Victory a spur to Howard’s ways

Sunderland 2 Tottenham 0

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. 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 at right wing.