Spurs took the lead in controversial fashion through Harry Kane’s penalty, and although substitute Kelechi Iheanacho drew City level with a clinical strike, Christian Eriksen’s calm finish late on won the points.
A major talking point from the game will doubtless be Spurs’ first goal, with referee Mark Clattenburg pointing to the spot after Raheem Sterling charged down Danny Rose’s cross.
Handball was the decision - despite Sterling’s protestations that the ball had struck his back - and Kane was in no mood for mercy, dispatching his 16th league goal of the season.
A significant postive for City was skipper Vincent Kompany, who came through the game unscathed and added steel to City’s play despite the final result.The Blues will surely need their skipper during the run-in - City trail leaders Leicester by six points, and today’s opponents by four.
Boss Manuel Pellegrini made three changes to the side that lost against Leicester, with Kompany back for the first time since Boxing Day, and Gael Clichy and Fernando coming in for Martin Demichelis, Aleks Kolarov and Fabian Delph.
A youthful looking bench contained Manu and Aleix Garcia, Iheanacho and Bersant Celina, and City started the contest hungrily, with Aguero and Toure lively early on.
Kompany was snapping into tackles and the team looked desperate to atone for last week’s reverse against Leicester, with Fernandinho and Fernando busy in their defensive midfield roles.
Aguero hooked one left-footed effort over in that bright start, before Sterling crashed a volleyed effort at Rose from close range leaving the Spurs man floored.
Kompany was barking out orders from central defence, and he needed to as a sprightly Spurs side fought their way back into the contest.
Rose was providing a threat down City’s right flank, while midfielder Heung-Min Son was dropping into space to link the play effectively.
City keeper Joe Hart was called into action just before the half hour mark, parrying Eriksen’s strike away, while shortly after Eric Dier blasted a shot high over the bar.
City regained their composure as the half wore on, with Yaya Toure, in a more advanced midfield position, linking well with Aguero but shortly after the restart they fell behind.
Sterling turned and jumped as Rose sent in the cross, and there was a moment of confusion before it became clear Clattenburg had awarded the penalty.
Kane sent it straight down the middle and Spurs were ahead, much to the ire of the majority of the 54,551 crowd.
City responded, with Fernandinho heading narrowly over and then Toure’s free-kick thudding against the crossbar with keeper Hugo Lloris clutching at thin air.
Aguero was next to threaten, raiding down the right only to be well blocked by Toby Alderweireld.
Pellegrini sent on strike starlet Iheancho, and the young Nigerian produced within minutes.
Clichy raced down the left, exchanged precise passes with David Silva, before pulling the ball back for Iheancho to crash the ball into the top corner and send the home fans wild.
It was Iheancho’s ninth goal of the season and yet more evidence of his huge potential.
At that point a home win seemed the more likely result, but Spurs proved just why they are in the thick of the title race by finding the winner.
Substitute Erik Lamela broke through the middle and found Eriksen, who calmly slotted the ball past Hart.
City threw everyone forward to find another leveller but, despite a desperate effort by Silva deep into injury time, Spurs held on to complete a 15/16 double.
Pellegrini’s men now have a break from Premier League action, with Chelsea (FA Cup), Dynamo Kyiv (Champions League) and Liverpool (Capital One Cup) all to play before they face Liverpool again in the league on March 2.
Hopefully those three outings will spark better form and fortune as we head into the season finale.
