IT was a story of the fine margins at the Stadium of Light, where a new-look Sunderland found out what that is all about by being left pointless once more.

After watching Jermain Defoe hit the post with just the goalkeeper to beat during an encouraging first half display, the Black Cats had to endure further frustration eight minutes from time when Tottenham’s Ryan Mason showed how to convert a very similar chance.

While Sunderland failed to make the most of an opening 45 minutes in which a goal would have been deserved, Tottenham successfully capitalised on their greater control after the restart to finally find the back of the net.

Mason’s delightful dink at the end of a lovely passing move was of high quality and condemned Sunderland to a third defeat from five in the Premier League, which leaves them staring up at the rest from the foot once more.

And yet, after winning a measly 28 of their last 98 home dates in the league, this was not an afternoon to dwell for too long on the past because plenty of hope was provided for the future following Dick Advocaat’s summer of restructuring.

Advocaat clearly felt it was important to mix things up against Spurs even though he had reservations over the match fitness of both Ola Toivonen and Fabio Borini; such reservations had foundation as both tired in the second half after they were given first starts since moving from Rennes and Liverpool.

They did bring a fresh vibrancy to the team’s play. Borini might not have got his wish of playing through the middle, but he did look bright on the left where he impressed during a previous season-long loan with the club and that allowed Defoe to lead the line.

Such an approach meant there was also a slight adjustment to the system which struggled in the opening month of the campaign, so Toivonen’s appearance as a true No 10 meant regular support for Defoe.

It should be remembered that this was the first time this attacking quartet had played together and they have only had a couple of training sessions with each other because of the international break.

But there was evidence of good understanding, with wide players Jeremain Lens and Borini linking up well with Toivonen and particularly Defoe, whose own runs behind the Tottenham defence dispelled theories he cannot play as the figurehead of such a system.

He had already threatened to get on the end of through passes before he did end up a couple more. The first one ended with that side-footed finish against the post when he should have scored following Lens' lovely pass through at the end of a counter-attack.

The second was when Lens spotted the former England international darting between the two centre-backs. The slide-rule pass was perfect, but Defoe gained control and turned inside his man before curling in to the arms of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Such openings are a sign of how well Sunderland played in the first half, while defensively the work they had put in on the training ground appeared to have worked. John O’Shea and Younes Kaboul were particularly impressive in keeping Harry Kane at bay.

But for as long as Sunderland failed to find that crucial breakthrough there was a chance for Tottenham to make them pay; which almost arrived seconds before the break.

When Nacer Chadli charged in to space down the left he was able to spot and pick out the unmarked Kyle Walker as he ran in to the penalty area on the opposite side. Walker’s pass to £22m recruit Heung-Min Son was not good enough and Sunderland did enough to stop him scoring.

After the restart Sunderland were no were near as effective. A lack of first team football for Toivonen, Borini and Jordi Gomez could well have played its part and Tottenham always looked the most dangerous. The home side suddenly had to live off breaking from deep.

The inclusion of Gomez – ahead of the recently out of sorts Lee Cattermole - was arguably the biggest surprise of them all after not playing since April because of a broken knee cap. But he played things neat and tidily alongside the extremely effective Yann M’Vila.

It was no surprise when Cattermole replaced him for the final 18 minutes, when Advocaat also opted to take off a worn out Borini. The Italian’s replacement was Duncan Watmore, but Tottenham still looked the brighter.

And seconds after the final change of Toivonen being replaced, Tottenham went ahead. Eric Lamela’s lovely pass at the end of a nice move was perfect for Mason to latch on to and lift a tidy finish over Costel Pantilimon to finally open the scoring.

Advocaat, who had stood on the touchline for the majority of the game, took to his seat in frustration as Sunderland, had to endure another defeat at the end of an afternoon which started with so much promise, even though Jack Rodwell almost clinched a point when his curled effort hit the bar.