Manchester City handed Spurs an early Christmas present as Kevin Keegan's side slipped to defeat from a game that they looked to be in complete control of.

After dominating the opening half hour, City deservedly took the lead through a Steve Howey header, but then poor marking allowed Chris Perry to pull Spurs level from a Christian Ziege corner.

Soon after the interval the visitors took the lead with a well worked goal as Robbie Keane set up Simon Davies to head home.

Keegan introduced Ali Benarbia but City were never again to regain their earlier fluency and a Gus Poyet header from another Ziege corner rubbed salt into the home side's wounds.

Soon afterwards the German international was sent off by referee Jeff Winter for two yellow cards - bizarrely both times for kicking the ball away.

In stoppage time a wonderful curling shot from Benarbia gave the score a degree of respectability.

Hoddle's side had won just eight points this season away from home before this game and early on the uncertain nature of their display suggested another fruitless away day.

During that opening quarter of an hour, Kasey Keller also had to make three saves - the pick from Nicolas Anelka's rising shot - as City searched for the opening goal.

City eventually took the lead through Howey's clever backward header from a Kevin Horlock free-kick after Steffen Freund fouled Berkovic.

Having established that advantage, City lost it through some poor defending.

First Perry arrived unmarked to send Ziege's corner past Peter Schmeichel.

Just before the interval another error - this time by Richard Dunne - gave the ball to Ziege, but his venomous shot was superbly pushed away by Peter Schmeichel.

If Spurs' first goal capitalised on poor defending, the second owed everything to some slick passing and movement.

Anderton touched the ball to Davies, whose first time pass sent Keane scampering away into space.

Keane beat Dunne with a jink of the hips and his far post cross was bravely converted by Davies.

City were in disarray and Schmeichel's delay in clearing the ball saw it ricochet off Steffen Iversen and then dribble past the post.

Poyet further extended Spurs lead from another Ziege corner, but the German was then sent off.

At times Spurs rode their luck, particularly when Berkovic's volley hit the post and Keller brilliantly saved from Anelka, but Hoddle side's are now in seventh place, eight points behind leaders Arsenal.

Benarbia's goal demonstrated just how good City can be on the attack.

If only Keegan's defence could match that prowess.

Key moments 29 mins: Howey opens the scoring 38 mins: Perry levels the scores 48 mins: Davies gives Spurs the lead 84 mins: Poyet extends Spurs' advantage 86 mins: Ziege is dismissed 90 mins: Benarbia pulls a goal back