Tottenham Hotspur fell to their sixth home defeat of the season to a disciplined Manchester City.

A swift counter-attack from the visitors was rounded off by Sergio Aguero just before the half hour mark.

Spurs showed flurries of attacking intent and were made to rue their chances in the opening few minutes.

Mauricio Pochettino made one change to his side that fought back twice to draw at Southampton last weekend with Danny Rose coming in for the injured Ben Davies.

Spurs have been lacklustre in recent weeks; playing like a side already on their summer holidays after taking five points from their last four games.

Yet three defeats in a row for Manchester United has given Spurs a sniff of a coveted Champions League position and a win could have taken them just four points behind the Red Devils with three games to play.

The incentive was certainly prevalent within the opening minutes of the Lilywhite’s play as they took the attack to the visitors.

First, a free header for Eric Dier from Christian Eriksen’s corner with barely a minute played was headed wide. Then Kane was played through by Erik Lamela but like Dier’s header, his shot was dragged wide.

The away side, who had lost their last four matches away from home, found their feet in the match after ten minutes and a rasping volley from Sergio Aguero that flew just over the bar was a sign of things to come.

Aguero then felt he was clipped by Federico Fazio after a long-ball bounced over Hugo Lloris as he slipped but referee Andrew Mariner said no.

The Argentine would not have to wait long for another opportunity and just before the half hour mark, he made the breakthrough.

A throw out from Joe Hart sent David Silva on his way and he slotted in Aguero one-on-one and the City striker gobbled up the opportunity to make it his tenth goal against Spurs.

The end of the half mirrored that of the opening ten minutes with chances aplenty.

City continued to expose Spurs on the counter-attack with Fernandinho firing wide after good play from Aguero and Silva once more.

Ryan Mason was found exquisitely by Kane in the middle of the box but was closed down quickly by Joe Hart to keep the score at 0-1.

It took more than 15 second half minutes before the game saw its first meaningful chance as Martin Demichelis was shrugged off by Kane in the penalty area but the English forward could not get the ball round Hart as he dived at the feet of Kane to deny him.

Moments later Aguero danced past three Spurs defenders before a one-two with Fernandinho. The Argentine rounded Lloris but could not convert a fine individual move.

Alexandar Kolarov had two pops at Lloris, first from 40-yards and then a low drill from a tight angle but both well stopped by the Spurs skipper.

Lamela came close with an acrobatic scissor kick which was parried over by Hart in injury time.

Tottenham ended with 21 shots at goal but lacked a cutting edge that Kane has given them throughout the season.

Spurs: Lloris, Rose, Vertonghen, Fazio, Dier, Mason (Paulinho 69’), Bentaleb, Lamela, Eriksen (Soldado 58’), Chadli (Adebayor 84’), Kane

Subs: Vorm, Chiriches, Adebayor, Yedlin, Stambouli

Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Mangala, Demichelis, Fernando, Fernandinho, Lampard (Nasri 72’ (Bony 75’)), Silva, Milner, Aguero (Boyata 88’)

Subs: Caballero, Sagna, Dzeko, Clichy