Back at White Hart Lane and Tottenham washed their Wembley defeat from the system with a solid if unspectacular victory.
Harry Kane scored the only goal of the game, his second of the season, tucking the ball away from close range after Sunderland failed to cope with a high ball into the penalty area.
Spurs eased up to third in the Premier League, unbeaten in five games despite not finding their most fluent form, but the collateral damage for Mauricio Pochettino was injuries to three key players in the closing minutes.
Mousa Dembele limped off holding a hamstring, followed by Eric Dier and then Kane twisted an ankle and was wheeled down the tunnel on a stretcher.