Stoke succumbed to a late goal from Niko Kranjcar, after earlier fighting back to level following Dean Whitehead's controversial dismissal.
The sending off of Whitehead, for two bookings, was the fourth time this season referee Mike Dean had sent off a Stoke player, and all four decisions have raised eyebrows.
The game opened up with a Delap throw in but Faye guided his header wide and then a midfield battle ensued. The first half was ultimately a quiet affair, with Stoke having the majority of what chances there were, Higginbotham heading a trio of corners over whilst strong defending from the visitors saw blocks to shots from Delap, Fuller and Etherington and Abdoulaye Faye also went close, heading wide at the back post after Kitson had flicked a Whelan corner on at the near post.
Spurs had the best individual effort of the first period, Krancjar's 25 yard effort being parried by Sorensen, but straight to the feet of Crouch. The Danish keeper recovered quickly and pounced at the strikers feet before he was able to get a shot in. Bassong also went close with a header and Faye was needed to slide the ball away from Bale as the Welshman shaped to shoot.
The second half started with a blast as Crouch flicked the ball over the defence to fellow striker Eidur Gudjohnsen. The ex-Chelsea and Barcelona striker, who had come on as a first half sub for the injured Pavlyuchenko, outmuscled Faye before smashing the ball past the helpless Sorensen to break the deadlock. The goal was timed at just 17 seconds after the restart.
Things got worse just two minutes later as Whitehead became the latest red and white striped victim of Mike Dean when the ref amazingly produced a second yellow card after the energetic midfielder collided with Modric in a nothing incident. Tony Pulis, who earlier this week wrote to the ref's association asking for Dean not to ref any more Potters games, stood stelly eyed in his technical area, eyes fixed on the man in the middle as the game restarted with the Potters right up against it.
The extra man made it easier for Spurs and Kaboul, Modric and Assou-Ekotto all went close to sealing the game for the visitors in the minutes preceding the red card. Assou-Ekotto was also involved in a spot of handbags after his effort, fellow defender Corluka taking exception with something and after some pushing and shoving, aswell as a few choice words, unlikely peacekeeper Fuller jumped in to seperate them. After talking to both the ref decided not to take any action, not suprising really.
The Potters knew that when they got a chance they would have to take it and that chance arrived on sixty three minutes when a cross into the box saw a blatant push on Kitson by the man involved in everything Asoou-Ekotto. The ref had no choice but to point to the spot and that he had, in typically flamboyant, look-at-me style. Etherington was given the honours against his former club and he stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way, cooly slotting the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal.
City were right back in the game and were now pressing for an unlikely winner. After frantic pressure a golden opportunity fell to Fuller when he was found, six yards out unmarked, but snapped at the shot and the ball flew over the bar and into the Boothen End.
Spurs knew they would have to weather the storm, hope to quieten the 'Bear Pit' atmosphere, and take advantage of the hosts tired legs late on and they did just that as they struck the winner with 13 minutes left. Assou-Ekotto, yes him again, crossed in from the left and after a clever dummy from Gudjohnsen, the ball rolled to the incoming Krancjar. The Croat caught the ball sweetly, from 12 yards out, and it flew into the net leaving Sorensen with no chance.
One thing about the Potters though is that they never give up, and they rolled their sleaves up in search of a second equaliser, and whilst Higginbotham and Fuller were blocked out by resolute and brave defending there was one more great opportunity as Sidibe intercepted a poor back pass inside the penalty area. With just the keeper to beat, a keeper who was slightly out of position due to the expectant back pass, the Malian striker fell over and the ball, and the Potters hopes, was smashed into touch