TOTTENHAM tightened their grip on fourth place and condemned Manchester City to a fifth successive Premiership defeat with a tense victory at White Hart Lane.

Canadian right-back Paul Stalteri pounced shortly before the interval for his first league goal of the season and midfielder Michael Carrick doubled the lead just minutes after the break.

City grew in confidence in the second half and pulled one back through Georgios Samaras before creating further chances to level with Micah Richards squandering the best. A string of saves from David James kept Stuart Pearce's side in the match early on, however, with the England keeper in magnificent form apart from one blunder. Carrick, Robbie Keane and Anthony Gardner were all denied by James, who silenced the home fans' chants of "England's number four" in style. Pearce voiced his disgust after last weekend's defeat at Middlesbrough and although City's losing streak continued, he will have been encouraged by their second-half display.

Spurs, unbeaten at White Hart Lane since August, appeared to be cruising to an important win in their battle for a Champions League qualifying spot until Samaras capitalised and they were unable to relax until the final whistle.

Keane had provided their greatest threat - he was kept out three times by James' reactions - while Carrick gave a composed performance.

Spurs, who have stretched their lead over Arsenal to five points, made the brighter start and should have been ahead before Stalteri put them ahead after Keane had seen a shot saved by James.

Teemu Tainio was involved in Spurs' second shortly after the interval when his perfectly-weighted lofted pass to Carrick released the midfielder down the right and his ferociously-struck shot whizzed past James from a tight angle.

Spurs should have been cruising but two minutes later they let City equalise with no-one picking up Sylvain Distin's long throw-in except Samaras who prodded home. The home side's response was instant but Keane's goal was correctly ruled out for offside and the home fans were later subjected to an uncomfortable finish as City searched in vain for the equaliser.