Andre Villas-Boas hailed the impact of his three substitutes who contributed to a stunning Spurs’ turnaround as they came from behind to win 3-1 against Manchester City.

Lewis Holtby and Tom Huddlestone both made an impact from the bench and Jermain Defoe gave his side the lead when he came on to seal a dramatic comeback for Tottenham.

Manchester City dominated the game for large periods but three goals in six second half minutes from Clint Dempsey, Defoe and Gareth Bale secured a vital victory in the race for the Champions League qualifying places.

Villas-Boas said: “It was really important for us to come back. First half we couldn’t really play our game how we wanted and suffering so early really affected our confidence.

“In the second half the team found its rhythm, started finding more spaces, better passing and the impact from the boys that came on from the bench was tremendous.

“It was a credit to the players who came on in the right spirit. Everyone wants to be involved and they have done ever so well for the team but couldn’t feature from the beginning.

“Their approach and mentality and willingness to help the team and to see them enjoy their game and do what they do best was fantastic. Tom with his passing, Defoe with his run and Holtby with the organisational skills he has and his vision and determination.”

Tottenham looked to be heading for a demoralising league defeat before Dempsey popped up at the far post to level on 85 minutes and the goal gave Spurs, and the stadium, a lift that led them to kick on and snatch victory.

Villas-Boas said: “The first goal was probably the key to the game. You gain the momentum, the confidence, emotionally the stadium helps, the fans today were outstanding.

“What really improved from the first half to the second was our passing and our confidence because in the first half we couldn’t take the ball away from City’s pressure or find the channels.

“In the second half we found the channels more easily, we linked up the game a lot better and we created a lot.”

Spurs now sit level on points with fourth placed Chelsea and just two points adrift of Arsenal with a game in hand.

Villas-Boas said: “We have to continue. Wigan away is going to be difficult because they are fighting for survival. You just have to gather the most amount of points as possible.

"Arsenal have a difficult fixture against Manchester United who could be champions tomorrow, so gathering the most amount of points as possible is our objective and probably that game against Chelsea could be the decider in the end.”

Jermain Defoe came off the bench to grab a stunning goal, his first in 2013, and Villas-Boas believes his impact could be key in a vital run-in.

He said: “I think a striker like Jermain lives off goals. Goalkeepers against him have been making impossible saves and today I think he made an impossible goal because the angle he had was very difficult so it was outstanding. I think it can be good for him and only make a difference for his confidence too.

“We still have to reach our objectives this season for it to be considered a full success. Hopefully we’re able to achieve it. We’re in control because we have a game in hand but that is against Chelsea and it is a difficult game.”