Tottenham fans called for the head of acting manager David Pleat for the first time this season as their team came from behind to earn a point against fellow strugglers City.

Nicolas Anelka breathed life into City's battle to climb away from the relegation zone with his 10th goal in his last 12 games, waltzing through the home defence after 25 minutes.

Jermain Defoe hit the equaliser after 52 minutes, beating his former West Ham team-mate David James from close range to register his fifth goal for the club since arriving during the January transfer window.

A point apiece nudged both clubs further towards safety and the only surprise was that there were not more goals conceded by two poor defences.

This was the fifth meeting between the teams this season, having met in both domestic cups, and the last of those battles saw City's 10 men overturn a 3-0 half-time deficit to win 4-3.

There was no repeat of that goal feast, as this time both teams played with the kind of nerves associated with not being 100 per cent safe from the drop.

Spurs came into this game on a run of just one win in seven matches, and the last time a forward scored for them was against Leicester in February. Pleat tried to address that by leaving fans' favourite Robbie Keane on the bench, and the home side missed his trickery.

After a dismal display at Everton on Friday, Tottenham's defensive frailties were exposed again as Anelka gave City the lead.

The home defence was static as the Frenchman took a pass from Steve McManaman, skipped past Gary Doherty and saw his first shot hit the body of Kasey Keller. However, Anelka was first to pounce on the rebound and stroked the ball into an empty net.

After half an hour Spurs were forced into making a change when Stephen Carr picked up a thigh strain and was replaced by Stephen Kelly. Carr will miss the next three games anyway through suspension.

Tottenham's embarrassment during the first half was highlighted when nobody seemed willing to take a 42nd minute corner, and in the end Frederic Kanoute kicked the corner flag before the ball.

City should have doubled their lead in the final minute of the half. Anelka crossed for Robbie Fowler but somehow Keller reacted superbly to save from five yards - and the fans started to get on the back of acting manager David Pleat by chanting: "We want Pleat out", before jeering their team off the pitch.

Spurs needed to step up a gear in the second half and almost equalised after 49 minutes when Gus Poyet beat James with a header but saw the ball crash against the post.

Spurs did find a lifeline, however, when Defoe finally beat his former team-mate three minutes later. Sun Jihai was guilty of allowing him to turn inside the six-yard box and he stroked the ball under the body of the England goalkeeper.

City boss Kevin Keegan missed this game as he is still at home recovering from a back complaint, but he will probably be cheered by an important away point.

Teams

Tottenham Keller, Carr (Kelly 31), Doherty, Gardner, Taricco (Bunjevcevic 64), Redknapp, Davies, Poyet (Keane 73), Brown, Kanoute, Defoe.

Subs Not Used: Hirschfeld, Ricketts.

Booked: Poyet.

Goals: Defoe 52.

Man City James, Jihai (Sinclair 74), Tarnat, Distin, Dunne, Wright-Phillips, Bosvelt, McManaman, Sibierski, Fowler (Wanchope 64), Anelka.

Subs Not Used: Macken, Barton, Arason.

Booked: Fowler.

Goals: Anelka 25.

Att: 35,282

Ref: C Foy (Merseyside).