Manchester City won for the first time at home in the Premier League since mid-December after second-half goals from Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha.
Robbie Keane's spectacular strike into the top corner gave Spurs the lead.
But City got a deserved equaliser when Elano headed towards goal and Ireland, who appeared to be offside, hooked the ball into the net from five yards.
Onuoha got the winner when he rose unchallenged to head a corner past a statuesque Paul Robinson.
Manchester City, so imperious at Eastlands at the start of the season, had not won at home in the league since their 4-2 win over Bolton.
And manager Sven-Goran Eriksson will be pleased with the way his side fought back from a goal down to claim their first victory over Tottenham since April 2003.
Both teams made a lackadaisical start, with the final ball often disappointing, but the game sprung into action in the 30th minute.
City appealed for handball as Michael Dawson appeared to stop Michael Johnson's close-range shot with his hand. Elano then reacted the quickest to the rebound, but the alert Dawson blocked the Brazilian's 25-yard effort.
Tottenham's response was immediate when Pascal Chimbonda and Keane combined for the Republic of Ireland striker's first goal in seven games.
Vedran Corluka allowed Chimbonda to get the better of him down the flank and the former Wigan full-back set the deadly Keane free.
 Keane scored his 21st goal of the season |
Eriksson's men could, and perhaps should, have levelled before the break with Elano forcing a reflex save from Paul Robinson and January signing Nery Castillo profligate on two occasions.
Castillo had another opportunity to equalise in the 52nd minute but the Mexico striker's hesitancy, when just a few meters from goal, allowed Paul Robinson to clear the danger.
City's deserved goal came on the hour when Castillo mis-kicked Benjani's cross and Elano headed goalwards for Ireland to tap-in from five yards.
In response to the home side's domination, Juande Ramos replaced Darren Bent with Keane, much to the captain's annoyance, and Jamie O'Hara with Steed Malbranque.
But it was City who took the lead thanks to Onuoha's first goal for the club.
Spurs' substitutes combined with Bent poking O'Hara's free-kick beyond Joe Hart for what looked like a legitimate goal, but it was disallowed for offside and City celebrated a rare home win.
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