DICK ADVOCAAT wants Sunderland to improve fitness and finishing to climb off the foot of the Premier League after witnessing a heartening performance against Tottenham at the Stadium of Light.

The Dutch head coach was left frustrated by an 82nnd minute from England midfielder Ryan Mason which condemned the Black Cats to a third defeat from their opening five league matches this season.

But Sunderland could, and perhaps should, have won had they made the most of a much-improved first half display in which Tottenham were left thankful for a failure to capitalise on a greater spell of pressure for the home side.

Jermain Defoe, causing problems through the middle with his running, had two fantastic chances to open the scoring but was denied by the post and then goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to keep the score level at half-time.

And after the restart Sunderland, who fielded Ola Toivonen, Fabio Borini and Jordi Gomez despite a lack of regular first team football this season, tired which allowed Tottenham to take command and clinch a first league win themselves.

Advocaat said: “It is a disappointing result but I think I am not disappointed in the way we played. We could see a big difference in the approach of our team.

“We were playing against a very good team like Spurs, with good individuals. So the few chances you get you need to score a goal to make it easier for yourself.

“At the end you could see that for 90 minutes there are some players out of physical shape. But you can only get the fitness back if you play and that’s what we learned today. We have to start them and see how we get on.

“Then we had those chances. The pass from Jeremain Lens to Jermain Defoe (when his shot was saved) would have given us a lift as well had that gone in. Tottenham did not outplay us, and they have for the last few games outplayed teams, including Manchester United.”

The performance against Tottenham kept the Sunderland fans onside for the entire 90 minutes, sensing that they deserved to claim something after two pretty dour home displays against Norwich and Swansea.

Advocaat, whose side have back to back away games in the league against Bournemouth and Manchester United before West Ham travel to the North-East on October 2015, wants the improvements to be just the beginning.

The Dutchman, who expects Adam Johnson to be in full training again today, said: “Tottenham scored at the right time at the right moment. We deserved something but not always in this game you get what you deserve.

“I was quite pleased with the crowd because even at 1-0 the fans were still behind us. We have to take the positives out of this. If you take this spirit in to more games then you will get points.

“I think the crowd liked the way we played. We just didn’t get the points we deserved. Tottenham have a really good side. One point would have been a good result for us.”

Tottenham climbed up to 12th with their first win and Mauricio Pochettino felt his side deserved to return to White Hart Lane with three points.

He said: “I am very pleased with the players in the second half because they dominated. The result is fair. It was a great goal and how we want to play. It was fantastic when you score in the way we scored.”

Tottenham have agreed to end Emmanuel Adebayor’s contract by mutual consent after months of uncertainty which has unsettled the club.

Pochettino said: “It was clear three months ago the situation. I am happy because for him it was important that he sorted the problem out and it was for the club also.

“We wish him all the best because our relationship was not very good. I wish him the best and we hope he finds a club where he enjoys his football.”