeper.

Kasey Keller backpedalled furiously and leapt to field the ball at full-stretch, dropping it right onto his line before grabbing it gratefully. Sunderland claimed a goal but referee Uriah Rennie's decision was absolutely right.

Dean Richards had a header off-target, then Proctor's exquisite turn left Thatcher floundering but the 22-year-old's cross was plucked out of the air by Keller.

Four minutes before the break Gavin McCann's through-ball sent Phillips through, he skipped over Keller's challenge but his shot could not evade Perry on the goal line.

After Niall Quinn announced his retirement from playing during the break the second half became a pleasure to watch.

First, Sheringham's backheeled flick allowed Anderton to strike from 20 yards but he sliced wide, then Phillips recreated the moment at the other end when he backheeled to Flo but Richards blocked him out.

Tottenham should have taken the lead when Sheringham's wonderful pass put Simon Davies one-on-one with Jurgen Macho. The Wales international clipped the ball over the advancing Sunderland keeper but it curled away from goal and just missed the far post.

Spurs cracked first in the battle of wills as Phillips gave Sunderland the lead. Michael Gray's corner was headed out only as far as Proctor, he fed Gray again who hit a penetrating right-footed cross that Phillips, probably the smallest man in the penalty area, met to head into the net from six yards.

Less than three minutes later it was 2-0 to Wilkinson's side. Phillips' lofted pass set Flo charging on goal shoulder-to-shoulder with Perry.

It seemed the Spurs defender had done enough to force his opponent wide but Flo shot through Keller's legs from a tight angle to put clear blue water between his side and the visitors.

Thatcher struck a direct free-kick well but straight at Macho as Spurs tried to force their way back into the game, but it was Sunderland who had - and missed - the better chances as the clock ticked down.