Crouch's goal gave Spurs their 11th victory over City in 12 Premier League outings and means next season they will be playing in European football's premier club competition for the first time since 1962.

If that stop was eye-catching,Nike Free Run 2, the next from his own player Bale 11 minutes before the break was world class. Barry's cross from the left was aimed Johnson,Nike Free 4.0 V2, but it hit the leg of the Wales international and was heading for the corner until Gomes got down to claw it away from the foot of his post,Playing the blame game Real teammates just don’t. Kolo Toure was left unmarked but headed over from the corner.

It was a thrilling end-to-end match and City went close just before the half-hour. The outstanding King, who had only passed a fitness test just before the match, blocked Tevez's fierce strike. Spurs, though, failed to properly clear the resulting corner and Johnson forced a diving save from Gomes.

Spurs might have added a second in stoppage time, but Fulop made another diving stop to deny Pavlyuchenko.

With Barry off the field getting treatment for an ankle injury, Tottenham went close again in the second half,Nike Free 3.0 V4. Bale's lobbed pass picked out Defoe, whose shot was heading towards the bottom corner until Fulop pulled off a magnificent reaction save.

LONDON (SE) - Peter Crouch scored the most important goal of his career to earn a 1-0 win at nearest rivals Manchester City that guaranteed Tottenham a top-four finish and a lucrative place in next season's Champions League,Air Max 2013 Shoes.

"I could see the goal coming,Nike Free Run 3, the longer it went on I felt we were going to score and eventually Crouchy, who was fantastic, led the line, unbelievable (scored).

Spurs knew they only needed a draw to stay in control of their own destiny, but that still did not prevent them going for the win. Six minutes before the break, Lennon tricked his way past Bridge and delivered a hanging ball to the far post. Crouch got up highest and knocked it down for Bale, whose fierce shot flashed just wide of the upright.

But it was City who threatened first through their own danger man, Tevez, with eight minutes gone. The Argentina striker beat Michael Dawson just inside the Spurs half and went on a rampaging 50-yard run before unleashing an angled shot which was beaten away by Gomes.

Three minutes later King had the ball in the back of the net. Referee Steve Bennett, though, ruled the England defender had climbed on Gareth Barry to meet Bale's corner from the right and disallowed the effort.

Redknapp made no secret of his aim to go out and win the match with his bold team selection. Aaron Lennon returned on the right wing for his first start since December 28 and left-back Bale, who has been in such sensational attacking form in recent weeks, kept the midfield position from which he tormented Arsenal and Chelsea.

The England striker, who had missed one good chance moments earlier, made no mistake seven minutes from time, heading home from close range after on-loan goalkeeper Marton Fulop could only palm Tom Huddlestone's deflected cross into his path.

"I picked a team to have a go," Redknapp added. "I think lots of people disagreed with me and felt we should shut up shop and play with five across midfield."

Having been on the back-foot for the opening skirmishes, Spurs came within inches of taking the lead. Wayne Bridge fouled Younes Kaboul near the right corner flag and Crouch escaped the clutches of Vincent Kompany to meet Bale's free-kick with a thumping close-range header that crashed back off the post.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was drenched by his jubilant players, who poured a container of water over him as he gave his post match interview. He said: "It's fantastic. It's been a terrific season for us, we've played some great football along the way and we deserve it.

Defoe and Crouch were inches away from applying the final touch from an inviting cross from the left from Benoit Assou-Ekotto, while Crouch was somehow denied by the feet of Fulop after meeting a Bale centre with a downward header six yards out.

Questions will again resurface over the future of City boss Roberto Mancini, who has been unable to deliver the Champions League football the club's big-spending owners crave.

City had their chances in a match billed beforehand as a 40 million-pound Champions League decider and Heurelho Gomes saved well from Carlos Tevez, Adam Johnson and his own defender Gareth Bale in the first half.

The winner duly arrived seven minutes from time. Huddlestone beat Craig Bellamy down the right and Fulop could only palm his cross straight to Crouch after it took a deflection off Bridge.

"I spoke with him (chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak) after the game," Mancini said. "He was disappointed because we lost, but then he said thank all the team because this has been a good season."

But Spurs always looked the likelier to break the deadlock. Crouch hit a post, Ledley King had a goal controversially disallowed and Fulop made breath-taking saves to deny Jermain Defoe and substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko.

"To come here away from home and win against a very good Manchester City team is a great achievement. We came out with a positive approach to the game."

He added: "I didn't think we deserved to lose this game. But we pushed forward in the second half and Tottenham had more space to go and counterattack and they created three or four good chances."

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