The Croatian started and finished the scoring at White Hart Lane, with Jermain Defoe also on target as Spurs ran out comprehensive winners in the battle between two Champions League hopefuls.

Kranjcar told Sky Sports 2: "Throughout the 90 minutes we were the better team, we created better chances and deserved to win the game.

"The last three games, especially the two away games (draw against Aston Villa and Everton), we had great performances but didn't get the results.

"We believe we have a squad and talented players who can achieve big goals this season and we hope we will."

England winger Aaron Lennon was named man of the match after proving a constant menace to the City defence.

"Throughout the season, it's been my most consistent season and I hope it continues," the former Leeds man said afterwards.

When asked what he put his rich vein of form down to, he replied: "Fitness. And also the team's playing well. It's the best squad we've had and from the start of the year we've played great football and that's helping me as well."

The win kept Tottenham fifth and Lennon acknowledged it was a vital result to remain in contention for a top-four spot.

"Villa are doing well, Man City are not far behind us... so we had to keep up the pressure," he added.

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Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was full of praise for Lennon after the match, but felt Kranjcar was unlucky to miss out on the man-of-the-match award.

"I would think Niko Kranjcar must have been close," Redknapp said. "I don't know what he's got to do to get a 'man of the match' after that performance.

"He was fantastic, Aaron was brilliant. They all worked well, the whole team defended well, every one of them. We were strong. It was a great performance.

"The little man (Lennon), we have to keep giving him the ball - that's what I keep telling them to do, give it to him till he's sick of it and if you keep supplying him with the ball he'll keep creating chances for you."

Redknapp added: "That was as good as we've played over the 90 minutes. We never let off. All the chances were created by us, it was a great performance by us."

Mark Hughes' City slipped to eighth in the Barclays Premier League on the back of their defeat, but Redknapp believes they have a bright future.

"They're a strong side," he said. "I honestly believe in the next four or five years I could see them going on to win the championship because of the backing they've got. I think they'll get stronger and stronger with Mark.

"But we were the better team tonight, no doubt about it. We thoroughly deserved our win."