#INSERT type:image caption:Eriksen decided the game against Sunderland with a strike two minutes from the end. END#
Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino hailed Christian Eriksen's "big, big potential" after the Dane's late winner sealed a 2-1 victory over Sunderland at White Hart Lane.
Jan Vertonghen's deflected shot gave the hosts a third-minute lead, but the Black Cats equalised through Sebastian Larsson's superb free kick, won by former Spurs man Jermain Defoe on his debut.
Larsson's strike looked to have earned the visitors a valuable point, but Eriksen placed shot from edge of the area in off a post with two minutes remaining.
It was the 22-year-old's eighth goal in the Premier League this season.
"I am happy for Christian," Pochettino said. "He is still young, but he has big, big potential. He improves every day. I am happy with his performance.
"His contribution is clear. I am happy because he is a very good guy, a good professional and a great player."
Tottenham, who climbed to fifth, should have had a third goal in injury time, but Vertonghen's effort was wrongly ruled out for offside.
Sunderland goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon had gone up for a corner and, as Tottenham broke with speed, Vertonghen was still in his own half when the ball was played to him.
"I think the referee and the linesman were a little bit confused about the rule," Pochettino added. "When the pass went to Jan, it was before he had got into the opponents' half.
"It was a quick action, maybe the referee was focusing on another part of the game, sometimes it happens to me.
"It was difficult though because it was 2-1 and it could have decided the game. Maybe I can be in a different mood about it now."
Pochettino added: "Jan is upset because he does not have many opportunities to score and the action was like that of a striker.
"It is difficult to understand why, but we are all human and we can all make mistakes."
Tottenham have earned 10 points this season with goals scored in the 88th minute or later, and Pochettino believes those returns are down to his players' fitness and never-say-die mentality.
"Our fitness is very good," he said. "The club believes that is very important -- the sports science and medical staff have done a great job so far.
"And also our mentality. In football, you always need to believe. You need to be strong in your mind and you have to always believe it is possible to win the game."