Kranjcar brace sees off City

Niko Kranjcar and Jermain Defoe were on the scoresheet to get Tottenham back to winning ways and frustrate Manchester City 3-0 at White Hart Lane in the clash of the Champions League hopefuls.

The Spurs pair struck either side of half-time in the Barclays Premier League game for a first win since the 9-1 demolition of Wigan nearly a month ago, with Kranjcar rounding off the victory with his second of the night in injury-time.

City only needed to avoid defeat to go on their best unbeaten run since 1977 - but far too many of those games ended in draws and this defeat further dents their top-four aspirations.

It was fast-paced without clear-cut chances being produced in the first half-hour, as both teams got vital blocks in to keep things level until Kranjcar struck seven minutes from the break.

The Croatian started the move that led to his goal by spreading the ball wide to Aaron Lennon. Peter Crouch got on the end of the cross and Kranjcar rifled home after Ireland blocked the first effort.

It could have got worse for City when Defoe sent Crouch through - but Shay Given rushed out to bravely block.

Harry Redknapp's 'little and large' attacking pair combined for the second goal, nine minutes after the break, with Spurs going route-one for their simple goal.

Heurelho Gomes' free-kick went long into City territory, Crouch climbed above Nedum Onuoha to flick on and Defoe hardly had to break stride before poking past Given for his 14th of the season.

City continued to push for a goal with Stephen Ireland lifting a shot softly into Gomes' arms.

Kranjcar then added his second in stoppage time from a short corner where he skipped around Emmanuel Adebayor and finished through Given's legs.