Five-goal Spurs thoroughly dispatch Sunderland

Tim Sherwood's future at the Tottenham helm may be less than certain, but his side's comprehensive 5-1 defeat of Sunderland means the fate of Gus Poyet's side is becoming increasingly clear.

LONDON — Christian Eriksen scored one goal and set up two more as Tottenham recovered from an early defensive howler to rout Sunderland 5-1, leaving the visitors rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.

Tottenham put aside speculation about the manager Tim Sherwood’s future and the early mistake to produce a comfortable victory at White Hart Lane to stay in the hunt for a European place.

Tottenham gifted Sunderland the opener as Vlad Chiriches collected a poor return ball from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and played a terrible square ball straight into the path of Lee Cattermole, who slotted home his first Sunderland goal.

The hosts equalized when Emmanuel Adebayor bundled home Eriksen’s cross and Harry Kane then prodded home his first Premier League goal to give Spurs a deserved lead.

Eriksen netted the third before Adebayor tucked home his second and substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson struck home in stoppage time.

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