Carling Cup - Man City 0 Tottenham 2

Juande Ramos saw his 10-man Tottenham side book their place in the Carling Cup semi-finals and end Manchester City's proud 100% home record with a 2-0 win.

Goals from Jermain Defoe and Steed Malbranque either side of Didier Zokora's sending off gave them a hard-earned victory.

Former Sevilla coach Ramos is quickly making his mark at White Hart Lane and Spurs are in sight of a trophy in his first season in charge.

This was their second away win on a tough ground inside three days following the defeat of Portsmouth.

City went into the game looking to extend their 100% record in all competitions to 11 games but suffered their first defeat at the ground under Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Tottenham took the lead in the fifth minute following a swift break that caught City flat-footed.


• Ramos: Spurs' best yet

Jermaine Jenas released Aaron Lennon with a clever through ball and he quickly delivered it into the area, where Defoe swept his close-range effort beyond Hart and into the corner.

Spurs carved out another good chance six minutes later when Lennon picked out Steed Malbranque but his effort was charged down.

Tottenham though were reduced to 10 men in the 21st minute when Zokora was sent off, for what referee Steve Bennett perceived was a lunge at Elano.

Ramos then decided to shake things up and brought on Teemu Tainio for a clearly disgruntled Defoe.

Despite being down to ten men, the visitors continued to push forward.

Dimitar Berbatov made space for himself outside the area only to see his shot take a deflection and go over the bar.

City hit back and Elano squandered a great chance of equalising in the 33rd minute after good work by Garrido and Martin Petrov.

The Brazil midfielder, back after a three-match absence because of a hamstring injury, got a good first touch - but he then sent his effort from close range wide of the post, to groans from the home fans.

City were coming more into the game as half-time approached and Johnson hooked his effort over the top after Bianchi had headed Petrov's delivery back across the area.

Tottenham had carried little threat following Zokora's sending off which prompted Ramos into a tactical reshuffle.

With Defoe sacrificed, Berbatov was employed on his own up front - and the Bulgarian was putting in a hard shift.

Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson was called into action for the first time in the 53rd minute and responded superbly.

He showed quick reflexes to get up quickly and turn over a header from Darius Vassell after a cross from Vedran Corluka.

Tottenham again found themselves on the back foot on the hour when Petrov found space in the area - only to clear the bar with his effort.

But the visitors continued to look dangerous on the break, despite being a man light.

Robinson again reacted superbly in the 78th minute to parry a header from Bianchi as City went in search of the equalising goal.

However with the home side pushing forward Tottenham added a second goal in the 82nd minute to make sure of their place in the last four.

It was a superb individual effort from the former Fulham midfielder, who drew Hart out of his goal before clipping a shot into the corner.

• Ramos: Spurs' best yet

Tottenham manager Juande Ramos gave top marks to his 10-man team as they secured a place in the Carling Cup semi-finals at the expense of their hosts Manchester City tonight.


While Ramos was dismayed at referee Steve Bennett dismissing his centre-half, he was thrilled at the way his players responded.


Speaking through an interpreter, he said: 'It is a positive result and sets us up for the rest of the season.


'To come away with a 2-0 victory will stand us in good stead and help the mind-set of the players.


'Given the circumstances, it has to be the best performance since I took charge.


'We were away from home against a team like Manchester City, who are high in the league and on a good run of form at home.


'Not only that, we were a man down from the 20th minute yet still managed to get through. We got our just rewards.'


Zokora was dismissed for lunging at Elano, but Ramos said: 'It wasn't a sending-off, not in a game like this.


'A cup tie generates a heated atmosphere, and the referee has to be a bit more flexible. It was unfair.'


Defoe was unhappy at being sacrificed, with defender Teemu Taino drafted into the action.


It meant Dimitar Berbatov being employed as a lone striker -and the Bulgarian put in a solid shift.


Ramos said: 'Defoe understands the change was tactical. He knows we had to bring on an extra defender.'


It was City's first defeat at home under manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, and the Swede could not hide his disappointment.


With new striker Nery Castillo looking on after sealing a year-long loan move from Shakhtar Donetsk, Eriksson's side looked jaded.


He said: 'The players and the fans, like myself, are all very disappointed.


'We thought being at home we had a good chance of reaching the semi-finals, but Tottenham started very well.


'We got away with it at 1-0. In the second half we controlled the game - but we could not score.'