Both Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur failed to find the net during the opening 45 minutes at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.

Visiting Spurs controlled large parts of the possession, but they were unable to find a way past Simon Mignolet in the home goal.

The first to try was full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto, but he saw his sliced effort from 25 yards out edge just wide of Mignolet's post in the third minute.

Seven minutes later Spurs midfielder Luka Modric wriggled free on the edge of the area only to shoot straight at Mignolet, who was positioned in the centre of his goal.

Tottenham's next chance fell to Emmanuel Adebayor, who headed Rafael van der Vaart's cross goalwards. However, Phil Bardsley was on hand to block the effort, with Spurs claiming that the Sunderland defender had used his arm. Referee Chris Foy waved away their appeals and the match continued.

The only meaningful effort that Sunderland mustered in the half arrived in the 33rd minute. Bardsley crossed for Craig Gardner, but the midfielder headed straight at Spurs goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

Victory for Spurs would be their first away from home in the Premier League since the turn of the year.