Sunderland-1-2-Tottenham
Spurs had gone into the break 1-0 down after captain John OShea had stroked his first goal for the Black Cats on 42 minutes.
But Andre Villas-Boas men had other ideas, levelling up just three minutes into the second period through a Carlos Cueller own goal.
Lennon then curled home a second on 51 minutes after Matthew Kilgallon deflected the ball into the path of the flying winger.
Simon Mignolet prevented Jermain Defoe from wrapping up the points on the on the hour with a shot from point-blank range and also kept out Adebayors late effort.
Martin ONeills side battled manfully for a way back into the game, but Spurs held out with little difficulty to claim a second successive Premier League win on the road.
STRIKER'S FINISH ... John O'Shea breaks the deadlock
Genuine chances were few and far between during the opening 45 minuteswith Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris dealing with everything from wide positions.
Tottenham began to shade the game in terms of possession and they created a series of openings.
Sandro could not extend Mignolet with a bouncing 21st-minute shot from distance, and Bale was similarly wasteful when presented with a headed chance by Lennon.
OFF THE MARK ... John O'Shea celebrates his first goal for the club
In the meantime, Mignolet had rushed from his line to block Adebayors flick after the strike had been played in by Sandro, but the Togo international should have put the visitors ahead on the half-hour.
Cuellar failed to cut out Jermain Defoes curling shot, although he took the pace off it to allow Adebayor to get to the loose ball before Mignolet.
STROKE OF LUCK ... Tottenham celebrate an own goal from Carlos Cuellar
The trike somehow managed to hit the bar from just two yards and Sunderland were able to breathe again.
The home side created their first effort of note seven minutes before the break when Cuellar looped a header over from Adam Johnsons free-kick. And the home side took the lead two minutes later.
Neither Stephen Fletcher nor OShea could make meaningful contact with Sebastian Larssons free-kick as it sped towards goal, but some pinball in the box presented the Irishman with a simple finish to go into the break 1-0 up.
Sunderland's lead and optimism evaporated within six disastrous minutes.
TWO GOOD ... Aaron Lennon puts Tottenham in front
There was an element of fortune about Spurs equaliser when Cuellar headed a 48th-minute corner into his own net, but things went from bad to worse for the home side just three minutes later.
Lennon attempted to lay the ball off, but saw it hit OShea and bounce back to his feet, and he raced in on goal to beat Mignolet despite Kilgallons best efforts to apprehend him.
STRONG DISPLAY ... Simon Mignolet keeps out Emmanuel Adebayor
Spurs should really have ended the game as contest on the hour when, with the Black Cats in disarray, when Defoe was denied by Mignolet's heroics.
But Sunderland were unable to make the striker pay for his miss, as Tottenham held on for the points.
Sunderland: Mignolet, Gardner, OShea (Bramble 68), Cuellar, Kilgallon (Campbell 62), Johnson, Larsson (Wickham 80), Colback, McClean, Sessegnon, Fletcher. Subs Not Used: Westwood, McFadden, Vaughan, Ji.
Booked: Cuellar.
Goals: OShea 40.
Tottenham: Lloris, Walker, Dawson, Caulker, Naughton, Lennon (Parker 83), Sandro, Dembele, Bale (Sigurdsson 90), Adebayor, Defoe (Dempsey 75) Subs Not Used: Friedel, Vertonghen, Huddlestone, Livermore.
Booked: Dawson, Dembele, Bale.
Goals: Cuellar 48 og, Lennon 51.
Att: 41,168
Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
