Sergei Rebrov pulled off a smash-and-grab raid for Tottenham in the final minute to turn the jeers of the away fans to cheers.

Tottenham were on course for their fifth successive goalless draw in the Premiership against Manchester City at Maine Road when Rebrov struck to record their first away win in the league.

Just minutes earlier the Spurs fans had called for manager George Graham's sacking - but just as against Charlton in the FA Cup they were left celebrating at the final whistle.

The result was harsh on City, who deserved to take all three points but ended up with none.

Joe Royle's relegation-threatened side hit the post, while Egil Ostenstad and Andrei Kanchelskis missed great chances.

They also put the bato the back of the Tottenham net only for the effort to be disallowed for a foul.

City had stirred first after a slow opening, spurred on by their little Aussie battler Danny Tiatto, and Gerard Wiekens drove straight at Neil Sullivan from one effort before the Dutchman shot high and wide from a second opening.

Kanchelskis, who shrugged off calf and back problems to play, caused Spurs a few anxious moments with his pace on the break.

City were trying to maintain a regular supply to the Ukrainian, and he just failed to set up Shaun Goater in the area when he slightly overhit his through ball.

The impressive Tiatto, who picked up his customary booking in the first half, was winning skirmish after skirmish as he patrolled the left wing.

He won one tackle just outside the Spurs box and laid the ball off to Kanchelskis in a promising position on the right only for the on-loan winger's cross to cannon off Ledley King.

City were denied the opening goal their efforts deserved in the 36th minute following some great play by Darren Huckerby.

The livewire striker left Chris Perry for dead down the left and beat Steffen Freund before sending over a dangerous cross which came off the hapless King and rebounded off the inside of the back post into Sullivan's arms.

That moment summed up City's bad luck over the last couple of games, and they were denied victory at Middlesbrough last week because of a harsh offside decision.

City thought they had scored straight after half-time when Tiatto's corner came off Sullivan and Huckerby hooked the ball into the net, but referee Steve Dunn blew for a foul on the Spurs goalkeeper.

Kanchelskis then shot wide when he should have hit the target following a flowing move involving Tiatto, Goater and Huckerby.

Huckerby used his pace to attack down the left, and when he pulled the ball back to Kanchelskis his shot was blocked by Luke Young.

That proved to be Kanchelskis' last contribution, and on the hour he was replaced by Egil Ostenstad who came on to make his City debut.

Tottenham had done a mini-reshuffle at half-time when Andy Booth came on for Perry with Doherty moving back to defence. The change did pep up Spurs, and Tim Sherwood drove narrowly wide from just over 25 yards out.

City, though, still looked the more likely to score - and midway through the half they were awarded an indirect free-kick just inside the Tottenham penalty area for a back pass by Sol Campbell.

Alfie Haaland touched the ball to Tiatto, and his drive was charged down by Tottenham's massed ranks who did not look as if they had been 10 yards away.

Once again the Spurs fans vented their frustrations on their manager. They called for his head and chanted: "Graham is an Arsenal fan."

Ostenstad should have added to their woes when he missed a golden opportunity.

Tiatto crossed from the left, and from just a couple of yards out the on-loan striker glanced his header wide.

Then in the final minute Sherwood fed Oyvind Leonhardsen, and the Norwegian played in Rebrov who slipped home his ninth goal of the season - and Spurs' first in 461 minutes of Premiership action - past Nicky Weaver.

Teams:

Man City: Weaver, Wiekens (Grant 85), Granville, Howey, Tiatto, Dunne, Haaland, Whitley, Kanchelskis (Ostenstad 60), Huckerby, Goater.

Subs Not Used: Prior, Ritchie, Nash.

Tottenham: Sullivan, Young, Campbell, Perry (Booth 45), King, Freund, Anderton (Carr 60), Sherwood, Leonhardsen, Doherty, Rebrov.

Subs Not Used: Walker, Clemence, Thelwell.

Goals: Rebrov 89.

Att: 34,399

Ref: S Dunn (Bristol).