City's second string have moved up to second place in the Barclays Premier Reserve League South after securing an impressive 2-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur at a freezing cold Brisbane Road last night.

Goals from Danny Pugh and Michale Tonge ensured the Potters a third successive victory following wins over West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea.

First Team Coach Mark O'Connor named a strong line up ahead of the clash with the likes of Tonge, Ibrahima Sonko, Carl Dickinson and Danny Pugh all starting.

There was also a place for £1,250,000 summer signing Andrew Davies, who continued his return from a troublesome injury which has thus far denied him any first team action, while Republic of Ireland international Glenn Whelan was handed the captain's armband.

The match kicked off a minute ahead of schedule and it was the hosts who were fastest off the blocks.

Central defender Dorian Dervite rose highest to head Charlie Daniels corner goalwards after just two minutes, however, Steve Simonsen was equal to it and palmed the ball over the bar.

Spurs continued to look the more dangerous of the two sides and former England Under 21 international Simonsen had to be alert to gather Egyptian Hossam Ghaly's long range effort in the sixth minute.

The Potters only notable effort of the early stages was Vincent Pericard's header which flashed inches wide of Ben Alnwick's right hand post, after Whelan had picked him out.

Ten minutes later a dangerous Whelan corner was almost fired home at the back post by Jamaican international Demar Phillips, but Kevin-Prince Boateng brilliantly blocked his effort on the line.

Things heated up as the first half wore on between Phillips and Adel Taarabt, with the Jamaican hacking him down after he danced past him one too many times.

Academy star Nathaniel Wedderburn then latched on to a clever ball from Tonge but he could only fire his effort straight into the palms of former Sunderland keeper Alnwick.

Taarabt then tried his luck with an ambitious effort which Simonsen comfortably gathered.

Just as the half looked likely to end all level, Pugh clinically fired the ball into the back of the net from 8-yards after Phillips brilliantly fired across from the right flank.

The hosts changed things about during the half time interval with Daniel Hutchins and Jacques Maghoma coming on for Brazilian Gilberto and Dervite.

An equally slow start at the beginning of the second period from the Potters almost saw Spurs level the scoreline.

A superb darting run from Taarabt was followed up by an outstanding effort from 18-yards which cannoned back off the post, before Davies cleared it away from danger.

Ex Manchester United trainee Pugh then should have doubled City's advantage from four yards, but after Tonge found him in the centre, he blazed his effort over with goal at his mercy.

The Potters didn't have to wait long until the second goal did finally come though, as just four minutes later the impressive Tonge finished with aplomb after Pericard did well to dispossess Takura Mtandari and feed him through.

Two could have been three in the 70th minute when Phillips found himself free on the edge of the 6-yard box, but after firing goalwards Alnwick superbly parried the ball around the post.

The hosts spurned a number of chances to get themselves back in the game in the latter stages with Taarabt going close, before Simonsen saved brilliantly to deny Boateng.

Andy Wilkinson then came to City's rescue with just five minutes remaining as he headed the ball off the line after a goalmouth scramble almost resulted in Ricardo Rocha heading home.

Spurs boss for the evening Clive Allen was sent to the stands in the final minute after using foul and abusive language towards the referee.

SPURS: Alnwick, Mtandari, Gilberto (Hutchins 46), McKenna (Berchiche 46), Dervite (Maghoma 46), Rocha, Fraser-Allen, Ghaly, Taarabt, Boateng, Daniels. Subs (Not Used): Butcher, Hutton.

CITY (4-4-1-1): Simonsen; Wilkinson, Davies, Sonko, Dickinson; Tonge, Whelan, Wedderburn (Moult 62), Pugh; D. Phillips; Pericard. Subs (Not Used): T. Harrison (gk), Diao-Jimenez, Nicholls, Urwin.